Opening Day

It's time for another Brewer season! 7/30/22 dwm

 During most of my life, the idea the 'sMilwaukee Brewers would qualify for the play-offs four straight years was unimaginable.

 

 Yet that's what we experienced as Brewer from 2018 to 2021 until last season, when we finished with a winning (86 - 75) record but short of a fifth straight post-season appearance.  I was disappointed yet surprised that expectations had become so high.

 

 In 2023, the biggest changes to the line-up are in the bullpen.  Josh Hader, an All-Star closer, was traded to San Diego last season, elevating set-up man Devin Williams into the closer role.  He did a fine job finishing the 2022 season.  His track record before that was solid enough to allow Milwaukee to move Hader before he left as a free agent.

Behind Williams the bullpen has more questions than answers.  It seems to me bullpen pitchers rarely produce consistent results year-over-year so it makes sense to cycle new arms through the staff.  Matt Bush, Peter Strzelecki, Hoby Milner, Aaron Ashby, and Adrian Houser are considered to be the heart of the pen but there are other pitchers, notably Gas Varland, with talent and potential.

 

Starting pitching is the strength of the Brewers - Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta - three of the best who give the team a chance to win every time out.  It's time to get the most out of Burnes and Woodruff because they could become free agents in a season or two.  I'd love to see Milwaukee keep all three together (Peralta signed an extension before last season) but it's unlikely they can extend both Burnes and Woodruff.  In today's vernacular, that means Milwaukee better be "all in" when it comes to winning this season while building the minor leagues.

Maybe the best thing that's happened with Brewer baseball in the last 10 years is the 'pitching lab' where Milwaukee teaches and coaches pitchers into fulfilling their potential.  When the team is never going to have the deepest pockets, you have to maximize all resources (like players in the minors).

Just looking at position players, the biggest improvement is behind the plate with the addition of William Contreras, who is a great hitter.  Brewer coaching has helped catchers defensively, getting more hits and runs batted in will make this a productive position.

In the outfield it's Christian Yelich and company.   Yelich was a big free agent pick-up a few years ago who earned a long-term contract that makes him the highest paid player on the team.  He bounced back in terms of batting average in 2022 after a couple of season below his MVP season in 2018 and similar marks in 2019; however, as one of the highest paid players in the majors, Milwaukee is counting on more doubles, triples, and home runs.  Garrett Mitchell showed promise last season when he was called up in the field and at the plate, he could be ready to take-over center field.

Looking at the infield, it starts with Willy Adames and Rowdy Tellez for leading in the dugout and on the field.  There are some nice young players to get time this season, it's difficult to know if they're ready until called upon.

Tellez congratulating Yelich. 5/4/22 dwm

Yet the biggest change for Milwaukee and every team this year might be the new rules and schedule.  Instead of playing Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St Louis 19 times each season - 6 games with each rival are taken off the schedule and replaced with trips to half the American League while the other half pay a visit to American Family Field.  

 

While it's a fun for fans to see more players but with the National League Central usually having two or three losing teams it could mean missing some of the "W's" the old schedule provided.

I'm excited to see how the pitch clock, larger bases, and a ban on infield shifts impact baseball.  I like the idea of keeping pitchers and batters on task - during training camp the new rules shortened games by nearly 30 minutes.  For fans like me driving from more than an hour out, that means getting home earlier.  Larger bases plus limits on throwing to keep the runner close should mean more stolen bases, which is exciting.  Keeping two infielders on either side of second base should turn some line-drive outs into base hits.

Where does this put the Brewers?  I think the Brew Crew will fight the St. Louis Cardinals for supremacy in the N.L. Central.  I like them to return to the post-season, if the season shows promise, owner Mark Attanasio will give the General Manager the green light to maximize Milwaukee's playoff hopes.

 

I'll put Milwaukee down for a record of 92 - 70 and a division title... let's go Milwaukee!