2018 Brewers Optimism Thread!

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Is it too early to start talking about which Brewers will be named to the All Star Game? I have to imagine that Hader is a lock, and Cain, Shaw and Jeffress stand a good chance. Yelich too if he gets hot. Anyone else I'm missing? Aguilar plays too stacked of a position.

[torts]

Is it too early to start talking about which Brewers will be named to the All Star Game? I have to imagine that Hader is a lock, and Cain, Shaw and Jeffress stand a good chance. Yelich too if he gets hot. Anyone else I'm missing? Aguilar plays too stacked of a position.

 

CAN WE JUST HAVE THE BREWERS BE THE ENTIRE ALLSTAR TEAM? OR, ALL OF THE BREWERS AND A 2B and CATCHER?

[rcc]

31-19

 

Best start through the first 50 games of a season in franchise history.

 

Also held the Diamondbacks to 22 hits over the six game series which according to the Fox Sports Wisconsin broadcast is a new major league record for lowest number of hits allowed over a six game season series.

 

Wow, things are really rolling along right now... oh, and now at a .620 winning percentage which puts them on pace for a 100 win season.

 

 

Yay!

[xisxisxis]

Nelson out for first half, Thames down for 8 weeks, Braun playing poorly the whole season, Yelich out for almost 2 weeks, Davies out for several weeks, Chase missing 1-2 starts and the team is still off to their best start ever!

 

As I pointed out in the '90 wins' thread, there is room for regression by the Bullpen and starting pitching, but this team is rolling yet they have not been lucky, they've been GREAT!

 

Brewers baseball is back to being fun!

[lcbj68c]

Braun playing poorly the whole season - xisxisxis

 

I wouldn't say the whole season. He nearly single-handedly is responsible for 3 of the 31 wins, IIRC.

[pacopete4]

Braun’s back and this is this optimism thread so no one can go negative on that!!!

[tigerbrew]

Another excellent trade by Stearns in getting Saladino for basically nothing but some cash. Hope Saladino gets more playing time at SS.

[YelichPosse]

Optimism thread ... I have nothing to add right now ... the couple of guys I’ve beat up on in the last 24 hours had good games... I have no words right now and it’s a beautiful thing.

 

Best start through 50 games ... ever for the Brewers. Think of all the good teams (or good starts we have had at any rate). That’s special.

[brewmann04]

I really think Saladino move was really astute. Great pickup like Aguilar and Jennings.

[JohnBriggs12]

Is it too early to start talking about which Brewers will be named to the All Star Game? I have to imagine that Hader is a lock, and Cain, Shaw and Jeffress stand a good chance. Yelich too if he gets hot. Anyone else I'm missing? Aguilar plays too stacked of a position.

 

CAN WE JUST HAVE THE BREWERS BE THE ENTIRE ALLSTAR TEAM? OR, ALL OF THE BREWERS AND A 2B and CATCHER?

 

That's what everyone said about Aguilar's chances of making Brewer roster this spring. Generally the position is stacked but Goldschmidt and Rizzo should be out of the discussion this year and Votto so far is having a subpar year.

[brewmann04]

if Braun can come back and contribute anyway watch out.

[bork]

The current 8 man bullpen has a combined 1.97 ERA, .9 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 innings

[brewmann04]

We know it never be this low but think they will continue to do well especially if not overused.

[markedman5]

White Sox coming up soon on the schedule......

 

[SomewhereInTime]

Through 50 games we have the best record in the league and a 3 game lead on the division with a magic number of 111. This has been an incredible couple of months.

[Lathund]

By Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), the metric used in Baseball References WAR, Brewers have the best defense in the league at +43 DRS. 2nd place (Diamondbacks) are at +36, and 3rd place (Cubs) at +22 so it's by quite some margin! UZR/150 (Used by Fangraphs in their WAR) "only" has the Brewers in 4th. I can't seem to find FRAA at Baseball Prospectus, but Defensive Efficiency there has Brewers in 3rd.

 

Defensive metrics are a bit wonky, and generally need large sample sizes to be reliable, but when several different metrics say the same thing that usually suggests something. And it aligns with the eyeball test as well.

[JohnBriggs12]

On top of everything, when rosters are expanded on Sept. 1, the Brewers will be able to add back players like Choi and Phillips who can make a difference down the stretch. Not all the teams they are competing against are as deep 26-30 as are the Brewers.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The Brewers haven't had any postponed games that I can recall this season. They've played 5 more games than the Cubs, 4 more games than the Cardinals, which is a pretty considerable amount of extra rest the rest of the way.

[pacopete4]

The Brewers have the largest division lead (4 games) than anyone right now. Keep on winning!

[MrTPlush]

Saladino can hit and has provided some slick fielding!

 

We also hold a 4 game lead on the entire NL!

 

101 win pace!

 

Aguilar still hitting!

 

Bullpen still dominating!

 

 

 

On another note I think the Brewers are going to add bigtime at the deadline. Between that, our bullpen, and our September roster strength I think this team is looking real strong this year. The only thing that will stop us from grabbing a postseason spot is a rotation implosion.

[josh]

If they play .500 ball from here on out, they’ll be on pace for 87.5-74.5. That would’ve been good for the second wild card last year.

[MrTPlush]

If they play .500 ball from here on out, they’ll be on pace for 87.5-74.5. That would’ve been good for the second wild card last year.

 

And assuming Hader, Jeffress, and Knebel (plus others) can continue to be dominating relievers (No reason to think they can’t) they just aren’t go to lose many games late which gives them a pretty high floor.

 

Just need decent starters to get them leads. That’s the biggest question mark for the rest of the season.

[TURBO]

Can we order world series tickets yet?

[rcc]

Not sure about WS tickets just yet but this team will make the playoffs this year.

[hurricanecrush]

We also hold a 4 game lead on the entire NL!

It’s actually 2 games but still nice!