The year is 1982; Michael Jackson sells more than 25 million album copies, John Belushi dies, a man is found not guilty of trying to assassinate the President, gas is at $1.30 a gallon and the Milwaukee Brewers win the pennant. Sounds like a crazy year, huh?
Holding the title for longest active playoff drought in Major League Baseball, the Brewers have not made the playoffs since their memorable trip to the World Series in 1982, capturing the American League pennant but ultimately falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
Barring another meltdown like last season that saw the Brew Crew blow an 8½ game lead and end their 133 day reign atop the National League Central, this could be the Brewers’ year to make it into October. But for that to happen the team needs to see consistency from its big name players as well as its bullpen, something that has been severely lacking.
Nevertheless, the Brewers will enter play against the Chicago Cubs with a 14-11 record, only two games behind the North-siders for the lead of the National League Central Division. Come the end of September, expect a three-team race in the Central with the Cardinals, Cubs and Brewers all vying for first.The Brewers, who won six of their first seven games, have been winning games with defense and timely play from some unlikely catalysts. Newly-signed catcher Jason Kendall is batting .308 with 24 hits in 23 games in his first year with the Brewers. Veteran and Whitefish Bay native Craig Counsel is off to an unexpected start as well, batting .306 and providing some clutch hitting.But what has been the feel-good story of the year to this point is the play of outfielder Gabe Kapler. The 32-year old retired after the 2006 season and spent last season managing the Boston Red Sox Class-A-affiliate in Greenville. Since coming out of retirement Kapler battled for a roster spot in spring training, made the team, and is now batting .288 with 13 RBIs.The value of Kapler’s play has been immeasurable as he has helped fill in for another outfielder, free-agent signee Mike Cameron, who was suspended 25 games by the MLB for testing positive for a banned stimulant. Cameron, who looked tremendous in spring training, will make his Brewer debut on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. To make room for Cameron the team traded outfielder Gabe Gross to Tampa Bay and in a surprising move optioned pitcher Dave Bush to Triple-A-affiliate Nashville.Also on Tuesday, Brewers ace Ben Sheets will make his return since leaving an April 18 game with tightness in his right triceps. So far the gold-medalist is 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in four starts over 28 innings in this, a contract year.But what has been a reoccurring thorn in the side of the Brewers this year has been an inconsistent bullpen. The Crew retooled their pen during the off-season acquiring right-hand relievers David Riske, Salomon Torres and Guillermo Mota.Also, in an effort to offset the loss of last year’s closer Francisco Cordero to Cincinnati, the team signed closer Eric Gagne to a $10 million contract. But the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner has been anything but stellar, blowing four saves in 11 opportunities. Put that together with set-up man Derrick Turn”blow”s 7.94 ERA and you would be convinced the Brewers could not close a door, let alone a game.Sunday night against the Florida Marlins, pitcher Seth McClung contributed to the team’s pitching woes by giving up a solo homerun to former Brewer Wes Helms in the top of the 10th inning, lifting the Marlins to a victory over the Brewers.
But the most ambivalent fact of the Brewers season is that none of its superstars have been playing up to par. Last year’s Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun is playing nowhere near his ability level but still is batting a respectable .255 average.
Moreover, the MLB’s youngest player to hit 50 homeruns, Prince Fielder has battled through an uncharacteristic stretch posting a slugging percentage .176 points lower than last season. Even worse, shortstop J.J. Hardy is batting .218 while second baseman Rickie Weeks is batting a morbid .191.With the team’s best players working to find their stride, the Brewers have been fortunate enough to fall back on the apt hitting of its role players and, notwithstanding its lapses in the bullpen, sound defense. The team has managed to keep nearly every single game to this point close (1/3 of the team’s games have gone into extra innings).Being only two games behind the Cubs, a forthcoming three-game series this week and 137 games for the team to play to its offensive potential, the Brewers have very little to worry about. In keeping with celebratory slide tradition, come October, Bernie the Brewer might just have a very sore bottom.
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