By Jeff Dunlap, Media and Community Outreach Assistant

I was sitting at my desk the other day, working on a project that will keep me busy all year long, when at 2:16 my phone vibrated.  I ignored the text and kept working until I felt it vibrate again.  Two texts within a minute warranted me checking my phone…

Text one from my buddy Mike:  “Dude 9 yrs $214”

Text two from my buddy Randy: “tigers”

My stomach literally dropped.  These two simple texts explained what I knew was coming but refused to believe, even without mentioning his name I knew… Prince Fielder was not coming back to Milwaukee. 

As many know, it hasn’t always been homeruns and division titles for the Brewers.  I grew up cheering for Jim Ganter, Greg Vaughn, Pat Listach, Jeff Cirillo, John Jaha, Darryl Hamilton, and Cal Eldred.  The most entertaining part of Brewer games in the 90s was Bernie Brewer sliding from the top of a keg into a beer mug (still the most disappointing thing about new Miller Park is they converted this amazing keg slide into “Bernie’s Clubhouse”).  I grew up cheering for players 95% of people outside the city of Milwaukee didn’t know of, players who didn’t have a winning season from ’92-’07. 

The first year I truly began to love baseball was ’98 (the best baseball season of ALL time).  The Brewers defensive alignment that year, 1-9, was: Cal Eldred, Mike Matheny, Mark Loretta, Fernando Vina, Jeff Cirillo, Jose Valentin, Geoff Jenkins, Marquis Grissom, and Jeremy Burnitz with John Jaha sharing time at first base with Loretta… these players combined for a 74-88 record in ‘98.  I was ecstatic.

Being excited over a 74-88 record can paint a picture for those out there who don’t understand what it’s like to love a team that quite simply, sucks.  However, in 2002 things began to change.  As documented in the book “Moneyball” Prince Fielder was considered by many teams as being too fat.  However, when the Brewers pick came along, they went with the hefty lefty and sparked the Brewers resurgence in baseball.  From 2000-2005 the Brewers selected, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Yovani Gallardo, and Ryan Braun in consecutive drafts.  The most important of those draft picks being The Prince himself, anchoring what would become one of the best young teams in all of baseball.

The Prince deal itself is no surprise.  You knew the slugger was going to get paid.  Even the duration of the contract, while slightly surprising, is not ridiculous.  What is strange, and bothersome as a Brewers fan, is the team he went to.  A team with one of the best hitting first basemen in baseball.  A team that within a year will have to fit 3 players for only two positions.  Prince himself came out and publicly stated that he wanted to play first base, that he wouldn’t DH.  Yet, he will have to DH at times his first year and most likely much more in the following years when Victor Martinez returns.  Now, for those that think Prince can’t play first, I have seen Prince play.  I can promise any doubting fan that Prince is an athlete, regardless of how he looks.  The man is not slow, and has become an average first baseman defensively.  Too much stock is put into his weight and its affect on his position.  You can either make the athletic plays or you can’t, Prince can.  I believe Prince can and should play first, and I thought he felt the same way, but the fact is he signed with a team that is going to DH him.

As a fan I may sound bitter, and that’s because I am.  I finally have a team that I can watch win some games and then, POOF! its best hitter is gone.  I know why, I even understand it.  Hell, I might have done the same thing.  The thing about it though, is that I’m a Brewers fan.  A die hard Brewers fan.  I built their new stadium (the state increased taxes in the 5 surrounding counties to pay for the stadium, one of which I lived in), I’ve bought tickets, I’ve bought merchandise, and I’ve watched them lose for YEARS.  This gives me the right to be upset when one of the best players in the game up and moves to Detroit…. I mean come on, Detroit?  This wasn’t a “he wants to win now” situation.  If Prince wanted to win now he could and should have stayed in Milwaukee.  The Crew plays in a worse division with a better team top to bottom.  Even with Prince’s departure the Crew is in line to compete for another Division title.  All of which means that his decision was based on money. 

