John Bonnes

The Brewers’ 2023 schedule (and every other team in Major League Baseball) has a new look that makes road trips that much more appealing. So let’s see what we can find. The Brewers’ 2023 schedule (and every other team in Major League Baseball) has a new look that makes road trips that much more appealing. So let’s see what we can find. The Brewers’ 2022 season is far from over (even the projection systems think so), but since Milwaukee released their 2023 schedule yesterday, let’s peek ahead to find some fun trips to new ballparks. Major League Baseball’s schedule changes next year so that several series previously played versus divisional opponents will now be interleague games. This allows the Brewers to play at least three games against every other team in Major League Baseball, making it much easier for Brewers fans to see games in American League ballparks. Four killer road trips stood out to me. #4 – Toronto Blue Jays (end of May) Canadian baseball fans travel well when their team visits a northern American ballpark. So why not return the favor? Unfortunately, this three-game series isn’t over a weekend, but it is the week of Memorial Day. It’s about a 10-hour drive, but the most direct path takes you within an hour of Niagara Falls, and you’re already on the (far superior for viewing) Canadian side. Stop there for a night either on the way there (the Brewers have Memorial Day off?) or the way back. I advise you spring extra for a hotel room with a view of the falls. You won’t forget that night soon. Rogers Centre, on the other hand? It’s aged, and not particularly well. When it was built its retractable roof was praised as a marvel to behold, and the good news is that you won’t have to worry about a rainout. If you want to spring for it, they still do have a hotel inside the stadium where you can get rooms with a view of the game. Plus, Toronto is a world class city – markets, museums, distilleries, breweries – they have it all, even if if you’re not visiting on a weekend. #3 – New York Yankess Speaking of world class cities, the Brewers visit New York City on a weekend in September to face the Yankees. If there aren’t at least four items in that last sentence that excite you might want to check your pulse. If you are a baseball fan, and haven’t been to Yankee Stadium, can you pick a better time? Personally, I was a little disappointed; as its name suggests, it’s more “stadium” than “ballpark” which is not my aesthetic. But get there early to poke around or arrange a tour, and you might feel differently than I. And New York is, of course, amazing. #2 - Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres Spring is wonderful in the upper Midwest, and Brewers fans are fortunate to have a ballpark where baseball can be played in all kinds of weather. That doesn’t mean we aren’t ready to skedaddle to a southern climate in mid-April, and the schedule provides exactly that opportunity with a trip to Arizona and San Diego. Fly in and out of one, or take a week and visit both; they’re about a 6-hour drive apart. If you’re forced to pick one, the San Diego Padres trip is the obvious winner. Not only is it an unbelievable city and a fantastic stadium, it’s also a four game weekend series. Petco Park is located in San Diego’s entertaining Gaslamp Quarter and includes a built-in warehouse out in left field. It’s definitely a top 10 MLB stadium. But don’t sleep on Phoenix. The Arizona Diamondback’s Chase Field is also located downtown, surrounded by a surprising amount of nightlife, especially considering the state of that franchise. The ballpark itself is a little more generic, but if you get a chance, ask about visiting the organist. It’s one of the few places in MLB you can do that, and we found him very entertaining to talk to in-between his musical enhancements to the game. Afterwards, Phoenix will certainly find a way to keep you entertained. #1 – Cleveland Guardians, Baseball Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Pirates Nothing screams Midwestern baseball like a road trip, and there’s a pretty good one awaiting you at the end of June. The Brewers will play the Cleveland Guardians (a 7-hour drive) for a weekend series. After that, the team travels to face the New York Mets, but rather than make that trek, you have four days to visit Cooperstown, NY (also 7-hours) and the Baseball Hall of Fame. (By the way, you have the option of an even shorter jot to Niagara Falls as you pass through Buffalo. Again, just make sure you go over to the Canadian side.) The next weekend, the Brew Crew makes their way back through Pittsburgh (yep – also 7 hours) to play the Pirates at beautifuly scenic PNC Park. At the end of that series, you have to drive a little longer – 8.5 hours – to get back to Milwaukee, but you gain an hour, so we’re going to call it close enough. Any of those strike you? If not, there are plenty more to consider, like a weekend series versus the White Sox, a trip to Denver or San Francisco, or a series in Dallas (in August, blech). You can find the full 2023 Brewers schedule here, and I’d love to have your ideas in the comments below. View full article

