3 Benefits to the Brewers' Hot Start, Aside from the Wins

It's hard to argue the Milwaukee Brewers could have opened the season more successfully. Considering they just wrapped up a 10-game west coast road trip without a day off, the Brewers' 15-6 mark, the best record in the NL, is quite impressive. But the solid two-and-a-half-week opening of 2023 could serve the club in three other areas, both now and in the future.

1) Shaking Off Bad Vibes from the End of 2022 and the Offseason

It's no secret that fans were extremely upset by the end of last season, as they watched the Brewers fall short of the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Much of the ire focused on the front office's decision to trade closer Josh Hader to the San Diego Padres in July, while the Brewers sat in first place in the NL Central. It didn't help that the only Major Leaguer they got back pitched poorly with the Brewers. But it went beyond one player.  Milwaukee's clubhouse suddenly seemed fractured, with some players distraught over their teammate and friend leaving the club and others wondering how the move actually helped the contending team. The season's last two months felt like a slog, with constant questions about the team's vibe.

The criticism continued into the offseason, with the fanbase questioning principal owner Mark Attanasio's commitment to the franchise. Many already saw the Hader trade mainly as a money-motivated deal, and as the winter rolled on, the Brewers barely spent a dime. A slow start to 2023 could have been catastrophic for the impact on the field and in the stands.

Instead, the mix of talented veterans and hungry youngsters has reinvigorated Brewers backers. Though the style of play (which has a "gamer" feel to it) has been part of the excitement, winning 15 of their first 21 contests is the most significant factor in Milwaukee's positive mood swing. Suddenly, the talk around town (ok, social media) is about the team playing with purpose and how there is a new feeling among this group.

The players have acknowledged the improved vibe as well. In fact, manager Craig Counsell made it a point of emphasis to bring the men together to create a stronger bond, one that might have slipped away over the past few seasons. It's always a question: Which comes first, the fun, loose culture, or the winning? Guys like Rowdy Tellez have talked about feeding off the team's connectedness and playing better because of the atmosphere.
 

"We're playing good baseball on both sides, good clubhouse, good environment. It's a really good spot to be in."@Brewers slugger Rowdy Tellez talks about Milwaukee leading the NL Central and the energy around the team.@SieraSantos | @KMillar15 | @Dempster46 | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/nWnpm3t7qP

— Intentional Talk (@IntentionalTalk) April 17, 2023

2) Buying Time for the Rookies to Learn on the Fly

Teams that enter the season with postseason aspirations don't often show the requisite patience to play multiple young guys, especially rookies. With so much at stake and a steep learning curve for newbies, organizations quickly turn to average veterans when youngsters hit a valley. For the 2023 Brewers, who have heavily featured rookies Garrett Mitchell, Brice Turang, and Joey Wiemer, the fast start has bought them time. 

Milwaukee's front office doesn't typically act impulsively, but if the Brewers were 7-12 instead of 14-5, one or more of the tepid trio would have found themselves on the bench or in the minors. But winning ballgames, despite the growing pains, gives the club and the players a longer rope to let them develop their skills and gain experience at the highest level. That could pay enormous dividends later in the season.

Based on the conversations you hear and see, many fans have an exaggerated positive perspective on the rookies. People like what they see, but some don't realize there have been struggles at the plate for the rookies of late. Wiemer went through a 1-28 slump during the road trip, before busting out with a couple of key hits in the final game thereof, and he's 1-7 in the first two contests against Boston. Mitchell owned a .456 OPS over his last nine games, with 17 strikeouts and two walks during that span, and is now on the injured list with a seemingly serious shoulder injury. And Turang has a slash line of .217/.250/.283 over his last 15 games.

This isn't meant to bash these three. It's to point out how winning gives them the opportunity to keep learning how to play against the best in the world. That's more valuable than anyone can probably measure. Had the team been struggling, keeping them all in the lineup with their recent offensive numbers would be a tougher sell. Of course, their defensive prowess also helps them stay in the Majors, because preventing runs on a pitching-focused club is just as valuable as producing them at the plate.

3) Increasing the Odds of Adding Talent at the Trade Deadline

Most people view the season's final two months as the most important games to win. I'd argue the first few months are far more vital for a team like the 2023 Brewers, because the performance leading up to the trade deadline usually determines the strategy (2022 not included).

Stacking up early victories not only breeds confidence among the players and staff, but makes the front office think about what the club can do to take another step forward. With multiple top-level players reaching free agency after the 2024 season (Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Willy Adames), a losing record at the All-Star break or end of July might motivate GM Matt Arnold to move one or more veterans for prospects. That would likely mean the end of a postseason push this year.

But this terrific 21-game opening raises the Brewers' playoff potential quite a bit, and the front office might start to think, "Yeah, we've got something here." Even if Milwaukee doesn't make a big splash at the trade deadline, simply hanging onto their top pieces for the stretch run would be a victory for the club and the fans. For now, the team has some breathing room should it stumble, and all signs point to a huge opportunity to add at the deadline instead of subtracting.

Seeing the Milwaukee Brewers' 15-6 record sitting atop the NL standings is enough to make fans smile for days. As with most things in baseball, going beyond the numbers adds to the joy and excitement. Things can change quickly, but a fast start is an ideal way to reintroduce people to the team and set up the club for a full season of fun.