Braun Arrives at Camp, Ready to Turn Page

No matter where you reside in the midst of this treacherous winter, one thing is for certain.

It's always sunny in Arizona.

With pitchers and catchers having been in Phoenix for close to a week, the Brewers are just one day away from their first full-squad workout of spring training.  On Thursday, Milwaukee's face of the franchise became the focus of spring camp.

Returning from his 65-game suspension, Ryan Braun is eager to get back to the game he has missed for far too long.  Upon his arrival in Phoenix, Milwaukee's embattled superstar was almost immediately attacked by a media hive.

To this point, Braun has made few public appearances while providing minimal information regarding his PED use and consequent 65-game suspension.  On Thursday, Braun maintained an unwillingness to divulge details and rehash the past.

Instead, Ryan reiterated his desire to move forward and concentrate on baseball.  He acknowledges his past mistakes and expresses deep remorse for decisions which cost both him and his team.

Braun understands that the healing process is exactly that; a process.  He will be unable to immediately restore his reputation and earn respect overnight.  Braun realizes that it will take time for him to regain the trust of others.

By the same token, Braun acknowledges that there is only so much he can do to rebuild his image.  Though he can try everything in his power to prove himself, Ryan concedes that people are entitled to their opinions.

Having put his past mistakes behind him, Braun has set several goals for himself in the season to come.

Braun hopes to put together his most productive season in 2014.  He cited his 2012 campaign, during which Braun endured a bottomless pit of accusations and animosity, following his successful appeal of a 50-game suspension.

That season, Braun led the National League with 41 home runs, 108 runs scored, 356 total bases, and a .987 OPS en route to his fifth consecutive All-Star appearance.  He also finished second to San Francisco backstop Buster Posey in NL MVP balloting.

Braun has agreed to shift to right field, his third position since joining the major leagues in 2007.  Braun's position switch is designed to accommodate Khris Davis, an up-and-coming slugger whose specific skill set projects him as a left fielder.

Though Braun hopes his positional transition is a smooth one, he intends to work hard in his new outfield corner during spring training.  Possessing an above-average throwing arm and solid range, Braun is confident he'll excel at his new position.

Braun has promised to be the best he's ever been in 2014.  Having been away from baseball since the end of July, Ryan is extremely eager to get back to the diamond and disprove his critics.  If Ryan Braun had something to prove in 2012, he now has a mammoth-sized chip on his shoulder for the season to come.

"I think I'm pretty strong mentally and emotionally, and I'm able to deal with adversity and challenges.  As baseball players, we're all regular people, normal people who all deal with challenges and adversity.  I think the biggest challenge sometimes in this game is not having peripheral vision.  You want to just focus on the task at hand.  I was able to do that pretty well in 2012."

-Ryan Braun

Thank you for reading, and have a nice weekend!

Barrel Man

Twenty Years Ago: 'The Kid' Announces Retirement

Two decades ago on this date, 'The Kid' announced he would be hanging up his cleats, for good.

From 1974-1993, Robin Yount cemented himself in Brewers lore while exemplifying the role of a true major leaguer.

Drafted out of high school by Milwaukee with the third overall pick in 1973, Yount quickly made his presence felt at the big league level.  At the tender age of 18, Robin played in 108 games during his rookie season of 1974.

Though he certainly possessed potential, a raw Yount experienced his share of early growing pains.  A shortstop by trade, Robin committed 94 errors at the position over his first three seasons in the majors.

The 1970's would prove to be an adjustment period for the Brewers' top prospect, who had made a difficult transition from the high school diamond to the big league clubhouse.  Regardless, a determined Yount would prove to his critics that he belonged in the game.

At the turn of the new decade, Yount took the baseball world by storm.  In 1980, Robin belted 23 homers, drove in 87 runs, and swiped 20 bases while leading the majors with 49 doubles.  The performance landed Yount on the major league map and garnered him the first of thee AL All-Star nods.  In a strike-interrupted 1981 campaign, Yount drove in 49 runs while helping lead Milwaukee to the AL Division Series, its first playoff appearance in team history.  For Yount, it was simply a preview of what was to come.

