ReverendBrewmeister

Truly could use some starters who can figure out how to go six innings or deeper in a game. The team is averaging 4.89 IP/start through April 23. Exposing the bullpen for four or five innings per game as it’s currently constructed doesn’t appear to be a winning formula.

The hat trick for Yelich tonight.

Burnes’ repertoire of pitches should give him the potential of being an ace pitcher. But I do have a little bit of wonder—not doubt, but wonder—if Burnes might end up being a right-handed Hader. He was dominant out of the bullpen last year. If he could go all out for one or two innings at a time, then might that lead to better performances? It would avoid having to face batters multiple times in appearances. Certainly, Burnes will get opportunities to show his stuff as a starter, but being a bullpen ace is nothing to sneeze at.

Chalk up another 1-run victory!

The 2018 team was 33-19 in one run games. So far, the 2019 team is 3-0. Way early, but it’s a good sign to see that success show up. Much better than seeing an 0-3.

MVP. That is all.

ABs with RISP look like the Achilles Heel today. Gotta convert some of those.

The movement on Burnes’ cutter or slider is almost unfair. Dominant pitch versus right-handed batters.

Hader can go full Bugs Bunny: one pitch, three Ks.

9 pitch, 9 strike, 3 K save. Fully enjoyable.

At this point, I honestly can't explain what happened to the 2017 version of Eric Thames. He looked completely lost after coming back from this thumb injury last year, and it's continued so far this year. It's too bad, because they guy could be a huge weapon. Certainly too early in the season to be fully worried, but I’d have to think that Thames’ roster spot might be in jeopardy if he would put up a month or so of that level of performance. Need to have players who can contribute offensively if they aren’t great on defense.

Need the offense to pick up Peralta tonight. Even just one run in the 1st Inning would be a good start.

2019 Brewers Predictions Win-Loss Record: 88-74 Playoffs (Yes, No): Yes (NL Central Champion) Highest Playoff Level Achieved: NLCS All-Star Game Representative(s): Grandal, Yelich, Hader Offensive Player of the Year: Yelich (in the mix for repeat of NL MVP) Starting Pitcher of the Year: Woodruff (becomes a true #2 starter) Relief Pitcher of the Year: Hader (fireman role, as well as double-digit saves) Most Surprising Player: Barnes (figures out how to harness talent and becomes very competent setup man) Most Disappointing Player: Moustakas (doesn't hold 2B position well enough to prevent Hiura from being called up)

To me, the current dark blue/yellow is much better than the old royal blue/yellow. The shift to the darker blue was the best part of the uniform and logo change. I’d like to see the BiG become the primary logo, while updating the script on the uniforms. Wouldn’t mind seeing a mock-up of a pinstripe uniform in the current color combo.

Ballpark Digest had a nice writeup on the renovations at Maryvale with a few pictures: https://ballparkdigest.com/2019/02/26/touring-american-family-fields-of-phoenix-milwaukee-brewers/ I got to see the complex on February 20. I don't know what it was like prior to the renovations, but it sure looked impressive.

How about a different vote? Perhaps George Petak's vote on the funding bill for Miller Park could be alluded to. The driver is watching the Brewers play in Milwaukee because of that one vote.

Just about the most veteran player botches catching a punt. Just seems fitting for this season.

I'm glad to see that we're sharing some of our 2018 postscripts. A note from a friend, who happens to be a dreaded Cubs fan, prompted me to write something, so here are some of my thoughts about what the Milwaukee Brewers brought this year. ---------- It's October 23, a few days after another time that October 20 has become a day in Milwaukee Brewers infamy. The World Series begins tonight, and it reminds how tantalizingly close my team was to being a league champion and playing for a world championship. The NL Central title flag will be installed at Miller Park, but it was another pennant that was coveted. As a Brewers fan who was in kindergarten in 1982 and doesn't really personally remember much about that best season in the franchise's history, it's been a lifetime of not expecting success. Only five playoff appearances in total, including the 1981 split-season "playoff". So not capitalizing another time when having home field advantage for the NLCS feels like such a rare opportunity lost that might not come again. Too many things seem to need to align to get to within a game of going to the World Series. That's the history of having the Brewers be my team. But this time, there is optimism. Unlike 2011, the key players aren't leaving in free agency. The young power arms that showed up this season are under team control for years; a couple more are in the wings. Some high level hitting prospects might pan out in the near future. The owner, GM, and manager are a great combination. They surprised us with signings and trades this past offseason; the same might be done over this winter. Use of analytics to make game decisions caused old-school baseball people to scratch their heads, but the team set a franchise record for winning games in one season. We shall see what 2019 brings. There is always the reminder from Bart Giamatti's essay about baseball: "It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart." But I'm hoping--maybe even expecting--a good season, possibly even more to follow, which is a rare place to be as a Brewers fan.

Yep ... 2-1 or 5-1, doesn't matter. You can't generate offense, you lose. The pitching carried this team this far. The offense choked in this series. Needed just a hit several times in this series and just couldn’t get it. Thinking back on the series, Game 4 is the one that’s going to be the game that will stick out as major example of how the offense was what lost the NLCS for the Brewers. And with this loss, October 20 remains a day that lives in Milwaukee Brewers infamy.

Woodruff kept them in it. Stressful, but did the job. Need the miracle of comebacks.

Top of the order coming up in the 8th. Bat around and they can win this game. Now is the time!

Jansen for a 7-out game finish. Hope that’s just a few outs too many tonight.

Big value getting two-out hits with runners on. Breaks games open. Brewers got them in Game 6. Dodgers got a big one here in Game 7.

That just might be the back breaker.

Well, if batter a hits and gets on base, that is by definition not getting the batter out. To a larger point, maybe there is something wrong with the defensive shifting when Cedeno pitches. Small sample size, perhaps. But maybe the defensive positioning needed adjusting with Cedeno on the mound.