Question of the week: what's your biggest postseason concern?

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Brewers are heading to the playoffs. When they get there, what's your biggest concern that could hold the team back from advancing?

[biedergb]

Offense far and away. The team's OPS is back to April/May territory. And a guy like Chourio is ice cold right now. And Contreras (is it both hands that are injured??). Turang and Frelick are back to their norms which is fine, but not quite back to their July/August splits.  If there is a key moment in a game, I'm not sure who I want up to bat, maybe Yeli.

The starters without Woody can be OK but not elite, and the bullpen is dependent on Megill's health (to have a set 4-some of Megill, Uribe, Koenig, Ashby at the back end) and possibly the return of a pitcher like Hall and/or Miz's role to give you some solid middle inning relief.

So unless the team starts hitting, I can't worry about the pitchers right now.

[JosephC]

There should be a fourth option.

-MLB and FOX Sports don't want the Brewers anywhere near the World Series

That would be, by far, my biggest concern.

[adambr2]

7 minutes ago, JosephC said:

There should be a fourth option.

-MLB and FOX Sports don't want the Brewers anywhere near the World Series

That would be, by far, my biggest concern.

Oh, I don’t think they’d mind. I think especially with the Uek passing, a Brewer World Series is a good story and interesting to most of the country. 

Anyway, while it’s true that ESPN clearly caters to the East and West coast markets, I don’t buy much into conspiracy theories when it comes to baseball. 

Unlike football or basketball where a lot of subjectivity is involved, baseball is pretty black and white. Not a lot of opportunity for outside influences to change the game, except when it comes to the strike zone. And there’s so much data tracking on that these days that it’d be pretty obvious if one team was continuously getting the shaft.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

That offense owns October and we won't have one. I think there is still a school of thought that you can Moneyball your way through a regular season due to the quantity of games and all the random stuff teams have to do just to get through a season. You can win games on the margin if you are stealing a run here or there against somebody's Sunday lineup, their backup catcher, spot starter, etc. 

When the best teams are left and they can throw all the artillery at 10 games, it is almost not even the same sport. That is where your 6 guys making $20+ million shine through. If we have the Mendoza All Stars going in a week, we're done.

[bucks2281]

For the division series, the concern is the offense.

If they advance, the concern is pitching depth for two potential longer series with fewer off days. 

[Frisbee Slider]

That we will sweep the NLDS too quickly and risk being rusty for NLCS 🙂💪

[kestrel79]

My concern is just winning in the playoffs. It's been a while. 2018 since we've won a playoff series? I'm getting sick of us being these regular reason darlings and then choke. It's about time this team gets hot at just the right time and makes a run. 

I don't care about division champs, rookie of the years, gold gloves, platinum gloves, silver sluggers, MVPs, Coach of the year. It doesn't matter to me unless we win in the playoffs.

[Brian]

Well our team Batting avg last 30 games is .270 if these stats are correct, which is tied for second in MLB with the Phillys so its lack of chutch hitting or pitching doing us in. 

https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/mlb-teams-stats-last-30-days

[folly412]

The lack of run production recently is the biggest to me.  In the postseason against every teams' best pitching, I've little confidence right now.

A close second is the pitching depth.  If it were the middle of the season, Megill, Hall, Henderson, and Quintana would all be on rehab assignment in Nashville (at best), and instead they'll be pitching in the postseason if healthy enough to even make the roster.

[formerlybis]

50 minutes ago, kestrel79 said:

My concern is just winning in the playoffs. It's been a while. 2018 since we've won a playoff series? I'm getting sick of us being these regular reason darlings and then choke. It's about time this team gets hot at just the right time and makes a run. 

I don't care about division champs, rookie of the years, gold gloves, platinum gloves, silver sluggers, MVPs, Coach of the year. It doesn't matter to me unless we win in the playoffs.

I'm sad for all the people that feel this way. One bad week shouldn't negate 6 months of joy, but I know for many it will (should it occur). 

[Underachiever]

37 minutes ago, Brian said:

Well our team Batting avg last 30 games is .270 if these stats are correct, which is tied for second in MLB with the Phillys so its lack of chutch hitting or pitching doing us in. 

https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/mlb-teams-stats-last-30-days

Exactly. They had 28 hits against st. louis in three games. Scored 5 runs. And one of them was a tenth-inning Manfred man run. They just haven't been getting timely hits. Offense is my biggest concern by far. I still think they won't slug enough for postseason success. We've seen, infield hit, stolen base, FC to advance the runner to third, sac fly to score a run. Next inning, opponent comes up, one pitch, home run. Tie game.

[ReverendBrewmeister]

17 minutes ago, Underachiever said:

Exactly. They had 28 hits against st. louis in three games. Scored 5 runs. And one of them was a tenth-inning Manfred man run. They just haven't been getting timely hits. Offense is my biggest concern by far. I still think they won't slug enough for postseason success. We've seen, infield hit, stolen base, FC to advance the runner to third, sac fly to score a run. Next inning, opponent comes up, one pitch, home run. Tie game.

