Matt Breen

Eight years in the majors is cool. Over 60 home runs is a nice number. But you know what’s even better? How about a quarter of a century behind the microphone for Milwaukee Brewer telecasts? If that rocks your boat, you’ll love this throwback on former Brewer Bill Schroeder - AKA ‘Rock.’ Alfred William Schroeder was born in Maryland in 1958. He grew up in New Jersey, where he earned all-state honors. After attending Clemson University, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 8th round of the 1979 draft. The right-handed hitting Bill Schroeder displayed good power and solid receiving skills and steadily moved up the minor league ladder. He reached the majors at the end of the 1983 season, receiving a 23-game trial with the big league club. Schroeder spent the next five seasons as Milwaukee's reserve catcher, generally receiving 200 or so plate appearances a year. He periodically served as the team's designated hitter and first baseman, but catcher was where he played most of his games. Schroeder's rookie season showed off his promising power as he socked 14 HRs in only 227 plate appearances. But it also showed off a serious flaw in the big catcher's game - only eight walks. For five years, Schroeder provided solid, if unspectacular, production from the reserve catcher position. His best year was in 1987 when he slugged 14 home runs (tying him for the most in his career with his rookie season) with a robust .332 batting average. He also caught Juan Nieves's no-hitter - the only solo no-hitter in Brewer history. He followed up his best season with his worst - hitting a mere .156 in 1988 as an elbow injury limited his playing time. The result was a trade to the California Angels in the off-season. The Brewers received infielder Gus Polidor in return. Schroeder played two more undistinguished seasons with the Angels before being released after the 1990 season. He retired shortly afterward. His playing career may have been done, but Schroeder's association with the Milwaukee Brewers was just beginning. He landed a job in 1994 as a baseball analyst for a Milwaukee-area show called Baseball Sunday; then, in 1995, he was asked to be the television color commentator for the Crew - a position he has held for more than 25+ years. In addition to his announcing gig, Schroder has served as the coordinator of the Brewers Fantasy Camp for over a decade. During his playing career in Milwaukee, Schroeder hit 54 home runs in five full seasons. He showed good power, but he never really hit that well or took many walks (he had a .246 batting average and a .291 on-base percentage), which limited him as a hitter. His most significant contribution came as the Brewers' longtime announcer. Part of Schroeder’s appeal has been his embracing of the Milwaukee organization and the community, which he makes his home. Brewer fans have returned the love - enjoying Rock’s folksy enthusiasm, humor, and good nature. In 2015, Schroeder was inducted into the Brewers Wall of Honor. Please share your memories of former Brewer catcher (and current announcer) Bill Schroeder. View full article

Vasquez makes the most sense to me. Probably take a three year deal. Vasquez said playing time will be a key in his decision. He doesn't want to be a part timer. The Brewers could probably offer that - giving him 110-120 starts a year. There is no one in the system knocking on the door right now. Quero is at least a couple of years away - so three years would probably work all right for Milwaukee's purposes. If it takes a four year deal to get Vasquez, I doubt we go there. But someone else might.

I remember being at the Big 10 Pub in Madison watching the game. After the final out, I went to the pay phone and rang my dad to see if he had been watching. He had - so everyone was pretty excited. I'll never forget Murray's final at bat. I saw that ball heading to the alley in RF, and was like, "Oh no." Thankfully it hung up there long enough for Robin to get to it. Great moment.