Believe it or not, the computers are verifying what your (usually) delusional Auntie Maddie has been saying: the Brewers are in this thing. Image courtesy of © Michael Sears / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Believe it or not, the computers are verifying what your (usually) delusional Auntie Maddie has been saying: the Brewers are in this thing. There's been a fair amount of gloom and doom since the trade deadline, despite Josh Hader floundering with the Padres. But Brewers fans might find some objective analysis encouraging: the top three MLB postseason projection systems all predict the chances of the Brew Crew making the playoffs at over 50%. The top active postseason projection system in Google search is FiveThirtyEight.com, which (as of Tuesday, 8/23) gives Milwaukee a 62% chance of playing postseason baseball. Baseball-Reference is less optimistic but tilts the scales towards the Brewers at 51.6%. FanGraphs splits the difference, giving the Brew Crew a 56% chance. However, none are particularly optimistic about the team winning the NL Central race. Baseball-Reference is giving the Brewers just a 5% chance, while Five Thirty Eight and FanGraphs are a little kinder, giving Counsell's Crew a 16% chance. Each system has its own methodology, which explains the differences they have. Fans can take heart that the kindest of them, Five Thirty Eight, doesn't use any preseason projection systems. It strictly looks at head-to-head results, margin of victory, and quality of opponent throughout this year. Maybe because of that, it is also the only one of the projection systems that likes the Brewers' chances of getting into the postseason more than that of the Padres, one of the teams Milwaukee is chasing in the Wild Card race. It only gives the Padres a 59% chance of making the postseason. Five Thirty Eight relies on a projection system called the Elo system. In addition to the factors above, their system also accounts for starting pitchers, travel distance, and rest. These factors result in a measure of strength, which is compared to other teams, on a game-by-game basis, 100,000 times. The results of those simulations determine the percentages they list. A look at the game-by-game matchups the Brewer face show one reason for us all to be optimistic – there are a lot of favorable matchups on their schedule. After they get out of this Dodger meatgrinder, Five Thirty Eight has them favored in their next eighteen games. Let me be clear: they are not projecting them to win eighteen in a row. But overall, Milwaukee is a 61%/39% favorite in those games. Plus, they face a similar stretch of thirteen games at the end of the season. (We won't talk about an eight-game stretch in the middle of that bunch where they face the Cardinals on the road, followed by the Mets and Yankees at home, because we're trying to keep this story family-friendly.) So, take a little comfort at the end of this particularly brutal stretch of games. This isn't from your pie-in-the-sky uncle. This isn't based on burnings incense around a Bernie Brewer bobblehead. This is math, and it's done by computers who don't have any dog in this fight. And they are telling you: the season is far from over. View full article

