Top 25 Most-Viewed Brewer Fanatic Articles of 2024 (Part 1: 21-25)

2024 is nearly complete. For me, it's always fun to look back at which articles received the most attention, the most views. Sometimes the topics are obvious; a big trade, a free agent signed or lost. The Brewers certainly had several of each this season. Sometimes, the articles are completely random; a satirical bit, a deep-dive analytical piece. 

Before the season, there were rumors about Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames. This offseason, there were conversations about Adames's free agency until he signed with the Giants. What would happen with Brandon Woodruff, and how many of the prospects would get an opportunity. The season went surprisingly well for The Crew won 93 games and won the NL Central by 10 games over the Cubs and Cardinals. The playoffs again ended earlier than anyone hoped, but there were a lot of great stories and great performances throughout the year. Jackson Chourio's contract and tremendous rookie season. Sal Frelick's gold glove, and Brice Turang's platinum award were encouraging. And there are more prospects to come. 

So, please enjoy looking back at the season through Brewer Fanatic's most-viewed articles. 

#25: Could the Brewers Replicate Their Legendary 2018 Double Move? 
Ryan Pollak  
January 18 

In January of 2018, the Brewers made a couple of January moves that certainly altered the team’s trajectory and bolstered the organization into a consistent, legitimate contender. Before the 2024 season began, Ryan considered if the Brewers could make a couple of January moves to push them to the next level again, to push them toward the World Series. In reality, the team did make one of the two moves he suggested. 

#24: What Would a Willy Adames Trade to the Marlins Trade Look Like?
Jason Wang 
February 3

After the Brewers traded All Star Corbin Burnes to the Orioles, there was a lot of speculation that the Brewers might also trade shortstop Willy Adames. Unfortunately, Adames was coming off of a sub-par 2023 season, so the expected return wasn’t huge. I would say that the Brewers and their fans are likely quite glad that this particular trade didn’t happen. Of course, after a strong 2024 season, the Brewers offered the Qualifying Offer, but Adames declined it and later signed a mega-deal with the San Francisco Giants. The Brewers will receive a draft pick. 

#23: 5 Potential Chain-Reaction Effects of Sal Frelick Playing Third Base
Tim Muma  
March 20

Remember in spring training when Pat Murphy had Sal Frelick spend quite a bit of time at third base. Just over a week before Opening Day, the team hadn’t completely shut the door on the idea. Tim wrote a really nice article considering what making the move might mean to the roster construction. How would playing time be split up in the outfield? Which infielder would get less time? How would the position change affect Frelick at the plate?  

#22: Why Sal Frelick’s Infield Experiment Could End in Regular Season
Jack Stern 
March 7

A couple of weeks earlier, Jack wrote about the idea of Frelick playing third base and said that it was an experiment that wouldn’t last, and why? Ultimately, Frelick stayed in the outfield and earned the first Gold Glove of his career. Is this going to be a topic or consideration in spring training 2025 too?   

#21: Joey Ortiz has Played Great Defense for Brewers, but Has he Been Part of Willy Adames’s Problem?
Matthew Trueblood 
August 28

Joey Ortiz had a very strong rookie season defensively at third base. He was solid at the plate as well. When we think about defense, we often limit it to just individual performance. However, there is also the concept of team defense that may come into play. Willy Adames was terrific defensively in 2023, especially going deep into the hole. However, with Ortiz covering that 5.5 hole so well, Adames hasn’t needed to show as much range in that direction, so his numbers don’t look quite as well. It’s a concept that teams might want to consider moving forward. Can a third baseman play a step closer to the line? Can the next Brewers shortstop move a step or two to the left and get a few more balls hit up the middle? How many games will be needed to have enough data points to properly align the infielders?

Those were articles 21-25. Which were your favorite? Would you have liked to have seen Sal Frelick at third base? Or, should we just be glad that Joey Ortiz proved to be pretty good there so Frelick could win a Gold Glove in the outfield? And now, do they let Ortiz move over to shortstop? 

We'll be back tomorrow with articles 16-20. Which topics do you think will be covered?