Brewer Baseball

The Italian won by six links. 9/20/24 dwm photo

My second Brewer game of the season didn't work out for the home team, they lost to Arizona 7 - 4.

Just a few days earlier on Tuesday, the Brew Crew won the National League Central Division. 

 

It was a big deal for this team, led by Pat Murphy as a first-time full-time manager (he had been an interim manager in San Diego before becoming bench coach for the Brewers when Craig Counsell led the team).

 

Lost amid their accomplishments this season is this, they have not lost four games in a row. That's remarkable over such a long season. No other Major League team can make that claim. I don't think it's a significant record but it speaks to the nature of the team and its leadership. They come to play and win every game, they don't look ahead and flush the results, win or lose, after the game is over.

Jackson Churio beats the ball to 1st. dwm

 Young players and veterans created a nice mix of experience and talent for Milwaukee. Willy Adames and William Contreras are mentoring 20-year-old rookie Jackson Churio, helping him break out in his first year as a major leaguer.

 

 While they didn't win, the plucky team overcame a four-run deficit with three home runs in the bottom of the fourth Friday night. It looked like another come-back win was going to happen. But it didn't.

 

 The pitchers didn't have their usual control, walking five. Walks tend to create runs for the other team, something the Brewers have mostly avoided.

 

HR trot for William Contreras. 9/20/24 dwm

This is the best-hitting team Milwaukee has had in a long time. It's one way this team is different from the last four playoff teams. The starting and relief pitching has proven themselves over a long season.

The Crew has several players who could be a difference-makers if they get hot at the right time, 

 

William Contreras (photo, right) is one of the best catchers in the game this season, providing leadership, and timely hits, including a two-run homer on Friday.

 

Willy Adames (pronounced Ah-dahm-S, photo below left) has more home runs than other shortstops and has 13, 3-run home runs this year. He is considered the leader of the clubhouse, he plays good defense, and is a streaky hitter. 

 

Willy Adames & coach Quinton Berry. dwm

 Jackson Churio (photo above left) has become a hitting machine since summer started. He is fast, a good defender, and has become a clutch hitter who seems to be steadily improving. 

 There are other important players - Devin Williams returned in July from an injury to resume his role as closer; Rhys Hoskins is a long-time player in his first year as a Brewer after missing last year to injury, he's a proven hitter, a key hit or two from him can win games.

Rookie third baseman Joey Ortiz is having a good year, answering the question of who is playing the hot corner.

 

Second-year player Brice Turang is the best defensive second baseman in the league;. Blake Perkins is a terrific outfielder, with several robbed home-runs he caught before they cleared the fence.

 

Garett Mitchell (R) celebrates a HR. dwm

The first step to win a World Series is to reach the post-season. The Brewers checked that box Tuesday.

That's when anything can happen. This team seems to check the boxes of talent and skill necessary and there is a 'why not us?' factor worth considering.

Pat Murphy brings a mix of disciplinarian and a players-coach while also relying on a mix of analytics and his gut in making decisions.

This team is too young to know they shouldn't be there, that's something that's worked for other teams.

The play-offs start October 1. 9/20/24 dwm

 Then there is 90- year-old play-by-play announcer Bob Uecker who has been part of the team since 1971 and considered 'one of the guys' by the players.

 The men who played on the only Brewer team to reach the World Series in 1982 (they lost in 7 games to the Cardinals) are saying they want to see this team do what they couldn't, finish the job.

 

 Why not? Go BREWERS!

 If you're reading this at 7:30 CDT Sunday morning, come back in 13-minutes for the Autumnal Equinox seasonal blog.