On Sunday, with the Division Series on the line, Craig Counsell turned once again to Jeremy Jeffress in the ninth inning, this time with a six-run lead. While Jeffress has been a lights-out closer throughout September and dominant all season long, it would have been his fourth inning pitched in as many days, after throwing […]
Author: Sean Roberts
Josh Hader is (Probably) Fine
In game 163, with the division (and perhaps more) on the line, it’s clear that Craig Counsell places ultimate trust in Josh Hader. Hader went two innings in the division-clinching final frames and delivered 3 strikeouts while allowing a single baserunner. The final two batters were not without drama, however, as Javier Baez hit a […]
The Brewers Playoff Secret Weapon
The Brewers aren’t winning the division, but if they were to find themselves in a playoff series or one-game Wild Card, there’s an unheralded weapon in their bullpen that, so far, has really flown under the radar. Josh Hader’s historic success and Jeremy Jeffress’ Comeback-Player-of-the-Year-worthy, All-Star season are certainly worthy of a lot of attention. […]
The Brewers are Not Making the Playoffs
Look, it gives me no joy to break this to you but I am going to give it to you straight, and that’s why I got right to the point with the title of this article. The Brewers are not going to the playoffs this year. Sure, the Baseball Prospectus playoff odds give the Brewers […]
The Good and Bad News with Ryan Braun
After 85 games and just over 300 plate appearances this season, Ryan Braun has been worth just 0.5 Wins Above Replacement Player (WARP) on the heels of career-lows in batting average (.246), on-base percentage (.294), slugging (.442), and True Average (.259). Rightfully, a lot of attention has been paid to his extremely unlucky .272 Batting […]
A Short Defense of Ohtani to the NL
Look, I’m fully on the Shohei Ohtani bandwagon. I’ve purchased my seat, fastened my seatbelt, and already asked the wagon attendant about the food and beverage service because I’m going to be here a while. Chances are, you’re intrigued too, as a 23 year-old pitcher signed for almost the league minimum who, according to ZiPS, projects […]
Do the Brewers Need a Star?
Starting with the position that the Brewers’ rebuild is over, let’s also posit that contending for a playoff spot, as Milwaukee is currently, isn’t the end game for the franchise. Consistently competing, year in and year out is the goal; not for a one-game or even five-game playoff series every year, but because making the […]
An Unexpected Change from Domingo Santana
Entering the age in which baseball players tend to approach their prime, 25-year old Domingo Santana has already established himself as a useful, if not (yet) star-level player for the Brewers. In his first full season of plate appearances, Showmingo has shown himself an above-average right fielder, all things considered. His Fielding Runs Above Average […]
Ten Cent Beer Night
“Ten Cent Beer Night.” The phrase evokes a kind of disbelief in baseball fans of a certain age, that there could be a time when ballparks would run promotions that in hindsight seem like they would have such predictable consequences. Cleveland’s ten-cent beer night is up there with “Disco Demolition Night” as one of baseball’s all-time […]
One Reason to Freak Out About the Losing Streak
It’s no secret that the past week has been a veritable Pennsylvania house of horrors for the Brewers. Between July 15 and July 21, the Brewers went 1-6 against the Keystone State. And while there’s plenty to reassure Brewer fans that this is just part of the ups and downs of every season, one particular component […]