Chasing the Post-season

Miller Park.  7/20/2018  dwm photo

I like what the Milwaukee Brewers are doing; they are trying to reach the post-season for the first time since 2011.

Friday night they picked up third baseman Mike Moustakas from Kansas City.  A couple days earlier they landed relief pitcher Joakim Soria from the White Sox.

That doesn't include the biggest "gets," when they traded for Christian Yelich of the Marlins and signed Lorenzo Cain before the season.

General Manager David Stearns is going for it.  Carefully.

Stearns was named to the post three years ago and quickly remade the roster.  He traded veterans for young players and draft picks.  New players come up to the major league team and down to the minors as needed.

This season, some players are called up and sent down multiple times as Stearns searches for the right mix on the roster and the players needed for the next game.

Today the trade deadline arrives at 3 p.m. Central Time.  There are two months left on the schedule.  Excited fans trying on their G.M. hat can dream up the right moves, but Stearns has to make the right offer to do the deal.

I want to see a busy Bernie Brewer!
7/20/2018  dwm photo

The move for Soria should bolster the bullpen with an experienced arm for the stretch and Moustakas is the extra bat the struggling offense needs to push more runs across the plate.

I suspect, if he hasn't already added a starting pitcher to the ranks - he might do it before the bell sounds.

Teams can still acquire players through the end of August, but there are additional hurdles to get them on the playoff roster.  I'm sure he will keep looking for ways to push a good team to great.

Beyond the excitement this year, it is nice to see Stearns is looking to improve the current product while keeping the best minor league prospects for future seasons.

The Brew Crew is in contention for a division title and in position for a wild card spot if they fall short of that.  Let's go, Brewers!

So, they traded for second baseman Jonathan Schoop from Baltimore.  Schoop is a hot hitter and adds another good infielder to the mix of players on the bench.

While a starting pitcher would help, I trust General Manager Stearns will continue looking for the right addition through August.