Milwaukee Brewers
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Sheets, Brewers start strongApril 13th, 2008
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We knew the Milwaukee Brewers were going to score a lot of runs. What we weren’t sure about was how well their pitching staff would do.
Two weeks into the season, things are looking pretty good as the Brew Crew prepares for this week’s NL Central showdown with division leader St. Louis.
Milwaukee (8-4) began the season 5-1 before dropping two of three to Cincinnati to close its opening homestand. The Brewers responded by taking two of three in a weekend series with the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.
As they enter this week’s three-game set with the Cardinals, the Brewers are averaging better than five runs per game - good for third in the National League. They sit just a game behind the Cardinals, who are off to a suprisingly strong start.
The story to Milwaukee’s start has been its pitching, namely that of Ben Sheets. The seven-year vet is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA, second best among NL starters. His 23 innings rank third in the NL, and his 15 1/3-inning scoreless streak is the sixth longest such streak in franchise history. He is off to the best start of his career, evidenced by his complete game shutout of the punchless San Francisco Giants in his second start of the season. It was just the second shutout of his career.
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Brewers have the lumber, but do they have the arms?March 31st, 2008
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It seems the team in the National League Central that everybody wants to discount is the Milwaukee Brewers. Everybody knows their good, but that talent carries with it a caveat of "Yeah, but…"
That doubt is well-deserved, considering the Brewers haven’t made it to the postseason in 25 years and last year was the organization’s first winning record in 15 seasons. Even with last year’s record, the season was disappointing because of the way the club imploded down the stretch. The criticism and doubt are justified, which is why the overlooked Brewers could be the dark-horses of the National League this year.
What’s undeniable is Milwaukee’s offensive potency. The Brewers boast arguably the best lineup in the NL and would rival that of American League contender Boston. All-star first baseman Prince Fielder and 2007 NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun give the Brewers a 1-2 power pop that led the Majors last year with a combined 84 homers.
Manager Ned Yost will bat Braun behind Fielder this year in the cleanup, a reverse from last year. The sixth-year Brewers skipper believes this will deny team the opportunity to pitch around Fielder and open things up for Corey Hart, who will bat fifth, to have a big season.
"They’re going to pitch around Prince because of the intimidation factor," Yost told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Then they’re going to get to Braunie. If Braunie stays in his game, Corey hart is going to have a hell of a year…The key is Braunie being selective. Because if he’s not, I’ve got to change the order and put him in front of Prince."