The stache

I'm feeling so much better about things since we brought Gio back. A solid veteran pitcher that can eat up a lot of innings while keeping his team in the game. It's a small sample size (seven starts), but his FIP with the Brewers (3.07) is nearly identical to his career peak between 2012-2015 (3.08). That's likely not sustainable, but it's encouraging. Even if he has an occasional rough outing, his being back in a Brewers uniform will help the bullpen stay sharper. Now, if the bats would just wake up.

Bucks 4 for 16 from 3 pt range to start. Bledsoe 2 for 10 from the floor. #%^*!!!!!

Braun showing signs of life? 3 for his last 5. It would really help if he started producing some again.

Cain says, "I got this." Lorenzo with the jack to tie it!

29 pitches in the first thus far, holy God.

Braun 3rd. Aguilar 4th. For the love of God....

7 more walks tonight. Something is seriously wrong.

That's not fair. I almost feel bad for the Mets hitters. Almost.

Wow, Hader!!!!!! He's on tonight!!

Where have I see this before? It's the post season last year all over again.

/face palm. Jeffress

Walks. God help me.

Familia is an idiot, wow. Thank you.

Hit a bomb, Christian.

Game #28. The Brewers have given up 48 home runs. At this pace, Brewers staff would give up 277 round trippers. 258 is the Major League record.

Just DFW Wilson's worthless ___ right now. Completely useless.

So tired of watching this staff give up gopher balls.

We've thrown the young guys in there to start against inarguably some of the toughest offenses in baseball, and now after a month of .500 baseball with clearly less than optimal results, we're going to toss those kids back into the pen? I'm confused. Are we trying to compete in 2019, or 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022? Because the Brewers have never developed starting pitching. Ever. Since this team moved to Milwaukee from Seattle, we've had an occasional pitcher develop. Teddy Higuera can't be included in this, as he was 27 years old when he started pitching for us. Mike Caldwell had already started 90 games before coming to Milwaukee. He was 29 when he won 22 for us. Ben Sheets was dominant from 2004-2006. He had the bad luck of being on some terrible teams. Then, the injury issues really started taking a toll. Yovani Gallardo had some good years. A few All Star appearances. But I wouldn't put him on the level of Sheets. Who else am I missing? What other pitchers have wowed us on the Brewers? Sabathia and Greinke were rentals. Some other decent pitchers here and there, but nobody that blows your hair back. If the Brewers are ever going to turn the corner, and be consistent challengers for World Series success, they need to develop their own arms. We can't afford to get into bidding wars with other teams. Young, controllable arms. The bullpen being strong is great, and you can catch lightning in a bottle like last year. But eventually, your starters are going to have to take the reigns. Patience, guys. Don't shove the kids back in the pen. It's a waste of their talent. What they need is more seasoning. Time to figure it out. Time to work on getting through opposing lineups a third time. How many pitchers have started out rough, and then suddenly, one day, it all clicked. Imagine if the Dodgers gave up on Sandy Koufax in the first few years when he was all over the place. Different era, I know. Teams aren't nearly as patient now. But the Brewers need to stick with the plan. I'm perfectly ok with losing some tough series now, and enduring some frustration, if the long term means sustainable, successful starting pitching.

Since the All Star Break last year (July 27), in 87 games, Yelich has 124 hits in 339 ABs (.366 AVG), 81 runs scored, 22 doubles, 5 triples, 38 home runs 98 RBI, 13 of 15 stolen bases, 49 walks and a .452 OBP/.796 SLG/1.248 OPS.

Looking at Yelich's stats right now, my head wants to explode. He had a 211 wRC+ coming into the night. In 22 games, he's hitting .361 with 23 runs scored, 4 doubles, 13 triples, 31 RBI, 14 walks, and a slash line of .459 OBP/.880 SLG/1.339 OPS. Using the Fansided WAR calculator 2.1, with average defense and base running, and NL averages of .321 OBP and .419 SLG, he has about a 253 OPS+, and is worth 2.1 WAR. This is ridiculous. Why does any team pitch to Yelich at Miller Park? We might start seeing Barry Bonds walk rates soon.

A Major League Baseball team, to my knowledge, has not been named for a single player since the Cleveland Indians became the Naps in honor of Napolean Lajoie. Perhaps it is time to change that. The Milwaukee Yelichs doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but the ball sure does jump off his bat. I guess that mini slump he was in is a thing of the past. Just unreal how locked in he is. Oh, and the Bucks are up 13 at the half, 67-54.

Cain, Yelich and Braun go a combined 1 for 14, and we beat the defending National League champs, at Chavez Ravine, no less, 4-1. It's not always stress free, but this team finds a way to get it done. 10-5 without our closer, our ace, and our best setup guy...I'll take it. This team has a lot of depth. Lots of guys that can beat you. Knowing we have taken this early three game mini series is a big confidence booster. Now, just hold the fort down until Jimmy and Jeremy get back.

Wow, did Zach Davies give us exactly what we needed tonight. Great to see Aguilar starting to come out of it, too. Big hit last night, 1 for 2 tonight with a pair of walks. Now, if Brauny would just get it going, and Shaw, too.

By the Cardinals or the Dodgers?