Four to Represent Brewers at Midsummer Classic

The votes are in.  The selections have been made.

Four players will represent the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in Minneapolis for the 2014 MLB All-Star Game.

Carlos Gomez, Aramis Ramírez, Jonathan Lucroy, and Francisco Rodriguez have been selected to participate for the National League in the 85th installment of the Midsummer Classic.

Gomez and Ramírez have earned starting nods via the fan vote.  It is the second consecutive All-Star appearance for Gomez and third overall for Ramírez, who is representing Milwaukee for the first time.  Both players are making their first starts in the Midsummer Classic, with Ramírez becoming the first Brewer to start such a contest at the hot corner.

Gomez continues to display his coveted combination of power and speed, having belted 13 homers and swiped 14 bags in 17 opportunities thus far.  His 45 runs batted in and .299 batting average validate his status as one of the premier outfielders in the game.  Gomez finished behind reigning MVP Andrew McCutchen in voting among NL outfielders.

Ramírez has crushed 11 long balls while driving in 41 runs, ranking him fourth and fifth among NL third basemen, respectively.  It is the final year of a three-year pact for Ramírez, who edged out Mets veteran David Wright in votes among third basemen.

Jonathan Lucroy, making his first All-Star appearance, will serve as a backup backstop for the National League.  Lucroy currently ranks second in the National League and fourth in all of baseball with a .329 batting average, tops among catchers.  His 44 RBIs rank second among MLB catchers, while his nine homers rank fourth in the National League at the position.

Despite a politically influenced 'Vote Lucroy' video campaign, the Brewers' catcher fell short in votes to rival backstop Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals.  Red Birds' skipper Mike Matheny publicly criticized Lucroy's campaign, taking exception to the negative connotations directed towards the Cardinals organization.

Francisco Rodriquez will make his fifth All-Star appearance and first as a Brewer.  Having served primarily as a set-up man for Milwaukee from 2011-2013, Rodriquez has been dominant as the unquestioned closer in 2014.  'K-Rod' has converted 27 of 30 save opportunities and is currently tied with Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel for the MLB lead in that category.  Rodriguez owns a 2.34 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in what has surely been a bounce-back season in the closer's role.

Several other unselected Brewers players certainly earned All-Star consideration.  Right handed starter Kyle Lohse made a strong bid for his first Midsummer Classic appearance, pacing the staff with a 9-3 mark, 3.18 ERA, and 1.10 WHIP.  Many view Lohse as the ace of Milwaukee's staff, having leaped over Yovani Gallardo for the unofficial title.

Despite leading his club with 49 runs batted in, Ryan Braun's overall numbers are less than staggering this season.  Milwaukee's embattled right fielder, who has been bothered by a myriad of injuries in 2014, has socked 11 homers while batting .288.  Despite his dip in numbers, Braun did finish sixth in voting among NL outfielders.

Arguments could be made for Wily Peralta, Will Smith, and Zach Duke, who are all enjoying very solid seasons as members of Milwaukee's staff.

Despite any perceived snubs, the Brewers and their fans should certainly be proud.  The Brewers have four All-Star selections for the first time since 2007, the franchise's first winning campaign in a decade and a half.  At that Midsummer Classic, Milwaukee was represented by the likes of Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Ben Sheets, and Francisco Cordero.

Like it or not, the Midsummer Classic has a direct impact on the Fall Classic.  With the All-Star Game carrying home field advantage implications for the World Series, the first-place Milwaukee Brewers have every intention of bringing home a victory for the National League.

Thank you for voting!
Barrel Man

Crew Sweeps Defending Champs at Fenway

Opening Weekend in 'Bean Town' did not go according to plan for the Boston Red Sox.

The 2013 World Champions, returning home to begin a new chapter, were given more than their championship rings.

They were given a rude welcome by the Milwaukee Brewers.

The first interleague series for both clubs was largely one-sided, with Milwaukee outscoring its opponent 17-8 en route to a three-game sweep.

Marco Estrada pitched well in Boston's home opener on Friday, allowing one earned run over 5 2/3 innings while striking out six.  He exited a 2-2 game following a very promising start to the season.  A four-run ninth inning was the difference in the game, with Lyle Overbay's two-run double igniting the scoring.

Brandon Kintzler's scoreless eighth inning ultimately earned him the win, while Francisco Rodriguez's flawless ninth inning completed the 6-2 victory.  It was not a save situation for 'K-Rod', who has emerged as the club's closer in place of Jim Henderson.  The incumbent Henderson was largely inconsistent during spring training, prompting a change at the pivotal role.