In an incredible 1982 campaign, Yount batted .331 while crushing 29 home runs and collecting 114 RBIs.  That season, Robin led the majors with 210 hits, 46 doubles, 367 total bases, a .578 slugging percentage, and a .957 OPS.  Yount's stellar season earned him the AL MVP Award, AL All-Star honors, and an AL Gold Glove Award.

The American League's top performer in 1982 helped lead his team to its second consecutive playoff appearance.  On the final day of the regular season, Robin cranked two home runs against Jim Palmer and the Orioles, securing the AL Eastern Division Championship.  A fighting Brewers club bested the Angels in a five-game ALCS, granting Milwaukee its first pennant.  Yount secured the final out of that series, retiring Rod Carew on a one-hop shot to short.

Yount Homers Twice Against Baltimore

In a seven-game fall classic against the NL Champion Cardinals, Yount homered and drove in six runs while batting .414 in a losing effort.  Yount collected four hits in both the first and fifth games of that series, becoming the first player in fall classic history with multiple four-hit games.

Yount Homers Against St. Louis

Though his team fell on difficult times throughout the remainder of the 1980's, Robin remained a consistent force in Brewers' lineups.  While beginning to experience knee problems, Yount was shifted to the outfield in 1985 in hopes of extending an impressive career.

In 1989, Yount smacked 21 homers and drove in 103 runs while batting .318 en route to his second AL MVP Award.  Now a center fielder, Robin became just the third player in major league history to earn MVP honors at multiple positions.  It was a fitting way for Yount to conclude the 1980's, earning Major League Baseball's Player of the Decade honor.

With his more productive years and better health behind him, Yount embarked on the 1990's while looking to cap off an incredible career.  In 1992, Robin drove in 77 runs and stole 15 bags while the Brewers finished four games behind the eventual World Champion Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Eastern Division.

The following season, Yount provided his proverbial exclamation point.  On September 9, 1992 in Milwaukee, Robin collected his 3,000 hit as a major leaguer, a single to right off Cleveland's Jose Mesa.  Yount had become the third youngest player and 17th overall to collect 3,000 hits.

Yount Collects 3,000th Hit

Following 20 memorable years on the diamond, Yount announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on February 11, 2014.  A hard-working, dedicated major leaguer since his teen years, Robin had truly earned his rest.  At Yount's retirement press conference, then-team owner Bud Selig insisted that Robin's retirement was not a sad occasion, but instead a celebration of Yount's contributions to Major League Baseball and the Milwaukee Brewers for two decades.

Vintage Coverage of Yount's Retirement, Courtesy of ABC News

Over the span of twenty seasons, Robin made his mark in nearly every offensive category.  In total, Yount accumulated 3,142 hits, 251 home runs, 1,406 RBIs, 583 doubles, 126 triples, and 966 walks, all franchise records.

On May 29, 1994, Yount was honored in a pregame ceremony at Milwaukee County Stadium.  Robin's number 19 was retired by the Brewers, joining Henry Aaron's number 44 and Rollie Fingers' number 34 in enshrinement.

In 1999, Yount was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  A first-ballot hall of famer, Robin became the first Brewer to represent his team in Cooperstown.

Yount's Hall of Fame Speech

Yount has remained close to the Brewers' organization since retirement, making annual appearances at various team events.  A resident of Arizona, Robin frequents Brewers' Spring Training in Phoenix each season.

For twenty seasons, Robin Yount exemplified professionalism, humility, and leadership.  He set the golden standard for Major League Baseball and the Milwaukee Brewers.  Twenty years following his retirement from the game, Yount's countless achievements serve as priceless memories for fans of our National Pastime.  'The Kid' remains in the hearts of Brewers' faithful.

Thank you for reading,
Barrel Man

'K-Rod' Returns to Milwaukee

A familiar face, and possible subsequent set of sport glasses, will return to Milwaukee in 2014.

Francisco 'K-Rod' Rodriguez and the Brewers have agreed to a one-year, $3.25 million deal.  It is an incentive-laden deal, as Rodriguez can earn up to an additional $550,000 in performance bonuses.  To make room on their 40-man roster, the Brewers designated right handed reliever Donovan Hand for assignment.