As stated earlier, I understand going somewhere else for more money.  In almost every other profession in the world you go where the money is.  The Brewers could have probably offered a contract of 6-8 years around 20 million dollars.  That’s 160 million dollars.  Some of you might be saying, “Well that’s 40 to 50 extra million dollars”, but what can you possible do with 200 million dollars that you can’t do with 160?  As an accountant taking a new job and higher salary may change your lifestyle quite a bit, but when you’re dealing with such monstrous contracts aren’t there more important things, especially in baseball?

Ryan Braun signed the biggest contract for a player with less than 1 year major league service in 2008, but that contract was widely considered “team friendly”.  It was a 45 million dollar 7 year extension.  45 million dollars for 7 years for RYAN BRAUN.  It is your right to prematurely judge and dislike Ryan Braun over his apparent drug test failure, but there can be no argument that Braun is one of the best players in the game just as Prince is.  Yet, when Braun signed that first contract extension he was asked why he didn’t wait, and most likely receive a larger contract.  His reply was simple, “For me to have the opportunity to secure my future financially is something that means a lot to me. I just feel like I was ready to make the commitment to the city of Milwaukee.”  Was Prince not going to be financially secure in Milwaukee?  He must have not have been willing to make a commitment to the City of Milwaukee.  This is not fine with me, not after what the Brewers and the city of Milwaukee have done for him.

Baseball and its contracts cannot be compared to any other profession.  Financial security and lifestyle are not a problem for baseball stars.  Their massive contracts have guaranteed them a lifestyle that many of us can only dream of.  With this type of security, legacy and commitment to not only the game, but a city should matter.  However, the truth about these superstars, role models, sport gods, or whatever you may call them is that they are people.  Some are nice others are mean.  Some are humble others are cocky.  Some are loyal, others simply are not. 

Prince Fielder was an important, if not the most important, piece in turning Milwaukee’s franchise around.  I recognize it, and I thank him a million times over for his contribution.  I’ll give him a standing ovation on his first at bat back in Milwaukee.  However, I will not show him unconditional love as a Brewers fan because he’s not a Brewer.  He made a choice to sign in Detroit, just as Braun made a choice to stay in Milwaukee, just as I have made a choice to be upset and bitter about his departure.  I’m a fan, I get to do that.

Jeff has begun his first year with the Crawdads as a Media and Community Outreach Assistant.  The Waukesha, WI native attended school at Northeastern University where he played varsity baseball for the Huskies while earning his degree in Communications.  Jeff is an avid Wisconsin sports fan and enjoys staying active any way possible.

By Jeff Dunlap, Media and Community Outreach Assistant

The sporting world celebrated the birthday of one of its most enduring and important athletes this past week when Mohammed Ali turned 70.  With “The Greatest” celebrating his birthday on Tuesday, a rare spotlight was shone on one of the world’s most important pastimes, a pastime that seems to be slowly fading to the background.

Combined with Ali’s birthday was a reminder of what boxing once was, its lasting impact on many, and proof that athletes can transcend sports to truly create a better world.  Few, if any, athletes can claim to have such an unadulterated legacy as Ali enjoys to this day, nevertheless every athlete and non-athlete alike should strive to have one just like it.

Which brings me to my point; boxing is fading with fewer and fewer stars and only heavyweight competition can save it.

While I cannot claim to be a boxing expert, I can claim being a sports fan, and like other sports fans I enjoy the most prestigious events featuring the best athletes.  This means I enjoy the Super Bowl more than the regular season, the World Series over the Divisional Series, the gold medal game over the bronze, and so on.  The lack of allure in heavyweight boxing has directly affected the sport’s popularity and its impact in today’s culture.  If asked to name champion boxers in today’s sport many would have to refer to Pacquiao, Mayweather, Marquez, or Hopkins.  These are all great fighters and some, Like Pacquiao, have committed to making this world a better place outside of the ring. I consider these fighters important figures within the sport, but not AS important as captivating heavyweights.