The Brewers proceeded to get the final say in Saturday's extra-inning affair.  Wily Peralta allowed five runs over five innings, though just two of those were earned.  Suspect infield defense allowed for three Red Sox runs in the opening frame.

Despite two errors and various missed opportunities with men on base, the Brewers prevailed.  Logan Schafer's 11th-inning double scored Khris Davis, who enjoyed his first career four-hit game.  The single tally was enough for Rodriguez, who struck out the side in a flawless bottom half of the 11th.  Tyler Thornburg was perfect the previous inning while striking out a batter and earning the victory.

Coming off his first Opening Day victory, Yovani Gallardo was equally impressive in Sunday's series finale.  'Yo' scattered seven hits and kept the Sox scorless over 6 2/3 innings.  Zach Duke and Tyler Thornburg went the rest of the way to preserve the 4-0 shutout.  Aramis Ramírez continued his hot start to 2014 by singling and driving in his sixth run of the season.

While the series featured home runs from Jonathan Lucroy, Mark Reynolds, and Carlos Gomez, Milwaukee's most controversial name continues his search for his first dinger of 2014.  Embattled superstar Ryan Braun was kept relatively quiet in Boston, singling twice in nine at-bats while striking out twice and leaving four men left on base.

Braun was held out of Saturday's lineup as he continues to battle a sore thumb.  The lingering injury affects a nerve between the thumb and index finger of Braun's right hand.  The slugger has been battling this issue since last season, during which Braun made his first career trip to the Disabled List before ultimately being suspended by Major League Baseball.  Though surgery is an option, Braun would prefer to avoid that route.

Despite the sluggish start for Braun, it was an extremely positive weekend for the Brewers.  The three-game set marks Milwaukee's first sweep of Boston at Fenway Park since the final series of the 1993 season, during which the Brewers outscored the Sox 24-12.

Portions of April and May will continue to present plenty of challenging opponents for Milwaukee.  However, regardless of who they face, the Milwaukee Brewers have sent an early message that they fear no opponent.

Just ask the World Champions.

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

Brewers Sign Garza to Four-Year Deal

The Milwaukee Brewers' offseason is officially quiet no more.

Following a delay in negotiations which lasted several days, the club has agreed to terms with free agent right handed starter Matt Garza.  The deal guarantees Garza $50 million over four years, with performance incentives of $1 million available each season.  The contract also contains a $13 million vesting option for a fifth year.  It is the richest contract for a pitcher in team history.

In parts of eight Major League seasons, Garza, 30, has compiled 67 wins with as many losses.  He has averaged 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings while owning a 3.84 ERA.

Garza helped lead Tampa Bay to the fall classic in 2008.  The right hander earned two victories in the NLCS against Boston, allowing just two earned runs while striking out 14 batters in 13 innings of work.  Garza's dominant performance earned him NLCS MVP honors.

Garza's best season came in 2010, when he went 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA in his final season with Tampa Bay.  On July 26 of that season, Garza allowed one walk and no hits in a complete-game gem against the Tigers, the first no-no in Rays history.

Despite his accolades, health has been a concern for Garza, who has made four trips to the Disabled List since 2009.

Garza's Dominant Start Against Crew

Garza had been considered one of the top starting pitching options on the free agent market.  The move comes just days after the Yankees' mammoth signing of right handed Japanese phenom Masahiro Tanaka for seven years at $155 million.  Several teams had been waiting for Tanaka to sign before exploring other options at starting pitcher.

The Brewers represent the fifth team for Garza, who has spent time with the Twins, Rays, Cubs, and Rangers.  The hurler has been traded three times since being drafted 25th overall by Minnesota in 2005.

Garza bolsters a rotation that finished strong in 2013.  He joins a starting staff which includes Yovani Gallardo, Kyle Lohse, Wily Peralta, and Marco Estrada.  Prior to the Garza signing, Doug Melvin had indicated that Tyler Thornburg would have every opportunity to land the final rotation spot.

Though Garza possess a good, live arm, he also carries a bit of baggage.  He has a tendency to wear his emotions on his sleeve and occasionally lose control of his temper.

In August 2013, Garza used Twitter to make derogatory comments about Athletics second baseman Eric Sogard, as well as Sogard's wife, Kaycee.  The interactive war of words stemmed from a game in which Sogard executed a safety-squeeze bunt on Garza.  It was the fourth Oakland bunt against Garza, who felt insulted and exposed for his fielding deficiencies.