We asked a few or our writers for their initial reactions and to breakdown the trade that send Josh Hader away from the Brewers during a NL Central division race. Here were their reactions. Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports We asked a few or our writers for their initial reactions and to breakdown the trade that send Josh Hader away from the Brewers during a NL Central division race. Here were their reactions. Tommy Ciacciio "It finally happened" is a weird way to start a conversation about something that feels counterintuitive and inorganic. I understand that the identity of the closer is outsized relative to their actual value. That said, since the moment Josh Hader was acquired for Carlos Gomez all those years ago, he's been inextricably attached to the identity of the Brewers as fearless small market titans who are perpetually competitive. It's rational to react negatively when the author of so many emotional moments is abruptly and permanently absent from the role you've associated them with for years. It's important to take a birds-eye view of the situation and assess whether or not those emotions have purchase when considering the trade's effect on the team. And my (unsolicited) objective, sterile and emotionless opinion? They do not. Sports are about the moment. As much as the spindly flamethrowing Josh Hader may have appeared nearly superhuman in his dominance, the metrics don't suggest irreplaceability. The most immediately useful piece is Taylor Rogers. An All-Star last year, Rogers doesn't have what it takes to replace Hader directly, but he does have what it takes to set up for Devin Williams, who hasn't allowed a run since May 10th. Dinelson Lamet is the player with the second most major league experience. While less effective due to a series of injuries, he is only two years separated from a fourth place Cy Young finish. And then there is Robert Gasser and Esteury Ruiz to complete the trade. A pitching and outfield prospect respectively, each comes with an exciting high ceiling. Gasser is a crafty control pitcher who, despite not having dominating velocity, has managed a 30.5% strikeout rate. The speedy Ruiz maintained a gaudy .450 OBP in double and triple-A over 374 plate appearances. There are worse problems than being loaded with a bastion of young, elite talent, but with elite talent comes commensurate paydays. The Brewers will soon be forced to navigate paydays for Woodruff and Burnes, Adames and Urias. Investing heavily in a one-inning asset, even one of historical domination, just wasn't tenable. Fortunately, the savvy Stearns regime has found a way to trade him for a hefty bounty and remain at least as close to competitive as they were Monday morning. Kyle Ginsbach I'll admit I was initially shocked when the trade was first broken. After the initial shock died down, I was on board. I think what many fans are missing with this deal is the real value of the return. Though Rogers isn't the same caliber as Hader, he's a proven major league reliever, and the Brewers might not even ask him to close. Neither Ruiz nor Lament are proven big leaguers, but both ooze with potential. Ruiz boasted an OPS over 1.000 and stole over 60 bags in AAA this year. Lament arguably boasts Cy-Young caliber stuff when he's healthy and has command. Though Gasser's numbers don't jump off the page, any pitcher the Brewers front office is high on is worth noting. Most Brewer fans are aware of what they're losing, and as hard as it may be to see Hader go, now was probably the right time. More than ever, the Brewers can replace a closer, and there's never a bad time to add young talent. Obviously, the Brewers are betting they can replace Hader's production and add for the future. If that's the case, I'm sold. Caswell Dommisse Do I think the Crew could have gotten more? Probably. But the reliever market has changed so much since that huge Aroldis Chapman trade that brought him to Chicago back in 2016. This trade seems pretty fair overall. Rogers and Lamet are both exciting pitchers. Rogers has 28 saves on the year, second to Hader's 29 across the entire MLB, and offers an intriguing approach. His numbers are drastically elevated from one appearance back on June 2nd in Milwaukee, where he took the loss with four earned runs. Rogers is a free agent at year's end, but Lamet will be arbitration-eligible for one more season. He has struggled with injuries but has elite stretches. Looking at both of these guys makes it seem like the Padres limit their pitchers quite a bit, as each has decreased their pitch repertoire this season, so both could be a little different than what we've seen thus far. I am wondering what the plan will be with Lamet, who is a better starter than a reliever (3.78 ERA versus 6.90). Gasser looks to be quite good, and with the way the Crew has been developing pitchers, I'd be very excited if I were him to work in the pitching lab. I expect him to make a jump shortly and for fans to hear from him soon. He will need to limit the extra-base hits against right-handed batters, who have slugged .457 despite an average of .262. Lefties need to be concerned, though, with only 1(!) extra-base hit, a double, against him and an average of just .216. I am underwhelmed about Ruiz, but he has had some really good numbers in the minors this year, so maybe David Stearns sees him filling in that center field gap I talked about in my article a couple of days ago. Overall, I am very happy with this deal; it gives quite a bit of insight into the general direction the Brewers have as an organization. Rather than draining the farm for one huge run, a sustained attack with many runs where the team hopes to get lucky is critical for a small market team who won't pay those big free agents. View full article