The only notable heavyweights today are the Klitschko brothers.  Their monopoly on the heavyweight division doesn’t allow for the casual sport fan to become interested.  What’s worse is these brothers have declared they will never fight each other.  For many of us with siblings, being payed to start a fight with the other would be a dream come true, yet these Ukrainian brothers are content on never creating the only interesting heavyweight matchup  available. 

This is not meant to be a knock on the other weight classes within boxing.  Like everybody else I have been pleading for a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight for years.  I hope that today’s announcement of Mayweather contacting Pacquiao directly on the phone is the next step towards a fight.  However, I want to see the biggest, fastest, strongest athletes in the ring.  I want to see Louis, Frazier, Ali, Foreman, Tyson, or even Lenox Lewis.  I want to spend my money on a pay-per-view event that involves heavyweights.  The last interesting heavyweight ppv was in 2002 when Lenox Lewis knocked out Mike Tyson.  For all you math whizzes out there that’s 10 years!

The great sport of boxing has taken a beating (pun intended) in the eyes of sports fans this past decade. The welterweights are doing their part to keep the sport relevant, but need some help from the big boys, quite literally. 

Jeff has begun his first year with the Crawdads as a Media and Community Outreach Assistant.  The Waukesha, WI native attended school at Northeastern University where he played varsity baseball for the Huskies while earning his degree in Communications.  Jeff is an avid Wisconsin sports fan and enjoys staying active any way possible.

By Jeff Dickson, Director of Food & Beverage

Part 1 of series of blogs on the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it’s inductees, names still on the ballot, the voting process, and what it takes to make it to Cooperstown. 

Barry Larkin was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame last week, his third time on the ballot, with 86.4 percent of the vote. In this round of voting he was the only one to reach the 75 percent mark that brings enshrinement, and will join Ron Santo, who was voted in by the Golden Era Committee, in Cooperstown on July 22 to be inducted among the greatest to ever play the game. 

Santo, who unfortunately passed away in 2010, had spent many years on the outside looking in despite having a fantastic career and being known as one of the best third baseman in baseball history. 

Larkin only had to wait until his third time on the ballot, however that was at least a year too long. Hall of Fame voting comes under scrutiny every year; some arguing too many get in, others arguing too many are left off. Larkin was one of the best shortstops in his era, combining solid hitting, speed and defense that helped him win a World Series and an MVP award. 

He seemed like a sure fire first ballot Hall of Famer to me, although I know that many voters simply do not vote for a player on the first ballot, with the thinking that that is an honor to only a select few, the best of the best, even among the greats that are in the Hall. A similar thing happened to Roberto Alomar, although his umpire spitting incident may have cost him some initial votes as well, as some sort of punishment that writers decided on their own accord was necessary. 

But Larkin and Alomar are in, so it does little good to complain about how long it took them to get there, especially since it was not long compared to many other players. Voting issues, of course, are not only with those that make it in. The two names left off this year that are of most concern to me moving forward are Jack Morris and Tim Raines; and for very different reasons.

Morris, one of the best pitchers of the 1980′s, made a giant jump this year and was named on 66.7 percent of the ballots. He will most likely make it in the Hall next year if historical precedence in terms of voting trends has anything to do with it. And good for him. He has been waiting for a long time, and his induction day will surely be one of the greatest days of his life. It’s just too bad he didn’t have a Hall of Fame career.

If you have done any reading on this topic then you probably are aware of his 3.90 ERA, which would be the highest of any pitcher in the Hall. You probably also know the arguments for him; his classic and dominating postseason games, his willingness and ability to throw many, many innings, and his overall charisma and ‘bulldog’ mentality on the mound. The only problem is that his postseason success really wasn’t all that brilliant (7-4, 3.80 ERA) and the rest of his arguments really have nothing to do with how well he actually pitched.

To really put his career in perspective, take a look at Jonathan Bernhardt’s article at Baseball Prospectus. In essence, Morris was a very good pitcher for his career, and had brief moments of greatness. However, he never had a truly domination season (0 Cy Young awards) and for his career he was slightly above average when compared to his peers (105 ERA+). 