On April 15, 1987, Brewer center fielder Robin Yount made a diving catch of a slicing liner off the bat of Eddie Murray, marking the thrilling finale of the only solo no-hitter in Milwaukee history. The author of that historic event was Juan Nieves. Juan Manuel Nieves Cruz was born in Puerto Rico in 1965. He went to school in Connecticut, and the Brewers won a bidding war for him after he posted a 19-1 record as a high school senior, signing him for the then-impressive figure of $115,000. Nieves was immediately tabbed as a top prospect when he produced a stellar 1.30 ERA while striking out 89 batters in 69 innings (and only 15 walks) as an 18-year-old in A ball. Despite some control issues, he moved quickly through the Brewer system using a mid-90 mph fastball, a good curve, and superior athleticism. Nieves made the Brewers rotation in 1986 as a 21-year-old. Not surprisingly, his performance was erratic. He pitched well to start the season but faded down the stretch. Still, he managed to win 11 games and toss 184.2 innings to go with a 4.92 ERA. The talent was evident. People expected big things. Those big things appeared right out of the gate in 1987. The Brewers began the season with a 13-game winning streak, the ninth game in Baltimore. Nieves threw the first (and only) no-hitter in team history, walking five and striking out seven. Some excellent defense was helped by Paul Molitor, Jim Paciorek (whose fantastic catch is in the video below), and the game-saver by Robin Yount. At the time, Nieves was the second youngest person ever to throw a no-hitter - and the first from Puerto Rico. Nieves showed progress that year, winning 14 games, but he was still plagued by inconsistent performances and bouts of wildness (100 walks in 195.2 IP). In 1988, Nieves struggled with shoulder soreness. He spent some time on the DL and only threw 110.1 innings. But there were signs of growth as a pitcher, as his 4.08 ERA and 1.215 WHIP were the best of his career. Little did anyone realize that Nieves had thrown his last major league game. In early 1989, a rotator cuff tear was detected in Nieves' throwing arm. He only tossed 14 minor league innings that year, then 29 the following season as he tried to battle back to the majors. But it was not to be. Other than a disastrous five-game comeback in 1998 in independent ball, Juan Nieves's career was over. After baseball, Nieves worked as a minor league pitching coach with the Yankees from 1992-96. He then tried his hand as an agent before joining the White Sox as a minor league pitching coach from 1999-2007. From 2008-12, he was the Sox bullpen coach, then was named Boston's pitching coach in 2013, winning a World Series with the club that same year. With Boston's collapse in 2015, Nieves lost his job but landed on his feet when the Marlins named him pitching coach in 2016 - a job he held for three seasons. He has been the Tigers' assistant pitching coach since 2021. On a fun note, Nieves had a small part in the Kevin Costner baseball film "For Love of the Game" in 1999. Due to arm issues, Juan Nieves' playing career lasted only three seasons, all with Milwaukee. The promise he showed never came to fruition. He won 32 games and tossed almost 500 innings with the Crew. For Brewer fans, Nieves' achievements would probably fade into history if not for the historic day in April of 1987. The 22-year-old kid made franchise history - cementing himself a place in the record books and the minds of Brewer fans. Please share your memories of former Brewer pitcher Juan Nieves. View full article

This is really important for this club - and something not really mentioned. While Yelich isn't very good, Mitchell, Frelick, Ruiz and Taylor could really be special. Add in Turang at 2B - and that's a lot of speed and quality glove work added to the lineup.

I'm guessing Keston is gone. He really needs a change of scenery or something. But I wouldn't count on him figuring things out after so many years. His bat is interesting - but the results just aren't there. And the defensive liabilities are enormous. Time to just move on.

I say sign Christian Vasquez and the position players are mostly set: C - Vasquez (R) 1B - Tellez (L) 2B - Turang (L) SS - Adamas (R) 3B - Urias (R) LF - Yelich (L) CF - Mitchell (L) RF - Frelick (L) DH - Winker (L) - Against right handers OF - Taylor, Ruiz INF - Toro, Brousseau C - Add someone or keep Caratini Vasquez starts 120+ games. Average hitter but a good receiver who is reportedly really great at handling a staff. Winker only plays against right handers. Other times we play Ruiz, Taylor and Brousseau (if its Taylor or Ruiz, you put them in LF and let Yelich DH).

I hope. Only against right-handers, please.

