Highlights & Lowlights: Brewers v. Giants (8/5-8/8)

While the Brewers are struggling this year, there are still good and bad things about each series, this is why we created Highlights & Lowlights to praise and criticize at the same damn time.

Highlights  
Tyler Thornburg  - For whatever reason, Thorny has become my newest mancrush on the team. I cannot explain why, but I just enjoy watching him pitch and perform. He did well again on Monday night giving up one run and worked around giving up seven hits in six innings. It bummed me out he will be heading to the bullpen. While I believe Thornburg could be an excellent reliever, I still think he has a chance to be competent starter. As they put him in the bullpen, hopefully they utilize him much more than they did before he had the two starts.

Khris Davis - A player who deserves some starts this weekend in left field. Davis saved some runs on
Wednesday night with a great catch in left. Davis is not known for his fielding, but he bailed out the Brewers ensuring the Giants only got one run. He also hit a homer on Wednesday as well as a double on Thursday and six of his eleven hits have been extra-base hits. Hopefully, he will get into the mix with Caleb Gindl and Logan Schafer for starting time.

Marco Estrada - A hearty welcome back for Marco as he dazzled the Giants in five innings giving up only one hit and striking out six Giants batters. Who knows what the Brewers will do with Estrada moving forward. If he performs poorly to end the year, I doubt Estrada is on the 2014 roster but if he performs like he did on Wednesday, Estrada will probably be a fourth starter for the team next year.

Carlos Gomez - Brew Crew Ball this week made a case for Gomez being the MVP of the National League. They do point out it is highly unlikely this happens but it cannot be overlooked that Gomez has the best Wins Above Replacement in all of the National League.  The future is truly bright with Gomez and the Brewers. Kudos to Doug Melvin for signing him in spring because I do not know if the Brewers could pay him if he were a free agent this offseason.  

Rob Wooten - THE OWL.  He has not allowed a run yet although did not hold the game on Monday night. I am starting to believe he might have a future with this team. The Brewers could have a bullpen of Brandon Kintzler, Tyler Thornburg, Alfredo Figaro, Jim Henderson and Wooten next year and I would definitely be okay with it.

Lowlights
Brewers Eighth Inning on Monday - What a disaster and microcosm of the season this inning was on Monday. Mike Gonzalez and John Axford both pitched awfully including Axford throwing away an intentional walk pitch like he was Rick 'Wild Thing' Vaughn. Truly pathetic inning for the Brewers.

Yuniesky Betancourt - I want one good reason why he still plays regularly and after you give me that, I want to know why he is on this team.  Wasting a roster spot for a young guy who could make an impact for this team.

Rickie Weeks's Hamstring - Truly a bummer to see Weeks go down on Wednesday night. I doubt if he will be back this season. Maybe the final two weeks of the season, but I would not press my luck we are seeing Weeks. Someone want to explain to me how the hell the Brewers keep having hamstring issues? Just a weird season or a training issue. Good news for Scooter Gennett fans, this will be his time to prove what he's worth on the team.

Charlie.