The AL Central leading Minnesota Twins host the Brewers for a two-game set, and offer some star power, a trade deadline chit, and a combustible bullpen. Let’s cover the bases. Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports The AL Central leading Minnesota Twins host the Brewers for a two-game set, and offer some star power, a trade deadline chit, and a combustible bullpen. Let’s cover the bases. First Base – Tuesday’s starting pitcher, Josh Winder Not every organization knows how to develop pitching like the Brewers. Since hired in 2016, one of General Manager Derek Falvey’s focuses has been to oversee an overhaul of the Twins’ pitching pipeline. After years of waiting, the organization is starting to see it trickle out some results. We asked John Bonnes, who co-founded Twins Daily, to give us a preview of the two-game Twins-Brewers series. Meanwhile, we had Tommy Ciaccio, who does series previews for Brewer Fanatic, do the same over on our sister site. If you would like to see that, click here. Despite their differences, these fan bases have at least one thing in common: they both really dislike their respective Chicago-based teams. Winder represents the second homegrown starter of what the Twin hope will become an annual harvest. (The first, Bailey Ober , is on the Injured List). He’s a slider-first pitcher (a recurring theme for the Twins) who sprinted through AA and AAA last year, and was a surprise addition to the Opening Day roster. Since then, he’s been in the bullpen, in AAA, and on the injured list, but his work as a starter – a 1.71 ERA in five games - is what has the team most excited. His underlying numbers suggest that ERA is an aberration, but the 6’5” 25-year-old looks like a stable rotational fixture in an organization where that’s been rare for well over a decade. Second Base – Wednesday’s starting pitcher, Joe Ryan If you’re wondering what the Brewers might need to give up to add a big bat to their lineup for the stretch run, look no further than the Twins’ 26-year-old rookie starting pitcher on Wednesday. Just last year, they acquired him from the Rays (along with a lesser prospect) for 2+ months of Nelson Cruz . After a torrid start to the season (2.28 ERA in April and June with 42K in 43.1 IP), he was diagnosed with COVID and missed over three weeks recovering. Since then, he’s appeared a lot more vulnerable, posting a 4.39 ERA in June and July over five starts. More appetizing to the Brew Crew lineup, he’s also given up 5 home runs in those 26.2 IP. Is he still recovering from COVID? Is the league catching up with him? Is this just a midseason swoon? Is the Manfred mushball no longer as mushy? Wednesday’s game, his last start before the All-Star break, may help provide some answers. Third Base – A-B-C and 1-2-3 in the order – Arraez, Buxton and Correa The Twins offense ranks third the American League in runs, and most of the lineup is better than competent, with only one regular starter (catcher Ryan Jeffers ) with an OPS+ under 100. But Jason Alexander (Tuesday's MIL starter) and Aaron Ashby (Wednesday's starter) will need to navigate the top three spots of the lineup with extra care, as Luis Arraez, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa await there. Arraez’ nickname is The Sprinkler, because - tschk, tschk, tschk – the left-handed hitting Arraez just keeps shooting hits all around the field, en route to a MLB leading .348 batting average and .420 on-base percentage. Once upon a time, the Twins wanted Buxton to be a right-handed Arraez, but now he’s just a pure hulking launch-em-to-the-moon slugger cleverly disguised in a speedy centerfielder’s body. It’s working for him. His 23 home runs bolster an 845 OPS, despite recently slumping to a .215 batting average. Correa is the perfect mixer. He provides stellar defense at shortstop, a taste of Buxton’s power (10 HR) but Arraez’ patience (.351 OBP). Plus, he’s been an ideal fit in the clubhouse, being a team leader without thumping his chest about being a team leader. He’s essentially on a one-year deal, so enjoy(?) him while you can. Home Plate – The Twins Shaky Bullpen Don’t give up on the Brew Crew too early this series. No lead is safe for the Minnesota Twins. If the Twins bullpen was even a little more reliable, they would have a double-digit lead in the AL Central. Heck, if they were even a little more reliable just against the Cleveland Guardians, they would have a double-digit lead in the AL Central. But the Twins have only two relievers they truly trust, and they’re both rookies. 100mph flame thrower Jhoan Duran converted from the rotation to the bullpen in spring training and has exceled. Griffin Jax did that too, and though he doesn’t have the velocity of Duran, he has been nearly as reliable. Plus, both will throw multiple innings if the team really needs it. Beyond that is a mixture of veterans (Caleb Thielbar, Tyler Duffey, Emilio Pagan) and AAAA arms (Jharel Cotton, Trevor Megill, Jovani Moran) who are effective enough often enough to be assets, but disastrous enough that they all hover around a negative Win Probability Added value. They Twins may get back veteran sidearmer Joe Smith for this series, who was at least reliable early in the season. Bottom line: don’t turn off the TV too early. I assure you, Twins fans won't. (Unless they can't bear to watch.) View full article