No team takes on $150m+ for a soon-to-be 31-year old outfielder who is a solid, but not that good. Plus he's aging and has an injury history. That's a disaster waiting to happen. Yelich's 2.8 bWAR is the best he's produced in three years. If he can do that going forward, he's still a valuable player. But does any team really think he can sustain that production when he's 35-36 years old? I'd love to see Yelich rebound - even a little - and just stay healthy. If he could hit .260-.270 with 20 HRs - he's a good player to have. Overpaid? Yes, but still decent. But no team is going to expect big things from him. They'll see a guy that has lost his power and skills, has a rag arm, and is past his prime. Why trade for that?

The main reason the Dodgers trade for Adames is they want to save their money to go big on other guys - such as Judge. But even then, it seems unlikely.

The main reason the Dodgers trade for Adames is they want to save their money to go big on other guys - such as Judge. But even then, it seems unlikely.

If you look at the career pitching leaders in Milwaukee Brewer history, there are only two players that fall in the top 10 in each of the following categories: wins, strikeouts, winning percentage, ERA, bWAR, FIP and innings pitched. One is Teddy Higuera - arguably the finest pitcher ever to wear a Brewer’s uniform. And the other guy? Sheets? Caldwell? Slaton? Bosio? Nope. The answer is Yovani Gallardo. Yovani Gallardo was born in Penjamillo, Michoacán, Mexico, in 1986. His family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, when Gallardo was four years old. In 2004, the Brewers selected Gallardo out of high school in the second round of the MLB draft. It didn’t take long for Gallardo, a righty, to become one of the organization's top starting pitchers. Gallardo struck out many batters with his five-pitch arsenal - particularly his fastball/slider/curve mix. Scouts liked his poise, athleticism, and ability to go deep in games (he led the minors in innings pitched in 2006). If you wanted to nitpick anything, it might be that he walked too many batters, and there were some questions about how high of a ceiling he had. Gallardo quickly worked his way up the minor league ladder and made his Brewer debut in 2007. Gallardo was impressive - starting 17 games while going 9-5 with a 3.67 ERA. Not bad for a 21-year-old. The Brewers went into 2008 with hopes to reach the playoffs for the first time in more than a quarter century - and the young Gallardo was a huge part of that hype. However, Gallardo tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee in spring training - missing the start of the season. And then, on his return, he tore his ACL in his right knee while covering first base. He was on the DL the rest of the year until he was activated at the season's end. He started Game 1 of the NLDS but took the loss. What followed next was six of the most consistent years of starting pitching in Brewer history. Gallardo - nicknamed Yo - started between 30-33 games each year, threw between 180-207 innings, and had an ERA between 3.51 and 4.14. He won 17 games in 2011, struck out 200 or more batters three straight years, and was named to the 2010 All-Star game (his only appearance). He also proved to be a quality hitter - winning a Silver Slugger award in 2010 - batting .254 with four home runs, 10 RBIs, and a .504 SLG%. And then, before the 2015 season, with Gallardo just a year away from free agency, the Brewers made a dramatic move - dealing the reliable Gallardo to the Texas Rangers for Marcos Diplan, Corey Knebel, and Luis Sardinas. The move frustrated many fans, who had grown accustomed to the steady work of Gallardo. However, there were signs that he was declining - despite being only 28 years old. The truth is Gallardo was one of the most worked pitchers in the league. He not only threw a lot of innings and faced many batters, but he also threw a ton of pitches. Gallardo had an excellent 2015 season with Texas, which allowed him to ink a 2-year $22M deal with Baltimore. But the magic was gone. He bounced around for the next four years - playing for five different teams. His numbers went from solid to bad to awful (his combined bWAR in the last three years was a grisly -3.8). The 32-year-old Gallardo signed with the Brewers before the 2018 season, but he did not make the club and was released during spring training. It marked the end of Gallardo’s playing career. For his Brewer career, Gallardo played 214 games (211 starts) and logged almost 1,300 innings pitched. He had a solid 3.69 ERA, and the one category he holds the team record for is for strikeouts - his 1,226 punch-outs edging out Ben Sheets by 20. As a hitter, Yo hit a respectable .201 with a dozen HRs in his career. Some highlights of Gallardo’s time in Milwaukee include a 14-strikeout game against Pittsburgh, a walk-off pinch-hit double in the 10th inning against Baltimore, plus a game where he tossed eight shutout innings and hit a home run - the only scoring of the 1-0 game. All and all, Gallardo had a very solid career - but it was disappointing in a couple of ways. First, Gallardo never developed into a top-of-the-rotation ace as many had hoped for. He had a lot of good tools and skills - but nothing exceptional that put him over the top as a pitcher. He was reliable, durable, and a great asset to the team - but he never rose to the level of an elite hurler. The second disappointing aspect of Gallardo’s career was his rapid decline. For seven years, he was a model of consistency and durability. Yet by age 30, he was done as a quality pitcher. Despite those shortcomings, Brewers fans embraced Gallardo during his time with the organization. They loved his hardworking, stoic demeanor. And they loved his dependability - taking the ball every fifth day, year after year. Today, Gallardo and his family, including his wife, son, and two daughters, live in Fort Worth, Texas. He was inducted into the Brewers Wall of Honor in 2021. Please share your memories of former Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo. View full article