Morris will probably get in the Hall, and all will ultimately be forgotten. But the idea that a player’s career narrative plays a bigger role in getting into the Hall than his actual performance is a shame. Players can be remembered for great moments or seasons without having to be in the Hall (Roger Maris, Dave Roberts, etc.). And there is nothing wrong with having been a very, very, very good Major League Baseball player. 

I also wanted to briefly touch on Tim Raines, who is not as close as Morris to being inducted, but should have been long ago. Raines was 5th in voting this year, finishing with less than 50 percent of the vote. Perhaps the second greatest leadoff hitter in history, behind Ricky Henderson, Raines had a remarkably quiet career, mostly because he spent so much of it in Montreal. His .294 batting average and 170 home runs don’t jump off the page but, his role was to get on base and do what he could to score. His .385 on base percentage is outstanding for a career, as are his 808 steals and 1571 runs scored, not to mention his fine play in the outfield. 

Raines did things quieter than Henderson, with the prime of his career spent in Canada, and without staggering numbers in the categories most voters look to first. But he was great, and should be in the Hall. Maybe once Morris makes it in the voters will be able to find a new champion for their cause, as I’m sure many players from the ‘Steroid Era’ will have a hard time getting support from the old guard of voters.

I just may have a few thoughts on that line of thinking, as well. So stay tuned, and if you get the chance go look up Jeff Bagwell. Like Raines, he has a long way to go, but maybe they will both get the kind of support from the voters that Morris has been getting.

Jeff is entering his second season with the ‘Dads and first as the director of food & beverage.  The Oneonta, NY native joined the Crawdads in 2011 as a concessions assistant, and has previously worked with the Oneonta Outlaws as a sports marketing intern.  Jeff is a die-hard fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and North Carolina Tar Heels.

By Jeff Dickson, Director of Food & Beverage

December has been quite exciting for the baseball hot stove, and the month is only halfway over. After the Miami Marlins made some big, surprising acquisitions it was the L.A. Angels who stole the show, signing top free agent pitcher C.J. Wilson and the best hitter in the game, Albert Pujols. The Pujols deals was a bit of a shock, especially after the Marlins were making a huge push to add him to the new look Miami roster. And of course his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals, were right in the mix to sign him as well. But 10 years and $254 million can certainly change things. Fans in St. Louis may have seen this coming, but surely this was still a hard pill to swallow. In the long run, though, they may be better off. Contracts that long don’t have the best track record of working out, especially when the player will be into his 40′s by the time the deal runs out.

The other big baseball news was that Milwaukee Brewers left fielder, and 2011 NL MVP, Ryan Braun reportedly tested positive for a banned performance enhancing drug. Details of the failed test have not been disclosed, and Braun has appealed, but all signs point to the test being held up, which means Braun will be suspended for 50 games next season.

I may be in the minority here, but I’m not up in arms and calling for Major League Baseball to strip Braun of his MVP award like many seem to want. If the test holds up then, yes, he should be suspended as the current rules and penalties call for. Players are always trying to get a leg up over their competition, going right up to the edge of the rule book and often times even over it. Braun wasn’t the first person to take PEDs, and certainly won’t be the last. But to try to rewrite history would be foolish. Braun had one of the best seasons in the league last year (I actually would have voted for Matt Kemp) and since there is no way to know how PEDs might have helped him, the award should stand.

It’s a shame that it’s come to this, but PEDs are rampant in all sports, not just baseball as much of the media would lead you to believe, and trying to play a strong hand in individual cases just won’t work. Keep testing, keep punishing players as they fail tests, but don’t go back and try to change what’s happened. That will only create more headaches and more questions as we continue to learn about PED use in sports.

Jeff is entering his second season with the ‘Dads and first as the director of food & beverage.  The Oneonta, NY native joined the Crawdads in 2011 as a concessions assistant, and has previously worked with the Oneonta Outlaws as a sports marketing intern.  Jeff is a die-hard fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and North Carolina Tar Heels.