The signing of Garza certainly comes as a surprise to Brewers fans.  Melvin previously reiterated that he was disinterested in pursing a starting pitcher via free agency.  It is possible that owner Mark Attanasio was the man behind this move, as he allegedly was with last year's signing of Kyle Lohse for $33 million over three years.

Thank you for reading,
Barrel Man

2013 Milwaukee Brewers: Year in Review

The Milwaukee Brewers endured a roller coaster of a 2013 calendar year that contained a little bit of everything.

Following division realignment, the Brewers found themselves in an improved, five-team NL Central Division.  At 74-88, the Crew finished eight games ahead of the rival Cubs, 23 games behind the Division Champion Cardinals, and 16 games behind the Wild Card Reds.

Following moths of internet rumors and speculation, Ryan Braun was finally suspended by Major League Baseball in July.  The suspension was the result of a positive PED test from October 2011, a documented relationship with former Biogenesis operator Anthony Bosch, and obstruction of MLB's investigation into the now-defunct Biogenesis clinic.  Braun sat for the final 65 games while his teammates strung together a 33-32 record.

2013 Milwaukee Brewers: Memorable Moments

Despite Braun's disappointing fall from grace, 2013 yielded impressive campaigns for several of his teammates.

Acquired from the Angels in July 2012, shortstop prospect Jean Segura burst onto the Milwaukee scene.  In a 2013 All-Star season, Segura swiped 44 bags and slugged 12 homers while batting .294.

Following a three-year extension signed during the offseason, center fielder Carlos Gomez put together a 2013 All-Star campaign of his own.  Carlos stole 40 bases, belted 24 homers, drove in 73 runs, and collected 12 outfield assists en route to team MVP honors and an NL Gold Glove Award.

Signed to a three-year deal near the conclusion of Spring Training, veteran right hander Kyle Lohse enjoyed a strong 2013 Brewers debut.  In 32 stars, Kyle earned 11 victories while striking out 125 batters and maintaining a 3.35 earned run average.  On September 25 at Atlanta, a masterful Lohse tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout.

While pitchers Yovani Gallardo and Wily Peralta battled inconsistencies in 2013, right handed prospect Tyler Thornburg impressed down the stretch.  In just over 66 innings pitched, Thornburg held opposing batters to a .225 batting average while owning an ERA just over two.

Closer Jim Henderson impressed as the team's closer, converting 28 saves in 32 chances while maintaining a 2.70 ERA.  Henderson replaced an inconsistent John Axford, who bounced back and forth between closer and setup roles before eventually being traded to St. Louis.

In just 136 at-bats, left field prospect Khris Davis crushed 11 home runs, drove in 27 runs, and belted 10 doubles while batting .279.  Davis' impressive 2013 debut has earned him a starting role in 2014, forcing the Brewers to shift Braun to right field.

Second base prospect Scooter Gennett impressed in his 2013 debut, hitting .324 in just 69 games.  The emergence of Gennett may spell the end for Rickie Weeks, whose ongoing injuries and inconsistencies led to a disappointing 2013 season.

Outfielder Norichika Aoki enjoyed a strong 2013 showing in Milwaukee, swiping 20 bases and belting 20 doubles while hitting .286.  Following the season, the Brewers exercised Aoki's club option for 2014, only to deal him to Kansas City in exchange for left handed pitcher Will Smith.

Following surgeries on both knees, versatile slugger Corey Hart missed all of 2013.  In Hart's absence, Brewers first basemen combined to bat a dismal .211.  Hart has since signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract with the Mariners, ending his memorable tenure in Milwaukee.

Needless to say, the Milwaukee Brewers saw their share of positives and negatives over the course of 2013.  Regardless of adversities faced or challenges lying ahead, Brewers fans have reason to be optimistic about their beloved team.  A surplus of young talent and a returning superstar yield a bright future for the Milwaukee Brewers.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and my absolute best for the year ahead!
Barrel Man

2014 Milwaukee Brewers: Starting Rotation Possibilities

Greetings Brew Crew fans!

I hope you enjoyed last week’s blog post pertaining to a possible starting lineup scenario. It was the first of many blog posts to come. This blog is very much a work in progress as I continue to iron out kinks along the way. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day!

As promised, I will be discussing a possible starting rotation scenario in this post. As with the starting lineup, the starting rotation is suspect to undergo changes between now and the start of the 2014 season. Pieces can always be added or subtracted. Regardless, it is never too early to speculate about which five arms may occupy the Brewers’ starting rotation in the season to come.