When CC Sabathia arrived in Milwaukee in early July of 2008, he didn’t say, “Get on my back. I’m carrying this club.” But he may as well have done so. Sabathia had one of the greatest half-seasons of baseball in club history. Over 17 starts, he was an absolute workhorse - carrying the Brewers into the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. It was a magical - if short-lived - time for Brewer fans. Carsten Charles Sabathia - aka CC - was born in Vallejo, California, in 1980. He was an outstanding high school athlete, receiving scholarship offers to play football and baseball. But professional baseball was Sabathia’s path after being selected in the 1st round (20th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in the 1998 draft. CC Sabathia moved quickly through Cleveland's minor league system - skipping AAA ball - and heading to the majors after only three seasons. He won 17 games as a 20-year-old rookie - and went on to anchor Cleveland’s rotation for the next seven and a half years. He was named to three All-Star teams and won the 2007 AL Cy Young award. However, the 2008 Guardians struggled to a 37-46 record through June of that season, causing speculation that Sabathia - who was scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season - would be dealt. Cleveland was, after all, a small market team and didn’t want to lose Sabathia for simple draft compensation. And thus, on July 8, Cleveland shocked the baseball world by dealing the big lefthander. Many had expected the Guardians to trade Sabathia at the deadline - and to a big market club. But the Brewers stepped up to the plate - offering a package of Matt LaPorta, Michael Brantley, Zach Jackson, and Rob Bryson. LaPorta - a power-hitting first baseman - was considered the big prize for Cleveland. The Brewers were 50-40 at the time of the trade, and General Manager Doug Melvin saw Sabathia as the missing ingredient to getting Milwaukee back into the playoffs. The result was a glorious three months for the Brewers and their success-starved fans and Sabathia was at the center of it all. In that time, he started 17 games, won 11 of them, tossed 130.2 innings, seven complete games, three shutouts, and even hit a solid .229 with a home run. The apex of Sabathia’s season was on September 28, 2008. It was the year's final game, and Sabathia took the ball on four days' rest with the Brewers' season on the line. The result was a 3-1 Brewer victory over the Cubs, with Sabathia going all nine innings while surrendering only four hits. The Brewers clinched the wild card spot about an hour later when the Mets lost - sending the blue and gold confetti down from Miller Park’s rafters to the cheers of tens of thousands of fans who had stayed to watch the Mets-Marlins game on the stadium Jumbotron. The author of this article was at that magical game - and can attest that it was one of the most exhilarating moments in Brewer history. CC Sabathia had come to Milwaukee and carried the club into the playoffs for the first time since 1982. Sadly, that was the end of the Brewers' run that season. The Crew lost to Philadelphia in the playoffs, Sabathia losing his only start. And that ended CC Sabathia’s short but memorable, run in Milwaukee. While fans hoped Sabathia would return to the club, most everyone knew the man was set on free agency. The result was a big deal with the New York Yankees. Sabathia spent 11 seasons in the Bronx - maintaining his dominating ways for the first four years with the club. He was named to three more All-Star teams and MVP of the 2009 ALCS. That same year, Sabathia won a World Series. Unfortunately, injuries, wear and tear, and other health issues - including a battle with drinking - eroded Sabathia’s skills, and he went from a dominant pitcher to a solid one for the rest of his career. He retired after the 2019 season, finishing with 251 wins and 61.8 bWAR - which may get him in the Hall of Fame someday. Since retiring from baseball, Sabathia has been heavily involved in charity work and has a podcast with sportscaster Ryan Ruocco. It is hard to imagine how critical CC Sabathia was to the Brewers in 2008. The club had missed out on the playoffs for more than a quarter of a century - and the fans were desperate to get back into postseason play. That would not have been possible without Sabathia’s monumental achievements of that summer. And while Sabathia did leave after the season, hardly anyone begrudged the man the opportunity. He had given his heart, soul, and body to the team - and to this day, fans are grateful for that impressive run. In the end, some argue the deal for Sabathia was for naught. We didn’t even win a playoff series - much less a World Series. And the cost was high - and not because we gave up one of the game’s top prospects - Matt LaPorta - who turned out to be a bust. No, one of the extra guys in the deal - Michael Brantley - turned out to be an All-Star. Brantley has gone on to be a five-time All-Star - and a career .298 hitter. No matter, CC Sabathia’s brief run in Milwaukee was a fantastic time in Brewer history. And it may have been Sabathia’s greatest stint in his remarkable career - which is saying a lot. Please share your memories of former Brewer pitcher CC Sabathia. View full article