By Jeff Dickson, Director of Food & Beverage

The Major League Baseball Winter meetings are underway in Dallas, TX, and already we have seen some surprising moves being made. The Miami Marlins, already fit with a new name, stadium, logo and color scheme, are making an early splash with free agent signings. The team agreed to sign former San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell to a three year $27 million dollar deal and officially announced that signing on Monday. But the major move was the signing of former New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, one of the most sought after free agents in this class. The deal is for $106 million over six years.

The Marlins may not be done, however, as it is still rumored that they are in contact with Albert Pujols and his agent. Pujols, the best player of his generation and a career long Cardinal, would be on the top of every teams wishlist if not for his hefty price tag. This is what makes the Marlins pursuit of him so shocking; they have long been known as a franchise that struggles to draw fans and, thus, never has a high payroll. That is already changing with the signings of Bell and Reyes, so anything is possible.

Already making a push to be a National League East contender in 2012, a few more moves by Miami and they will start to be recognized as a legitimate World Series favorite next year. The signing of the best hitter in baseball would another move in the right direction. The only question, then, would be, Will Miami draw enough fans to make up for the price they are paying in free agency?

Jeff is entering his second season with the ‘Dads and first as the director of food & beverage.  The Oneonta, NY native joined the Crawdads in 2011 as a concessions assistant, and has previously worked with the Oneonta Outlaws as a sports marketing intern.  Jeff is a die-hard fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and North Carolina Tar Heels.

By Charlie Downs, Assistant General Manager

Hey Crawdads Nation, Happy Veterans Day.

With all the hustle and bustle of the upcoming holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) already upon us, we often forget about this day and what it should mean to us. For a lot this is either just another workday, a day off from school or even a day off from work but for the men and women who have served and are currently serving our great nation, it is a day for remembrance and paying tribute to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Let us not forget our men and women who serve and their families, as daily they put themselves in harms way for all of us.

If you get a chance today to attend a Veteran’s day service or, like me, going to visit both of my grandfather’s grave sites as they both served, one in the army and one in the navy, take the time to do so. It will be well worth it.

We know, we know. We’re late with these, but here are the playoff predictions from Crawdads Front Office members Jared Weymier, Megan Meade and Jeff Dickson. And we promise these picks were in before the playoffs started, but if you don’t believe us then you can at least get some enjoyment out of these when our picks go horrible, horribly wrong.

NLDS

Jared – Brewers over Diamondbacks in 4 games, Phillies over Cardinals in 4

Jeff – Brewers over Diamondbacks in 4, Phillies over Cardinals in 4

Megan – Brewers over Diamondbacks in 3, Phillies over Cardinals in 5

ALDS

Jared – Rangers over Rays in 5, Yankees over Tigers in 4

Jeff – Rangers over Rays in 5, Yankees over Tigers in 5

Megan – Rangers over Rays in 5, Yankees over Tigers in 5

NLCS 

Jared – Brewers over Phillies in 6

Jeff – Phillies over Brewers in 7

Megan – Brewers over Phillies in 6

ALCS

Jared – Yankees over Rangers in 5

Jeff – Rangers over Yankees in 6

Megan – Rangers over Yankees in 7

Word Series

Jared – Brewers over Yankees in 7

Jeff – Phillies over Rangers in 6

Megan – Rangers over Brewers in 7

By Jeff Dickson, Director of Food & Beverage

Only one of the two teams to face off in the World Series last season is back in the playoffs, and the Texas Rangers are looking to win it all this time. After a surprising playoff run which ended with a loss to the San Francisco Giants, the Rangers showed this season that they are more than a one year wonder. After the L.A. Angels made it a close race down the stretch the Rangers finally pulled away to clinch the AL West, and currently have the second best record in the league behind the New York Yankees.

