A Brewer Matinee

Helping himself - pitcher Chase
Anderson lays down a suicide
squeeze bunt to score the first run.
6/27/2019 dwm photo

I'm fairly certain the last time I watched a weekday afternoon game in Milwaukee was when I took my oldest son out of school to Opening Day.

He was in kindergarten.

Next month he turns 32.

Kids and Senior Citizens Day is what the Milwaukee Brewers call the afternoon starts that conclude a three-game series.  The seats fill with groups of kids and older adults.

Instead of a kid missing school this time, I joined a bus of enthusiastic baseball-loving fans from Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge.

Our view from section 107, row 24.
6/27/19 dwm photo

We had great seats near the right field corner, out of the blazing sun's reach, with a nice view of the diamond to our left.

Lorzenzo Cain takes
care of an out in
Center Field. Ball is
above the shoulder of
pitcher in bullpen.
6/27/19 (dwm)

It was a good day at Miller Park.

Over the last couple weeks, however, the Brewers have not been playing well.

They've barely kept their heads above water - needing to win two of the last three for a winning record in June.

Packer Hall of Famer Jerry Kramer
throws out the first pitch. (dwm)

Some fans are more than concerned - they are having full-on meltdowns second-guessing moves on and off the field.

I believe that General Manager David Stearns knows more about the team than I do, and given the team he assembled last year, I trust his judgement.

A few of the big producers from last season - Jesus Aguilar, Travis Shaw, and Jhoulys Chacin - haven't played up to last year's numbers.  Aguilar and Shaw were big hitters in 2018.  Last Thursday, Shaw was sent to the minors to re-group after two excellent seasons in Milwaukee.

The Italian lead from start - smoking the
Chorizo to a crisp.
6/27/19 dwm photo

Aguilar is struggling almost as much - not getting on base as often and missing the home run power that made him an All-Star.  He can't be sent to the minors, so the team wants to give him more time to get back to his normal.

Chacin was the ace of the staff last season.  He is still a starter, and fans are crossing their fingers that he's recovered his out-pitch in time for the season's second half.

Lack of production and unmet expectations are tough when you desperately want your team to win the World Series.

Orlando Arcia's HR sent
Bernie Brewer down the
slide.  6/27/19 (dwm)

The good news - the glass half-full perspective - is that Craig Counsell's team is winning more than they lose and are very much in contention to repeat as Champions of the National League Central.

It isn't too late for the Brew Crew, but it would sure feel good to break off a 5 or 8 game winning streak before the All - Star break begins a week from today.  The pitching staff needs a stretch of solid starts keeping the games within reach while the bats heat up.

Ah yes, the bats.  Our offensive is eerily quiet too many times lately, putting pressure on starters and relief pitchers to keep the other guys off the board.

Update - things can change quick in baseball... as poor as the Brewers were ending June.  They did win the last two games of the home stand and have now won 3 of their last 4.  There are seven games to play, win 4 or 5 of them and the Crew enters the break on a roll.

It seems like it is time for the Brewers to make the BIG PUSH - Go Brewers!

By the way, I never went back on opening day.  It's more about the party and drinking in the stands than it is about baseball.