There's really not a 'case' to be made about adding Trea Turner to the roster. He'd be awesome. He'd be pretty much awesome for any team. But it's about finances. Are we really going to drop $30M+ on a player - for at least five years? The case should be how can we manage that?

There's really not a 'case' to be made about adding Trea Turner to the roster. He'd be awesome. He'd be pretty much awesome for any team. But it's about finances. Are we really going to drop $30M+ on a player - for at least five years? The case should be how can we manage that?

Glenn Braggs was probably - pound-for-pound - the strongest man in Brewer history. He was a chiseled 6’3” and 210 pounds when he arrived in Milwaukee - looking every part of a superstar in the making. But looking like an All-Star and becoming one are two very different things. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Glenn Erick Braggs was born in 1962 in San Bernardino, California. A right-handed hitter, he attended the University of Hawaii and was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1983 amateur draft. Braggs quickly developed into one of Milwaukee's brightest young prospects, hitting .390 and producing an OPS of 1.189 in rookie ball. The powerful young outfielder quickly moved through the minors, hitting a robust .360 with 15 HR in only 90 games at AAA in 1986. It led to the Brewers calling up Braggs and installing him in left field that season (he bounced between left and right field during his career). Braggs struggled his first season, hitting .237 in 58 games. But in 1987, with some experience under his belt, he improved, hitting .269 with 13 HR and a .762 OPS. It was a solid full-season debut, and many saw stardom in Braggs' future. He had a sweet swing, and many said he was one of the most powerful men they had ever seen in the game. However, a shoulder injury the following season cost Braggs more than half the year, and his 1989 season saw him regress in many areas (although he hit a career-high 15 home runs). Things soured for Braggs as he tried to fulfill lofty expectations, and he saw less and less playing time as he struggled, particularly against right-handed pitching. In June 1990, he was traded to Cincinnati for pitchers Ron Robinson and Bob Sebra - neither of whom had any meaningful impact in Milwaukee. He settled in as a part-time player in Cincinnati for three seasons with modest success and was part of the Reds' 1990 World Series team, making a nice home run-saving catch to preserve his team's lead in game six. In 1993, he signed with Yokohama in the Japanese League, beginning a successful four-year run overseas. He hit .300 in Japan and, in 1994, smashed 35 home runs. Braggs retired from professional baseball after the 1996 season at age 33. After retiring, Braggs became a real estate agent. He married Cindy Herron of the R&B group En Vogue in 1994, and the couple had four children - although Herron filed for divorce early in 2022 after 29 years of marriage. Braggs has focused on his real estate business and doesn't do much involving baseball, but he has participated in past Brewer Fantasy Camps. He is a vegan, and he has a lifelong interest in fitness. Braggs hit .255 with 45 home runs for his career with Milwaukee, and produced a .726 OPS. His career was solid, if undistinguished. But in hindsight, the results were a disappointment to most. When he arrived in Milwaukee, he was a "can't miss" player - and one of the most hyped prospects in years. Scouts raved about his swing and physical tools. Everyone expected a star. Braggs later said that he felt that he tried too hard. Ultimately, his excellent physical tools weren't enough. He was stiff in the field and at the plate. Many great players have an effortlessness to their game - something Braggs never developed. As noted, Braggs was considered one of the strongest players in the league, looking more like a football player than a baseball player. One of the things people remember him for was the time he shattered a bat on his own back after swinging and missing at a pitch. Take a look - it's pretty amazing. Glenn Braggs' bat breaks on back"> Please share your memories of former Milwaukee Brewer outfielder Glenn Braggs. View full article