It should come as no surprise that the Rangers offense is leading the way again, as the team is in the top three in the American League in average, runs and home runs. The team has five players with more than 25 home runs despite four of them playing less than 125 games. Two of those players, Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli, are in their first year with the club and have made an already deep and explosive lineup, which features last season’s MVP Josh Hamilton, that much better.

C.J. Wilson, an emerging star, has built off of last season’s success to become the team ace. With a 16-7 record and 2.97 ERA Wilson is able to match up well with whoever the Ranger’s opponent throws at them. Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison and Alexi Ogando round out the rotation, with Ogando likely headed to the bullpen for the postseason. While none of the bunch has pitched at the same level as Wilson this year all are good enough to keep the team in the game, especially with the loaded offense that the Rangers feature.

Second year pitcher Neftali Feliz appears to have settled into the role of closer, at least for now, despite talk at the beginning of the year of converting him back to a starter. His 30 saves and 2.83 ERA are part of a very talented and deep bullpen that the Rangers will count on to push for a title. Midseason acquisition Mike Adams has really bolstered a ‘pen that includes Koji Uehara and Darren Oliver as set up men having terrific seasons.

How the Rangers can lose:

One of the biggest worries the Rangers have is their health. With Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre and others having missed time already, another injury this late in the season could mean trouble for Texas. A pitching staff that is deep although not untouchable needs the lineup to be healthy and at the top of its game. Any offense struggles might be too much for the staff to give the team a realistic chance.

How the Rangers can win:

If the lineup stays healthy and hits the way they are capable of, the pitching staff should be good enough to make another deep run and push for that title. The starters don’t have to be dominant every night if the Rangers are putting up a ton of runs; they just have to be good enough to get the ball to the bullpen with the lead.

Jeff is entering his second season with the ‘Dads and first as the director of food & beverage.  The Oneonta, NY native joined the Crawdads in 2011 as a concessions assistant, and has previously worked with the Oneonta Outlaws as a sports marketing intern.  Jeff is a die-hard fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and North Carolina Tar Heels.

By Jeff Dickson, Director of Food & Beverage

With all of the division races over the Arizona Diamondbacks stand out as the most surprising division winner this season. Not only did they have to beat out the defending World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, but they did so with a young and unproven bunch; a bunch that was not expected by most to compete this year, let alone make it to the postseason.

So how did the D’backs do it? They were led by their emerging star, 24 year old right fielder Justin Upton. After a breakout year in 2009 Upton regressed a bit last season, but with a .291 average, 31 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 2011 he has proven that he is a star on the rise. Alongside Upton the Diamondbacks are a fairly feast or famine offense, currently sitting 8^th in the league in average but 4^th in runs and homers. A poster child for the Arizona offense is centerfielder Chris Young who has 20 home runs but is hitting just .234. Much like Upton, however, Young possesses speed which adds another dimension of offense and his 22 steals lead the team.

While the offensive numbers aren’t a complete shock, the pitching seems to have caught everyone by surprise. Ian Kennedy has led the charge and along with a 2.88 ERA he has a 21-4 record, good for a first place tie in the league in wins. Kennedy probably is a step behind Cy Young frontrunners Clayton Kershaw, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, but the fact that he has been mentioned with that group might be a bigger surprise than the team’s success as a whole.

After Kennedy the rotation has found more surprising success from Daniel Hudson (16-11, 3.43), Joe Saunders (12-12, 3.58) and Josh Collmenter (10-10, 3.38). The bullpen has quietly been anchored by J.J. Putz (45 saves, 2.21) who is enjoying his best season since 2007 when he had a dominating season with the Seattle Mariners. David Hernandez, Brad Ziegler and Joe Paterson lead the team in appearances so it will likely be up to them to bridge the gap between the starters and Putz in order to make a deep run in the playoffs.