Rodriguez pitched parts of three seasons with Milwaukee from 2011-2013.  During the 2011 All-Star break, the Brewers acquired then-closer K-Rod from the Mets in exchange for two players to be named.  Doug Melvin had been looking to solidify a shaky bullpen and make a playoff push.  The results were convincing.

Setting up closer John Axford, Rodriguez went 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA while helping lead Milwaukee to the 2011 NL Central title.  In the postseason, Franky allowed one run in five innings of work against Arizona and St. Louis.

K-Rod Holds D'backs in Decisive NLDS Game Five

Following the 2011 season, the Brewers offered salary arbitration to their newly appointed eighth inning man.  Many expected Rodriguez to sign elsewhere and reclaim his previous closer role, thus granting Milwaukee a supplemental draft pick.

The free agent reliever instead returned to the Brewers in 2012 on a one-year, $8 million deal.  He proved not to be the K-Rod from a year prior, going 2-7 with a 4.38 ERA, his highest in a full season.

Following the 2012 season, Rodriguez once again entered the free agent market.  Though it appeared as though ties had been cut, Rodriguez was granted another chance from the Brewers in 2013.

The embattled reliever signed a Minor League deal in mid-April, eventually earning his way to the big leagues.  There, Rodriguez redeemed himself, maintaining a 1.09 ERA and saving ten games in place of a struggling John Axford.

In late July, the Brewers traded Rodriguez to Baltimore in exchange for third base prospect Nick Delmonico.  K-Rod had mixed results as an orange bird, going 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in a setup role.

In total, Rodriguez has gone 7-8 and saved 13 games while maintaining a 3.15 ERA with the Brewers.  He is expected to set up newly appointed closer Jim Henderson, who enjoyed success with Milwaukee in the second half of 2013.

Following a couple of very quiet months on the offseason front, Doug Melvin has made several moves since the change of the calendar year.  Though they have received little national recognition, the Milwaukee Brewers certainly expect to compete in a competitive National League Central Division.

Thank you for reading,
Barrel Man

2014 Milwaukee Brewers: Fantasy Baseball Projections

MLB.com has released its 2014 Player Preview.  The preview is released annually to provide fantasy baseball team owners the opportunity to perform player research prior to drafts.

Brewers players are listed below, in accordance with MLB.com's projections:

(Team Rank/Positional Rank/Overall Rank)

OF: Ryan Braun (1st/5th/12th)
OF: Carlos Gomez (2nd/8th/21st)
SS: Jean Segura (3rd/5th/57th)
SP: Marco Estrada (4th/37th/136th)
3B: Aramis Ramírez (5th/13th/144th)
SP: Matt Garza (6th/51st/167th)
RP: Jim Henderson (7th/19th/174th)
C: Jonathan Lucroy (8th/9th/178th)
SP: Kyle Lohse (9th/60th/188th)
SP: Yovani Gallardo (10th/69th/207th)
OF: Khris Davis (11th/56th/224th)
SP: Wily Peralta (12th/103rd/328th)
2B: Scooter Gennett (13th/31st/396th)
1B: Mark Reynolds (14th/44th/467th)
1B: Juan Francisco (15th/45th/488th)
RP: Tom Gorzelanny (16th/73rd/507th)
RP: Brandon Kintzler (17th/94th/543rd)
RP: Will Smith (18th/102nd/564th)
2B: Rickie Weeks (19th/44th/570th)
RP: Tyler Thornburg (20th/112th/585th)
OF: Logan Schafer (21st/139th/604th)
OF: Caleb Gindl (22nd/162nd/683rd)
C: Martin Maldonado (23rd/60th/712th)
RP: Donovan Hand (24th/143rd/729th)
1B: Lyle Overbay (25th/67th/759th)
SS: Jeff Bianchi (26th/64th/822nd)
1B: Sean Halton (27th/73rd/836th)

MLB.com has Milwaukee's pitching staff ranked 11th among National League clubs and 22nd overall.  Accordingly, the Brewers are projected to go 76-86 with a 3.99 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 1,160 strikeouts.

Good luck in the fantasy season to come!
Barrel Man