Relief pitching is often volatile by nature. They can have fleeting moments (or seasons) of brilliance, followed by implosions that can send them into retirement. One of the most extreme examples of this is former Brewer relief pitcher Derrick Turnbow, who went from a waiver claim to an All-Star game to being done as a major league pitcher within four years. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Thomas Derrick Turnbow was born in Tennessee in 1978 and was selected in the fifth round of the 1997 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Derrick Turnbow was developed as a starter in the minors, but in 2000 he was nabbed by the Angels in the Rule 5 draft, despite having no AA or AAA experience. The Angels moved Turnbow to the bullpen for the year - essentially stashing him on the major league roster so they wouldn't have to return him to the Phillies. He was sent back to the minors in 2001, and the shift to the bullpen was permanent. An arm injury cost Turnbow much of the next two years, and he struggled upon returning to the bullpen. He tantalized with his explosive fastball but frustrated with bouts of wildness, and after several seasons with the Angels organization, Turnbow was waived in October 2004. Milwaukee claimed the big right-hander. Turnbow surprised many by making the club in 2005, and after Mike Adams struggled in the closer role, manager Ned Yost gave the job to Turnbow. He would have a magnificent season, posting 39 saves and a 1.74 ERA. He was second in the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award. The Brewers rewarded Turnbow with a three-year contract worth $6.5M. The 2006 season began well enough for Turnbow as he registered eight saves in the first month. But then the old bugaboo - his control - would rear its ugly head. His play was uneven for the next couple of months, but he still managed to record 23 saves and an All-Star game nomination. But then the wheels came off - and would never be put back on. His post-All-Star numbers were an ugly 0-5 record and an ERA of 11.29 - causing him to lose the closer's job. Turnbow would rebound somewhat in 2007, managing a 4.63 ERA in 69 innings. But in 2008, things got ugly. He began the season walking 13 batters in six innings. The Brewers sent Turnbow to AAA, where things only got worse - 41 walks and ten wild pitches in 18 IP. The Brewers released him after the season. Turnbow unsuccessfully attempted comebacks in 2009 and 2010 with the Rangers and Marlins, respectively, but with no luck. After his release during 2010 spring training, he decided to call it quits. Turnbow was 32. After retiring, Turnbow stepped away from baseball, joining a financial planning firm where he now specializes in wealth management services. He lives in Seattle, Washington, with his family. Turnbow is the classic example of a pitcher with a ton of ability (98 mph fastball, outstanding for the mid-to-late-2000s) but one who struggled with control. Many attributed his brilliant 2005 season to the work Turnbow did with pitching coach Mike Maddux. Fans loved the big, shaggy-haired righty who could throw heat with the best of them, and for one season, he was as good as any relief pitcher in baseball. Unfortunately, Turnbow could not repeat his success, and he quickly faded from the baseball scene. Turnbow's 39 saves in 2005 rank 4th all-time, and his all-time save mark of 65 ranks 80th. Please share your memories of former Brewer Derrick Turnbow. View full article