1: Yovani Gallardo
Despite his first half struggles and overall inconsistencies over the past few seasons, Gallardo is still the Brewers’ ace and one of the faces of the franchise. He has won at least twelve games each of the past five seasons, leading the staff in victories in each of the past four. Though strikeouts were down for Yovani in 2013 (144) and ERA was up (4.18), he did have an impressive second half and seems to have made some helpful mechanical adjustments. Gallardo has sped up his delivery, allowing him to attack the strike zone more aggressively. Barring injury, expect Gallardo to take the hill March 31 against Atlanta.

2: Kyle Lohse
Lohse had a solid 2013 campaign with his new team. Though he was inconsistent in the first half, some of that can be attributed to a lack of run support. Lohse’s mates did not score many runs in his first several starts, pinning Kyle into an early hole. However, he worked his way out of the hole and put together a very strong second half. Lohse finished the season with eleven wins, a 3.35 ERA, and 125 strikeouts. The Brewers signed Lohse late into Spring Training in 2013 and are committed to keeping him near the top of their rotation. Expect an increase in wins for Lohse in 2014, having a full season in his new surroundings under his belt.

3: Wily Peralta
Peralta may be the true enigma of the Brewers’ starting staff. After impressing late in 2012, Peralta was largely inconsistent throughout 2013, seemingly alternating between solid and poor starts. Like many of his teammates, Peralta picked it up a bit in the second half, finishing the season with eleven wins and 129 strikeouts. Being a young pitcher, the Brewers expect struggles and learning curves throughout Peralta’s development. However, they expect for Peralta to start to put it all together and find consistency on the mound. He will be 25 in May and is still highly touted by the organization. Though Peralta has always been considered one of the Brewers’ top pitching prospects, it is time for Wily to take his game to the next level and finally shed the “prospect” label.

4: Tyler Thornburg
The offspeed specialist was impressive in limited duties in 2013, posting a 2.03 ERA and striking out 48 batters in 66 2/3 innings. Though he may return to Nashville in 2014 for more minor league seasoning, it seems more likely that the Brewers will give Tyler his much deserved opportunity at the big league level. He has been one of the organization’s top pitching prospects for the past several years, despite his recent struggles in the minor leagues. The Brewers would rather not bury Tyler in the minor leagues, especially since he showed enough promise in the closing weeks of 2013. Thornburg just turned 25 in September and may get his opportunity to crack the starting rotation out of Spring Training.

5: Marco Estrada
Estrada battled injuries throughout 2013, tossing just 128 innings. Despite the lost time, Marco did strike out 118 batters and compiled a 3.87 ERA while on the mound. As someone who can start and pitch in long relief, Estrada is invaluable to the organization. Despite the occasional forgettable start, Marco is also good for the occasional dominant start. Beyond the two occasional extremes, Estrada is a solid pitcher who helps to stabilize the Brewers’ starting rotation. Look for Marco to get every opportunity to secure a back end rotation slot for 2014.

Don’t Count ‘Em Out:
Hiram Burgos, Mike Fiers, Alfredo Figaro, Tom Gorzelanny, Donovan Hand, Johnny Hellweg, Chris Narveson, and Jimmy Nelson may get looks and receive rotation consideration in Spring Training.

It seems that many fans are hoping for Yovani Gallardo to be traded. Though it’s not beyond the realm of possibility, I simply don’t think that would be practical at this point. Gallardo is set to earn $11.25 million in 2014, the final year of his guaranteed contract. The Brewers hold a $13 million team option on Gallardo for 2015.

The argument can be made that the Brewers should deal Yovani so as to free up payroll. However, the Brewers are thin at starting pitching as it is. They simply aren’t in a position to be trading starting pitchers, especially a veteran like Gallardo. Though he might not be an ace on many staffs, Gallardo is the Brewers’ number one starter.

Regardless of how the starting rotation shakes out for 2014, one thing is for certain. The Milwaukee Brewers must perform more consistently on the field. This is not limited to starting pitching. The bullpen arms, bats, and gloves must find ways to play a more consistent brand of baseball for an entire season. It is no secret that Doug Melvin is disappointed with his team’s first half struggles each of the past two seasons.

"I can't stand here every year and say we had a great second half. That doesn't work. We've done that two years in a row, gotten off to bad starts. For the past two years we've relied on younger players, but for us to get better, for us to perform, our star players have to perform. They have to come to the forefront."

-Doug Melvin

Thanks for reading!
-Barrel Man