Tailgating, the Brewers and you. Sounds like a pretty good trio. And we're offering discounted tickets, complimentary beers and brats, which makes it even better. Image courtesy of © Ebony Cox / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK Tailgating, the Brewers and you. Sounds like a pretty good trio. And we're offering discounted tickets, complimentary beers and brats, which makes it even better. I know Brewer Fanatic might look like a simple online site, but at its core, it’s about community. Maybe you’re part of the moderators, or one of our team of writers, or a commenter, or an everyday visitor. Whatever your role, you’re part of our community, and we think we’re stronger together than we are apart. So let’s get together. We’re throwing a party at AmFam next Saturday, July 9th, when the Brewers take on the Pirates. The game starts at 3:10, but we’ll be tailgating beforehand. Anytime after 1 PM, you’re welcome to stop by for some complimentary dogs, brats and beer. Then we’ll head into the game. The new management team responsible for Brewer Fanatic will be there with their families, as well as moderators and writers. We can talk Brewers or the site or beer or nonsense – after all this is a tailgate. If you’re interested in joining us, you have a few choices: 1) Join us for the tailgate only. Maybe you already have tickets. Just RSVP using this link, so we know how many brats, etc to have. You’re welcome to stop by even if you don’t RSVP, but if you do RSVP, we can get you important details, like where we’re going to be, via email. 2) Join us for the game. We’re getting lower level seats which retail for about $50 and subsidizing them so they only cost you $29.95. We’ll need to collect some money from you, and get your email so we can forward them to you using the Ballpark app. Sign up here. We would all love to meet you, serve you up some lunch and catch a game. We hope you can make it. Purchase the $50 ticket package for only $29.95: "Purchase" the free RSVP package just to let us know you'll join us tailgating! View full article

Brewer fanatics love a good rally, so let’s have one ourselves. Save this date: Saturday, July 9th when the Brewers take on the Pirates at 3:00. We’re planning on a tailgate beforehand, including free brats and beer, and then catch the game at American Family Field. We’ll get the details straightened out soon, but for now, open up that calendar app and reserve the whole afternoon. We look forward to meeting you all face-to-face. Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports Brewer fanatics love a good rally, so let’s have one ourselves. Save this date: Saturday, July 9th when the Brewers take on the Pirates at 3:00. We’re planning on a tailgate beforehand, including free brats and beer, and then catch the game at American Family Field. We’ll get the details straightened out soon, but for now, open up that calendar app and reserve the whole afternoon. We look forward to meeting you all face-to-face. We'll release details soon, including how you can get discounted tickets. But save that date! View full article

I'll throw out two names that fit that profile at least a little: Gilberto Celestino and (potentially) Nick Gordon, both of whom are on the Twins. There is no way Celestino is as good as he looks right now, but he looks incredible. Even with perceived regression, he looks like he could be a regular center fielder, he's 23, team-controlled for six more years, and of course blocked by Buxton. It isn't clear Nick Gordon will ever hit well enough to be a MLB regular, but if he does it will likely be as a centerfielder. His defense there has looked (by eye only) awfully good, and with a decent BA and his speed, he could be an offensive asset for that position. Gordon doesn't look like a great fit for a contending team, but he does do one important thing: he make the Twins more willing to trade Celestino, which they might hesitate to do give Buxton's injury history.

If you have a moment, we would love your feedback on Brewer Fanatic. This survey is 8 questions long and takes two minutes or less to fill out. Thanks! Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic If you have a moment, we would love your feedback on Brewer Fanatic. This survey is 8 questions long and takes two minutes or less to fill out. Thanks! Again, the survey is right here, and very short. Thank you for giving us your feedback. View full article

I should add, if you have any questions about the site, or suggestions or whatever, I'll try to get back to this story later today (more likely tonight) to answer them.

I should add, if you have any questions about the site, or suggestions or whatever, I'll try to get back to this story later today (more likely tonight) to answer them.

I should add, if you have any questions about the site, or suggestions or whatever, I'll try to get back to this story later today (more likely tonight) to answer them.

I should add, if you have any questions about the site, or suggestions or whatever, I'll try to get back to this story later today (more likely tonight) to answer them.

