Highlighting and Lowlighting the Brewers' Week

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
Not having the Cardinals clinch at Miller Park - HAHA SUCK IT HARD ARIZONA.  Look, I could not complain if St. Louis went down Bernie's slide after being very critical of Arizona's response to the Los Angeles Dodgers winning the NL West crown at Chase Field. It was nice to see the Brewers get at least a game from St. Louis.  One of the biggest things for next season is the Brewers have to be better against the Cardinals in general.

Carlos Gomez - Great week for Gomez in general. He had a masterful Cubs series and then played pretty well against St. Louis. It is pretty clear he was bothered by injuries for the month of August and a little bit of September. Now that he is fully healthy, it appears Gomez is playing better again.  GoGo had a couple home runs this week including a big triple last night against St. Louis in a series he did not play as well as the Chicago one. Hopefully, he finishes strong in the final week.

Aramis Ramirez - You just sort of wonder with Ramirez. He spent most of the year banged up, but Rami looked great this week against Chicago and St. Louis. Ramirez had a couple home runs and also drove in multiple runs including a five RBI game on Friday night. I still believe Ramirez has some left in the tank, but the Brewers need to have someone there to back up Rami if he goes down with multiple injuries next season.  

That was Norichika Aoki's first double since Aug. 9 and just his third since July 22.
— Andrew Gruman (@AndrewGruman) September 23, 2013

Nori Aoki - He had a great series against St. Louis going 8 for 11 also taking some walks, but this is sort of a telling stat by FOX Sports Wisconsin Andrew Gruman. Aoki is not producing to the levels we saw last season. With the Brewers having a loaded young outfield, Ryan Braun can move to right field. I think he a big enough arm and the Brewers add more power to their already big lineup if Khris Davis is in left field.

Tyler Thornburg - Truly making a case for why he deserves to be the fifth starter when the 2014 season rolls around in March. Thorny looked great again this week once again going six innings, something he has done for all of his starts this season. In the last three starts, Thornburg has only allowed four runs and the only real issue is he still walks a couple guys a game. He is a starter to at least begin the season, folks.  

Sean Halton - Pretty good week for the young Brewers first baseman as he hit a grand slam on Wednesday night pushing the Brewers ahead in the game against the Cubs. He had another homer that week as well. Halton is a fine player, but certainly not the answer at first base. I do not think Halton is a good enough player to be an everyday player although he could be a vital bench player next season.

#Brewers avg 31,248 fans in 2013, outdrawing the playoff-contending Reds, Pirates, Orioles, Indians, Royals and Athletics. Good job, fans!
— Mike Vassallo (@MikeVassallo13) September 23, 2013

Miller Park support - Also add the Tampa Bay Rays who the Brewers outdrew this season. It speaks to the team and the city honestly. Both have done a great job supporting this team through thick and thin. There are still knuckleheads out there (Green Bay has plenty of them too), but this team gets support unlike any time before. They like I will hope there is October baseball next year.

Lowlights
No Jean Segura - This is sort of a bummer. Another Brewer went down with an injury and naturally to troll Wisconsin fans alike, it is a hamstring injury. I doubt we will see much of Segura to finish the season. Honestly, if he is hurt, just let him sit out the rest of the season unless he feels 105 percent. (JUST KIDDING, LOSE EVERY GAME THIS WEEK, TANK! TANK! TANK!)

ESPN's Ryan Braun lovefest - ESPN Sunday Night Baseball decided to remind Brewers fans about Ryan Braun and made some unqualified opinions on the Brewers fans. There is really no need to try to open a wound that is practically closed. There has been so little discussion about Braun since mid-August honestly. Sure, it is worthwhile talking a little bit about it, but taking up almost a whole inning talking about him is not great.  The worst part is I DVR'd the part of it and watch it because I am a complete loser.

Rob Wooten - First real bad game from The Owl on Saturday night. It happens and I am encouraged by all the young relievers for the following season.

Mike Gonzalez - WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE.

Kyle Lohse - It is crazy how bad Lohse has been against the Chicago Cubs this season. In general, Milwaukee has played well against Chicago this season, but this was the only team Lohse seemed to have problems with this year.

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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.

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Highlights & Lowlights: Brewers at Cubs (7/29-7/31)

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
Jean Segura - Easily, the MVP of the doubleheader. Segura looked like his forearm was alright even if he
took two games off.  He hit a home run off Carlos Villaneuva to put the Brewers on the board and had the game-winning double in the 7th inning. In the second game, he did not start but came in the ninth as the Brewers trailed and beat out a single in the 9th. He proceeded to score the go-ahead run by trusting the ball would fall in the outfield. Segura is a good to great player, but it is his hustle that is an added bonus.

Rob Wooten - Another very nice surprise from Nashville this year. The Brewers Triple A team is awful this year yet it seems like there are some gems there. Wooten has pitched great since his time up with the Brewers starting last Saturday. He bridged the gap in Game 1 of the doubleheader after John Axford gave up multiple runs. If Wooten is not nicknamed 'The Owl' by the end of August, we have failed as a society.

Tyler Thornburg - OH ME SO THORNY.  I hoped Thornburg would do damn thing on Tuesday night because I feel like he deserves to start after his great bullpen work. The pressure amplified as Yovani Gallardo went down in afternoon. If Thornburg pitched well, he probably takes Yo's spot in the rotation. He did everything and more with going a strong six innings only allowing four hits with six strikeouts. Thornburg might be the player to watch in August.

Khris Davis - It is not like he had a great series here. Davis had one moment, but it was a big one drilling a three-run homer to tie the game in seventh inning of Game 1. Davis's two homers since his call-up have been to the opposite field which is good to see from the young hitter.

Wrigley Field Foul Pole - Way to be there for the last 90-plus years, thanks I appreciate it because I did not have to watch a Wellington Castillo walkoff.

Lowlights
Juan Francisco catching ability - This really does not make sense at all.  I realize Francisco is a third baseman by trade, but still there is no excuse to drop two baseballs at first base. That is something 7th graders do not have happened to them in Little League. Someone needs to send Francisco to Tom Emanski school of defense.

Yovani Gallardo's hamstring - While the supposed Brewers ace struggled in the month of July, it was disheartening to see him go down with a somewhat serious hamstring injury. Who knows how long Gallardo will be on the shelf, but when he does come back, hopefully he finishes strong for the season.

Game 1's Fifth Inning - What a disaster this was for the Crew. They lose Gallardo with two strikes and two outs with the bases juiced.  Ron Roenicke decides to bring in John Axford which I did not agree with given his recent struggles of late.  

Game 2's Seventh Inning - This inning was definitely worse than the one above because the defense could not have been more shittier. They kicked around the baseball throughout the inning basically causing Burke Badenhop to give up two runs. While there is a lot of Triple A talent out there, it still does not excuse all the errors.

Alfredo Figaro - Not a great outing back from injury. He did not look good last night. Hopefully, it will be a blip in the radar.

Charlie.

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