What might have been? In July of 1992, Cal Eldred arrived in Milwaukee and proceeded to put up numbers that Cy Young would have admired. The Brewers and their fans thought they had the makings of an ace. But it was not to be. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Cal John Eldred was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1967. He attended the University of Iowa and was drafted by the Brewers in the 1st round (17th overall) in 1989. Eldred was a big right-hander with everything you'd want in a pitcher - size, athleticism, and a plus fastball and curve. As an advanced college arm, he moved quickly through the Brewer system, enjoying a cup of coffee in 1991. But it was Cal Eldred's masterful 1992 debut that Brewer fans would forever remember. Eldred began the '92 season at AAA, logging 141 innings in 19 starts before being called up to the big leagues mid-July. Over the rest of the season, he threw 100 innings, produced an ERA of 1.88, and won 11 games in 14 starts. He finished 4th in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. The team won 92 games - good, but not enough to capture the division (stupid Wild Card game - where were you when we needed you). Few pitchers have begun a career on such a high note - and certainly not one for the Brewers. Big things were expected from the young Midwesterner. With expectations high, Eldred came down to earth in his second year. He won 16 games plus led the league in innings pitched, but his ERA rose to 4.01. In 1994, his numbers continued to falter as his strikeout rates dropped and his walk rates increased. Then, in 1995, after only four starts, Eldred was placed on the Disabled List with a sore elbow. Tommy John surgery was next, and he missed the rest of the season, plus parts of the 1996 campaign. Eldred threw 202 innings in 1997, but he was not the same pitcher - as his 4.99 ERA would attest. He fought injuries and ineffectiveness for two seasons, including an ugly 7.79 ERA in 82 IP in 1999, before being dealt with Jose Valentin to the White Sox in return for Jaime Navarro and John Snyder. Eldred’s first season in Chicago wasn’t bad - until elbow problems flared up, and he was forced to shut down his season in July. But it was worse in 2001. Another elbow injury limited him to just two games. He spent the rest of 2001 and all of 2002 rehabilitating his arm, and in 2003, at the age of 35, he returned to the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals as a reliever. He pitched three more years, retiring after the 2005 season. He was 37. After retiring, Eldred moved into the broadcast booth, serving as an analyst for the Big Ten Network and the Cardinals. He also served as a Special Assistant to Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak. In 2017, he became the pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. He was fired from that position after the 2022 season. Two of Eldred’s sons played collegiate baseball, including C.J. Eldred - who pitched for Iowa - just like his father. Looking back, Eldred's rookie season was electric. The team was competitive, and Eldred was a large part of that, as he produced a 4.2 bWAR in only 100 innings. He was a Midwest kid with a strong work ethic - an All-Star in the making. But it was not to be as injuries ultimately undid a promising career. Many points to the hefty workload imposed upon him in 1993 as the source of Eldred's woes. He was only 25 years old, and Manager Phil Garner had him work a league-leading 258 innings (after he had thrown 241 the previous year). A sore arm and TJ surgery were almost inevitable, and the rest of his career was marred by various arm injuries. During his time in Milwaukee (parts of nine seasons), Eldred threw 1,078 innings, struck out 686 batters, won 64 games, and produced 13.1 bWAR - all of which slot him in the top 10 in club history for each of those categories. Please share your memories of former Milwaukee Brewer pitcher Cal Eldred. View full article