During injuries and challenges, the Brewers have kept their heads above water thus far
The Brewers have had many things go wrong in the first two weeks of the season but still have forged a 7-6 record.
During injuries and challenges, the Brewers have kept their heads above water thus far The Brewers have had many things go wrong in the first two weeks of the season but still have forged a 7-6 record. Check out this story on jsonline.com: https://jsonl.in/2GQwuuU
, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 5:58 p.m. CT April 11, 2018 | Updated 10:12 p.m. CT April 11, 2018
Photos: Brewers 3, Cardinals 2
Pitcher Junior Guerra, who was called up from Class AAA Colorado Springs to start Wednesday against the Cardinals, might have earned himself another turn in the Brewers' rotation after allowing just one run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Jeff Roberson, Associated Press
Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright gets a new ball as Hernan Perez, of the Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the second inning. Jeff Roberson, Associated Press
Hernan Perez of the Brewers is congratulated by teammate Orlando Arcia after hitting a solo home run during the second inning Wednesday. Jeff Roberson, Associated Press
A foul pop is on the wrong side of the protective screen for Brewers catcher Jett Bandy on Wednesday. Jeff Roberson, Associated Press
Brewers slugger Eric Thames watches his home run drive, that just eluded the glove of Cardinals rightfielder Harrison Bader, during the third inning on Wednesday. Jeff Curry, Getty Images
Cardinals rightfielder Harrison Bader gets his glove on the ball but can't reel in Eric Thames home run in the third inning Wednesday,. Chris Lee, TNS
Orlando Arcia exchanges fist bumps with his teammates in the Brewers dugout after scoring in the fifth innin on Wednesday. Jeff Curry, Getty Images
Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia throws to first to force out Jose Martinez of the Cardinals during the seventh inning. Jeff Roberson, Associated Press
Brewers reliever Josh Hader gets ready to unleash a pitch during the eighth inning. Associated Press
Brewers catcher Jett Bandy celebrates after Dexter Fowler of the Cardinals struck out to end the game on Wednesday. Jeff Roberson, Associated Press
Apr 11, 2018; St. Louis, MO, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jett Bandy (47) congratulates relief pitcher Matt Albers (43) after the final out against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports(Photo: Scott Kane / USA TODAY Sports)
ST. LOUIS - It's easy to focus on the negative things that have happened to the Milwaukee Brewers over the first two weeks of the season.
An injury to closer Corey Knebel put the late innings up for grabs, with three consecutive failures in protecting one-run leads until Matt Albers came through Wednesday in a 3-2 cliff-hanger over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The team's prized off-season acquisitions, outfielders Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain, also have been injured. Yelich went on the DL with an oblique strain and Cain missed the last two games against the Cardinals with a strained quadriceps.
Another off-season pickup, starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin, is off to a very poor start through three outings (0-1, 6.59 ERA, 1.902 WHIP) while experiencing command issues and a drop in velocity.
The offense has been unimpressive, with the exception of some late-inning heroics. The Brewers already have been shut out three times and had not produced as much as a three-run lead since the opening series in San Diego until going up early, 3-0, Wednesday.
THE GAME: 5 Takeaways | Box score
NOTES: Brewers looking for bigger leads to take pressure off bullpen
RELATED: How 'options' work in major league baseball
MLB: Live scoreboard, box scores, standings, statistics
Given all of that information in a vacuum, what would you have guessed the Brewers' record to be through 13 games? 4-9? 5-8, at best?
Well, if you check your National League standings, you'll see that the Brewers are 7-6 entering their day off Thursday in New York. Yes, other teams are doing much better but considering the circumstances, manager Craig Counsell had reason to smile after taking two of three from the Cardinals (who, by the way, are 5-7).
"Look, we are just getting started here," Counsell said. "We are 13 games in. Every season is going to present challenges for teams.
"I think we've certainly had our share of challenges, up to this point, with some significant injuries, with some tough games. But we've had some great games. Sitting here, where we're at, we should feel we're hanging tough.
"Sometimes, that's a big part of the season, that you hang tough in the times when you've got some challenges around you. If you're hanging in there during those times, you wait to take off when you kind of get everybody clicking."
For all of the heat the bullpen has taken for letting leads get away, one should not forget that, overall, the relief corps has performed well. The Brewers have a 2.71 ERA from their relievers, far better than the starting rotation's 4.66 ERA.
The loss of any elite closer would put a team in scramble mode, because bullpens are built from the back to the front. You identify your ninth-inning man, then set up high-leverage relievers in front of him and ahead of the middle relievers.
So, without Knebel, it has been rough sledding at times. And let's not forget the bullpen has been heavily used, in part because of short outings from starters but also thanks to three extra-inning games already.
"It seems like its always a one-run game," said Albers, who struck out Dexter Fowler to end the game Wednesday with the potential tying run on second base. "When you're pitching in the back end of the bullpen, it sort of comes with the territory.
Like Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports on Facebook for the latest Wisconsin sports updates right in your news feed.
Visit JS Sports on Facebook
"It goes through stretches like this. The games are not all going to be like this. It would be nice if the offense comes out and bangs out 12 runs. That's going to happen. In the meantime, everybody is taking the ball and getting a chance to pitch a lot."
The Brewers played a seemingly never-ending string of these games throughout the second half of last season, mostly because the offensive support waned. Once Yelich and Cain get back in the lineup and Ryan Braun (.550 OPS) gets going, runs shouldn't be so hard to come by. Cleanup hitter Travis Shaw hasn't found his power stroke yet but it will come.
The unsettled situation has made the roster roulette wheel spin furiously, with six player moves in six days. That, too, should slow down once everyone returns to health and the relievers are allowed to catch their collective breath.
"We're not clicking on all cylinders, by any means," Counsell said. "But a lot of times, if you can keep managing wins during those times, it bodes well for us."
When you contemplate what could have happened during all of this craziness, 7-6 ain't too shabby.
Marquette 85, Xavier 65: Markus Howard keys second-half run