How the Diamondbacks can lose:

The pitching is always tougher in the playoffs and if the Diamondbacks aren’t hitting the ball out of the park they will probably have a tough time scoring runs, leading to an elimination. The other weakness for Arizona is it’s pitching staff, especially when compared to others around the league. Despite the team’s feel good story the staff still doesn’t match up with the depth and talent of the Phillies and Brewers, the top two teams in the league. Unless the D’backs staff pitches a bit above their heads it may not matter much what the offense does.

How the Diamondbacks can win:

Arizona will most likely be matched up with the Phillies or Brewers in the first round, and thus will undoubtedly be underdogs. If they can use this to their advantage to find an extra motivational edge and possibly catch their opponent taking them lightly they may be able to steal a game early and shift the tide of the series. As a young team it can be hard, but patience can go a long way if they are to pull a first round upset. Drawing a few walks then using their power to put a few crooked numbers on the scoreboard is the best chance Arizona has. Surely it’s a tall task, but not something out of the reach of the Diamondbacks.

Jeff is entering his second season with the ‘Dads and first as the director of food & beverage.  The Oneonta, NY native joined the Crawdads in 2011 as a concessions assistant, and has previously worked with the Oneonta Outlaws as a sports marketing intern.  Jeff is a die-hard fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and North Carolina Tar Heels.

By Jared Weymier,  Director of Promotions

After a disappointing 2010 campaign the Milwaukee Brewers had high hopes for the 2011 season.  The team gutted their farm system for former Cy Young award winner Zack Greinke and Toronto Blue Jays ace Shaun Marcum.

The Season got off to a bumpy start when Greinke cracked a rib playing pickup basketball before the season started.  The Brew Crew got swept by the Cincinnati Reds in the first series and compiled a 14-20 record by May 8^th.   During that stretch the Brewers battled injuries to Ryan Braun, Carlos Gomez, Takashi Saito, and LaTroy Hawkins.

However, the Brewers turned it around before the all-star break and over took the St. Louis Cardinals for the top spot in the National League Central.  The Brewers remained hot after the all-star break  going 32-11 from July 14^th-August 28^th.  They built a 10.5 game lead in the National League Central over the rival Cardinals and clinched last night win a win accompanied by a Cardinals loss.

When people think of the Brewers they more than likely think of one of the best three four hitting combos in the league of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder.  However, the Brewers have been led by a dominating pitching staff this season headlined by Zach Greinke, Shaun Marcum, Yovani Gallardo, and Randy Wolf.  As opposed to last year, the bullpen has been able to shut down opponents.  On the day of the all-star game the Brewers traded with the New York Mets for closer Francisco Rodriguez and converted him to set up man for John Axford who has been lights out all year for the Crew.

The Brewers offense is slightly better than average with the constant threat for the long ball.  Ryan Braun is having a MVP type season and Prince Fielder, in what is likely to be his last year in Milwaukee, is putting up ridiculous numbers.  However, an injury to second baseman Rickie Weeks and the lack of production from third baseman Casey McGehee and shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt has caused for an inconsistent season offensively.

How the Brewers Can Win:  If the Brewers pitching staff can remain dominant the Brewers have a real shot at advancing throughout the playoffs.  Braun and Fielder need to continue hitting the ball well and the bullpen will need to hold up their end of the bargain late in games.   The X factor for the Brewers could end up being controversial outfielder Nyjer Morgan, who has been a spark for the Crew all year.  The Brewers are also hoping Craig Counsell has one last playoff trick up his sleeve!

How the Brewers Can Lose:  The Brewers end the regular season with a road record of 39-42 and have been atrocious against good teams on the road.  With the National League going through Philadelphia this year the Brewers are going to have to find a way to win away from Miller Park.  Another problem facing this team is its defense.   There have been far too many errors this season at inopportune times and that just might catch up to the Crew in the playoffs.

Jared joined the Crawdads as the promotions assistant before the 2011 season, and took charge of the team’s promotional fun throughout the campaign. A native of Milwaukee, WI and graduate of the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, Jared previously worked for the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Operations Department and is well known for his undefeated record in the Brewers’ famed Sausage Race. Jared enjoys following Wisconsin teams and working out.