A little over a month ago, we launched the redesigned Brewer Fanatic, and things are going almost as well for the site as they are for the first-place Brewers. We’re so incredibly thankful to you all for your continued generosity in sharing your passion and thoughts, so let’s share the details. Image courtesy of Google Analytics A little over a month ago, we launched the redesigned Brewer Fanatic, and things are going almost as well for the site as they are for the first-place Brewers. We’re so incredibly thankful to you all for your continued generosity in sharing your passion and thoughts, so let’s share the details. On Sunday, March 13th, Brewer Fanatic was relaunched on this new platform. From a technical perspective, that was to provide new functionality, but that was just a means to an end. The real purpose was to provide a bigger tent to an already thriving and close-knit community, which could add writers, bloggers, daily Brewers content, Brewers’ minor league coverage, and much more. So today, I’m happy to announce that we are publishing our 100th story since launch – and that doesn’t count the additional stories you can find in our blogs. We’re incredibly thankful to the writers who are brave enough and generous to publish their insights and coverage. If you enjoy reading these independent contributors, please let them know in the comments of their stories, or add your reactions, insights, or research in the comments. Those stories have helped us find even more Brewers fans. Yesterday we had our 20,000th new visitor since the relaunch. If you wondered if you’re alone in your level of passion with the Brewers, it would seem you are not. We’re especially pleased that over half of those visitors are outside Wisconsin, so we’re providing a community to many who might otherwise have trouble sharing in the excitement of the Brewers’ solid start. Those visitors are sticking around to participate. We are fast approaching 5000 members, and those members have been sharing about 250 comments each day in our stories and forums since the season began. Finally, those stories and comments are being read; we’ve also had almost half a million page views since the relaunch. So THANK YOU. Brewer Fanatic has a chance to impact the narratives around the Brewers, but not as a traditional corporate top-down media conglomerate. We are a community first and foremost, and that’s where our real strength is. Your contributions and devotion to baseball and the Brewers fuel all of this. We believe it will continue to drive growth. We want to grow the front page, so there are 4-6 new stories for you every day. If you’re interested in writing, let us know by emailing john@bonnes.com. We’ll help you develop your voice, and we’ll pay you all the ad revenue that your story generates. We’ll also be releasing a poll shortly to give you all an opportunity to guide the future of Brewer Fanatic. We’ll also be providing an opportunity to help caretake Brewer Fanatic and get an ad-free experience. We’re even talking about all catching a ballgame this summer. Plus, maybe videos or podcasts or … wherever the community takes us. After all, it has already taken us so far. View full article

I just posted a story on the front page about this move. I'd be interested in your comments over there on my interpretation of Jackson's future, and giving up on Cantrelle so early. I trust you guys more than I do my own judgement when it comes to Brewers' prospects.

The Brewers announced via their Twitter feed that they have acquired catcher Alex Jackson from the Miami Marlins for infielder Hayden Cantrelle and right-handed pitcher Alexis Ramirez. Jackson was assigned to AAA-Nashville, but has displayed some promising power in the minors. But he didn't cost nothing. Image courtesy of © Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports The Brewers announced via their Twitter feed that they have acquired catcher Alex Jackson from the Miami Marlins for infielder Hayden Cantrelle and right-handed pitcher Alexis Ramirez. Jackson was assigned to AAA-Nashville, but has displayed some promising power in the minors. But he didn't cost nothing. Not only did the Brewers acquire their backup catcher earlier today to replace the suspended Pedro Severino, but they added an insurance policy with some upside as well, acquiring 26-year-old catcher Alex Jackson from the Miami Marlins. Jackson has played 61 games in the majors over the last three years with the Marlins and Braves. He was also the sixth overall pick by the Mariners back in 2014. After a trade to the Braves in 2016 he moved back from corner outfielder to backup catcher. He's posted an undewhelming career 468 OPS in spot starts in the majors, but has shown a lot more in AAA, including a career .540 slugging percentage in 151 games. Last year in AAA-Gwinnet, he posted a 1060 OPS, albeit in just 30 games. In return, the Brewers sent back 23-year-old infielder Hayden Cantrelle and 22-year-old pitcher Alexis Ramirez. Cantrelle was the 151st overall draft pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, and posted a 675 OPS last year between the High-A Wisconsin and the Double-A Biloxi. He showed off his speed, stealing 29 bases in 90 games. However, while his combined .171 batting average invites the "you can't steal first base" adage, you are allowed to walk, and he did that a lot - enough to post a .368 on-base percentage. Brewers fans haven't seen Alexis Ramirez with an affiliated team. He pitched in the Dominican Summer League in 2018, and then pitcher in the Arizona Fall League in 2019, posting a 5.15 ERA in 11 games. That included 50K in 43.2 IP, but also 23 walks. Last year he spent time on a 60-day Injured List. So given a roster crisis, it appears the Brewers overhauled their high-level catcher organization chart with a couple of moves. What that means for Pedro Severino and the future of the position over the second half of the year is unclear for now. View full article