1/2 Way Observations

[jay87shot]

On pace for 100 wins. Lots of good stuff but lots of places were small tweeks or consistency could make this team great. Thoughts?

I think I will grade the offense B+, starters A-, bullpen B, defense B, coaching B+

 

[Turning2]

It's the movie Groundhog Day. Same stuff, different year. Like Lucy holding the football and promising Charlie Brown, ... THIS time I'm not going to pull it away .... I promise.

No doubt, they are a good to very good team. They compete all year long, but real success, WS success,  depends entirely on a whole bunch of serendipity aligning just right in ways it doesn't have to for big market teams. They are a summer long entertainment consummating with a peck on the cheek at the end of the date instead of inviting you in for "coffee".  Hoping to get healthy and hot at just the right exact time in October has never happened with that current approach of the past several years, and may never. 

They have the necessary starting pitching. They don't have enough effective, middle relief, and they certainly don't have any cornerstone power hitters that can carry the team for very long while others are taking their turns with slumping. They are too collectively hot or cold. Contreras is the lone steady bat. Probably Vaughn too except they won't plug him in every day. All in all, I don't think they have a mentally tough team, and perhaps the Brewer way cultivates that shortcoming by the type of players they pursue and develop. It seems like a squeaky clean, aww shucks clubhouse culture - which isn't the worst thing. They just don't seem to play with a chip on their shoulder for lack of a better description. At some point, I want to see somebody slam a damn helmet down in the dugout. 

[Brewcrew82]

4 minutes ago, Turning2 said:

It's the movie Groundhog Day. Same stuff, different year. Like Lucy holding the football and promising Charlie Brown, ... THIS time I'm not going to pull it away .... I promise.

No doubt, they are a good to very good team. They compete all year long, but real success, WS success,  depends entirely on a whole bunch of serendipity aligning just right in ways it doesn't have to for big market teams. They are a summer long entertainment consummating with a peck on the cheek at the end of the date instead of inviting you in for "coffee".  Hoping to get healthy and hot at just the right exact time in October has never happened with that current approach of the past several years, and may never. 

They have the necessary starting pitching. They don't have enough effective, middle relief, and they certainly don't have any cornerstone power hitters that can carry the team for very long while others are taking their turns with slumping. They are too collectively hot or cold. Contreras is the lone steady bat. Probably Vaughn too except they won't plug him in every day. All in all, I don't think they have a mentally tough team, and perhaps the Brewer way cultivates that shortcoming by the type of players they pursue and develop. It seems like a squeaky clean, aww shucks clubhouse culture - which isn't the worst thing. They just don't seem to play with a chip on their shoulder for lack of a better description. At some point, I want to see somebody slam a damn helmet down in the dugout. 

I would personally classify Jackson Chourio as pretty "steady"....

[Turning2]

3 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I would personally classify Jackson Chourio as pretty "steady"....

Yes, I'll give him that. His down funks aren't as funky as some others, and he usually still makes good contact. I feel hopeful and confident when he comes to the plate. 

[owbc]

I had them at 100 wins in the bold predictions thread with a more realistic prediction of low-90s wins. They have clearly established themselves among a group of 4 elite teams in the 2026 MLB season with their +120 run differential. 

I think we need to appreciate that it is really, really hard for any team that wins 95+ games to repeat that performance a second year it a row. It takes a LOT to go right to win 95 and the fact that they have barely missed a beat in 2026 is truly phenomenal. Last year they had to make up some ground in summer and put together an incredible hot streak. This year they look more established and comfortable in front of the division which I think bodes well for October. The series against the Cubs that just concluded felt way more important for the Cubs than it did to us.

Overall:

- Above expectations

Component wise:

- Starting pitching: far above expectations
- Relief pitching: below expectations
- Offense: near expectations
- Defense: slightly below expectations
- Intangibles/vibes: near expectations

Postseason expectations: make NLCS again and put up a better fight than 2025. They have better starting pitching this year so one would expect that a Miz/Harrison combo could win us a couple of LCS games. An aggressive trade deadline could draw them closer to the Dodgers, but as usual I suspect that some of the underperforming regular season performers on LAD will suddenly rediscover their abilities in late September. 

[rickh150]

Just a great 1st half. So impressive.