Milwaukee Brewers MLB News - Brewers Baseball Blog

The Milwaukee Brewers need more out of Alcides Escobar

chinmusic — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:22:37 +0000

23-year old righty swinging shortstop Alcides Escobar played so well after a late season call up in 2009 that the Brewers felt safe in trading J.J. Hardy to the Twins over the winter for CF Carlos Gomez. Escobar played in 38 games in 2009 for the Brewers and he was 38 of 125 (.304 avg, .701 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 1 homer, 11 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. This season though, Escobar has been a disappointment. He has played in 122 games this year for the Brewers and he is 108 of 431 (.251 avg, .645 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 3 homers, 38 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The Brewers need more from Escobar if he is going to be considered the SS of the future.

Chris Capuano is looking good so far in his recent comeback for the Milwaukee Brewers

chinmusic — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:19:04 +0000

31-year old lefty Chris Capuano has had a few major operations in his major league career but he keeps coming back. He has pitched in 17 games (2 starts) for the Brewers this year and he is 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He has whiffed 28 batters while only walking 8 in 29 innings for the Brewers. The Brewers hope that Capuano has a strong and healthy end to the season so they can pencil him in for the 2011 starting rotation.

The Milwaukee Brewers have released David Riske

chinmusic — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:41:30 +0000

The Brewers have released 33-year old righty reliever David Riske. Riske had Tommy John Surgery in 2009 and the Brewers decided that they didn’t think he would be able to ever help them again. Riske pitched in 69 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Brewers and he was 1-2 with 2 saves, a 5.40 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. This was addition by subtraction for the Brewers.

Trevor Hoffman has worked himself back into the good graces of the Milwaukee Brewers

chinmusic — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:28:16 +0000

42-year old righty Trevor Hoffman has worked himself back into a time share with rookie 27-year old righty John Axford for the closer’s role in Milwaukee. I think this really has more to do with Hoffman getting near 600 saves (he has 598) than with the way he has been pitching. Hoffman has pitched in 41 games (0 starts) this year and he is 2-6 with 7 saves, a 6.69 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Hoffman looked like toast the first two months of the season. He was 1-3 with 5 saves, a 10.69 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP which is the reason he lost his closers’ job. He gave up a stunning 7 homers in only 16 innings in April and May. But in the last three months has has been a lot better. Since June 1st, Hoffman is 1-3 with 1 save, a 3.91 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Hoffman also is keeping the ball in the yard as he has only given up 1 homer in the last three months (23 innings). Still, Hoffman does not deserve to close based on Axford’s pitching. Axford has pitched in 37 games (0 starts) this year and he is 7-1 with 18 saves, a 2.74 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He has whiffed 50 batters while only allowing 34 hits in 42 2/3 innings this year.

The Milwaukee Brewers release Jody Gerut

chinmusic — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:11:57 +0000

The Brewers activated 32-year old lefty swinging Jody Gerut off the D.L. and then they released him. Gerut played in 32 games for the Brewers this year and he was 14 of 71 (.197 avg, .596 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers and 8 RBIs. He played in 117 games in parts of two years with the Brewers and he was 52 of 232 (.224 avg, .650 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 7 homers, 29 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Brewers won’t miss Gerut too much as he wasn’t part of the future.

The Milwaukee Brewers place LaTroy Hawkins on the D.L.

chinmusic — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:57:15 +0000

The Brewers have placed 37-year old righty reliever LaTroy Hawkins on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder soreness. Hawkins has pitched in 18 games (0 starts) for the Brewers so far this year and he is 0-3 with a 8.44 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. The Brewers have recalled 25-year old righty reliever/starter Mike McClendon to replace Hawkins in the pen. McClendon has pitched in 32 games (3 starts) in AA+AAA-ball this year and he is 5-4 with 2 saves, a 2.06 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He has now pitched in 164 games (39 starts) in his five years in the minors and he is 29-23 with 16 saves, a 3.50 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.

UPDATE: (8/28/2010) - Hawkins has undergone season ending shoulder surgery.

Manny Parra has been inept this season for the Milwaukee Brewers

chinmusic — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:54:17 +0000

27-year old Manny Parra looked decent in the bullpen at the start of the year for the Brewers. He pitched in 17 games in relief for the Brewers this year and he was 1-3 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. But injuries ransacked the starting rotation so the Brewers needed him in that role and he has been truly awful. Parra has started 14 games this season for the Brewers and he is 2-6 with a 6.01 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. In his last two years with the Brewers, Parra has pitched in 58 games (41 starts) in which he is 14-20 with a 5.99 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. The Brewers need to call someone up to replace Parra in the rotation so they can put him back in the pen where he pitched decent for them earlier this year.

The Milwaukee Brewers trade Jim Edmonds to the Reds

chinmusic — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:42:46 +0000

The Brewers have sent 40-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jim Edmonds to the Reds for 28-year old lefty swinging outfielder Chris Dickerson. Edmonds played in 73 games for the Brewers this year and he was 62 of 217 (.286 avg, .843 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 8 homers, 20 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He played well for the Brewers this season but this was a trade they had to make as Edmonds is considering retirement after this year. Chris Dickerson can handle all three positions in the outfield defensively. Dickerson played in 20 games for the Reds this year and he is 9 of 44 (.205 avg, .495 OPS) with 9 runs scored and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 148 games in his three years in the majors and he is 110 of 401 (.274 avg, .789 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 8 homers, 30 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. This is a trade I like for both teams as it gives the Reds a veteran player for the stretch run while the Reds get a player who could be solid down the road.

The Milwaukee Brewers place Carlos Gomez on the D.L.

chinmusic — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:52:34 +0000

The Brewers have placed 24-year old CF Carlos Gomez on the 15-day disabled list with a concussion. Gomez has played in 75 games for the Brewers this year and he is 56 of 246 (.228 avg, .635 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 5 homers, 22 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The Brewers have recalled 24-year old righty swinigng Lorenzo Cain to replace Gomez on the roster. Cain played in 3 games earlier this season for the Brewers and he was 3 of 5 (.600 avg, 1.400 OPS) with 1 run scored. Look for Cain to get a lot of P.T. this time around for the Brewers as Jim Edmonds is also gimpy right now.

Corey Hart is ripping the ball for the Milwaukee Brewers this year

chinmusic — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:33:27 +0000

The Brewers were rumored to be dealing Corey Hart at the trading deadline. Not only did the Brewers keep him…..they signed him to a three year contract extension. Hart has played in 95 games for the Brewers this year and he is 105 of 363 (.289 avg, .905 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 23 homers, 75 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Hart is on pace to set new career highs in runs scored (86), homers (24) and RBIs (91) if he finishes strongly. The Brewers were smart to lock up Hart for a few more years as they challenged him this spring and he has responded big time.