This is the nightmarish scenario for this type of offense when extra base hits aren't plentiful. Not being able to get hits, let alone extra base hits, that drive in more than one run can become a killer, especially when rallies aren't plentiful in the playoffs. Then the adage–"a home run is a one-man rally"–comes is emphasized; even more so when giving up home runs to the opponent.

Getting a bit of a foretaste of this against better teams in September (Rangers, Cardinals, Padres) hasn't sparked optimism for the playoffs despite such a great regular season. Couple that with the injuries to key players and there is a bit of a 2021 vibe. Perhaps all of that is a bit of an unfounded Brewers fan playoffs pessimism, but it does seem to be part of the team's past record of performance. 

[BrewCrew156]

Murphy has been good, but he keeps playing Churio and Hoskins. Give Churio a break and don't put Hoskins in high-pressure moments. Also, stop messing with the order that works. 

[Brian]

Not a fan of yesterdays lineup choice either, not sure what Murphy was trying to do but I hope he ditches it forever after yesterdays game. For one Yelach never should be a leadoff hitter he did not look comfortable at all in yesterdays game. 

[long ball]

Since the NLDS has so many off days plus the break leading into it I feel good enough about our pitching even without woodruff (and megill if he’s out)

 

im concerned about the offense given the recent lack of runs. Everything is tighter when it comes to the small sample size of the playoffs. Last year we out homered the Mets 5-1, but their 1 homer is the one that won the series. 
 

im going to just be optimistic and not let this run of roughly .500 ball affect my expectations. 

[kestrel79]

1 hour ago, formerlybis said:

I'm sad for all the people that feel this way. One bad week shouldn't negate 6 months of joy, but I know for many it will (should it occur). 

I hear you. I really do. It's amazing to be alive during the greatest stretch of consistent Brewers baseball in franchise history. No way I would of believed you as a kid if we made the playoffs and were good for so many years in a row now. It's been a great run, and looking at our farm should continue which is exciting. I don't think it's too much to ask for though to get some playoff dubs one of these years. Going to stay positive! 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

54 minutes ago, Brian said:

Not a fan of yesterdays lineup choice either, not sure what Murphy was trying to do but I hope he ditches it forever after yesterdays game. For one Yelach never should be a leadoff hitter he did not look comfortable at all in yesterdays game. 

Is it a crazy idea that he is passively trying to throw LAD into a Wild Card spot?

[Frisbee Slider]

1 hour ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

Is it a crazy idea that he is passively trying to throw LAD into a Wild Card spot?

I don’t mind if the Cubs sweat, either

[brewers4eric]

In 2011 and 2018 we had bullpens that could cover four innings.  If Megill is out it will be a challenge to get the ball to Uribe.  

Losing Woodruff puts additional pressure on Peralta and Priester and whoever opens game 3.  Quintana is a question mark and Misiorowski has been inconsistent.  Patrick might be an option but he seems like a guy that you deploy for two trips through the batting order.  

The offense runs hot and cold.  We had a good stretch while Chourio was hurt but we'll need to string a walk and a couple of hits together to score against the best pitching staffs in the playoffs. 

I've been a Brewer fan since 1978.  I've got some concerns but it beats getting eliminated from playoff contention before the all star break.  Fire the coals and wake up and smell the tailgate.  Go Brewers. 

[MaryvaleBrewer]

The only concern I really have is pitching depth. Presently I think I feel good about 6 Brewers pitchers being reliable postseason arms (Peralta, Priester, Patrick, Ashby, Koenig, Uribe). I’d feel much better if that list bumped up to 9 with pitchers like Gasser and Misiorowski stepping up or pitchers like Megill, Henderson, Hall, Woodruff (long shot) returning from injury. 

[Team Canada]

12 hours ago, JosephC said:

There should be a fourth option.

-MLB and FOX Sports don't want the Brewers anywhere near the World Series

That would be, by far, my biggest concern.

How is that an actual concern "by far"? What are you actually suggesting would happen?

[BrewerFan]

13 hours ago, adambr2 said:

Unlike football or basketball where a lot of subjectivity is involved, baseball is pretty black and white. Not a lot of opportunity for outside influences to change the game, except when it comes to the strike zone. And there’s so much data tracking on that these days that it’d be pretty obvious if one team was continuously getting the shaft.

Also... I don't really feel like the modern NBA/NFL cares much either. 

We just watched OKC and Indiana in the NBA Finals(only a few years after our own NBA finals).

[markedman5]

Randomness/ luck ……..the better team many times doesn’t win in short series.

i hope it doesn’t happen to us this year……we are overdue for a little good fortune.

 

[SF70]

Personally, not concerned about any aspect of this team entering the postseason. Since there’s no correlation between September play and October postseason play, I’m hopeful the team’s incredible depth shines through in the playoffs like it did during the regular season. But if not, Brewers fans will be just fine since we have many years ahead of top team in baseball talent with which to eventually get a title or two.

Looking ahead 5-10 years — this is not our most talented team. Next year’s team looks to be stronger with a trade or two from our best in baseball farm system. We are playing with house money so relax Brewers fans and enjoy this 5-10 year ride.