Boston Series/ Brewers Losing streak....

The Milwaukee Brewers just can't catch a break when it comes to clutch situations this year. We already have six blown saves. Six! Every Brewers fan in the nation knows that we are struggling to score runs with RISP this year. However, tonight in game two, Milwaukee has actually produced some nice runs with RISP with two outs. And after being down 5-0, we came back to take the lead 6-5. But then Solomen Torres can't hold the game for us. And gives up two runs to the Sox, to make it 7-6 Boston. Basically, I think that the Brewers just cannot catch a break lately.

They are losing a lot of games lately, because of our bad play on the road. If we want to be there come September, we have got to play .500 baseball on the road. We will and always have been playing good at home. But that is just like any good team would do.

RISP is the biggest concern that I have right now. Rickie Weeks and Mike Cameron are just not getting on base enough. Simple as that. They are worse in all of MLB with a batting average of .207. That will not cut it. We need more production out of our first and second hitters.

Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder- Braun is Braun and Fielder is Fielder. They are the heart and the sould of this team right now. Braun had a great game one against Boston this afternoon. ( Two singles and a homer). As well as Prince. (Two Doubles). I think that they are going to be just fine. And a lot of times, like we all know, after a player signs a huge contract, they slump. Well, hopefully this won't happen to Ryan Braun. And it looks as if he will be just fine, as he should be now being the face of Milwaukee for years to come.

Corey Hart and Bill Hall- Corey hart is one of the best in the NL with RISP. Not many complaints about him, however, he has got to step up more, and act like the third best hitter on this team. He needs more confidence in himself in my opinion. (Example: Prince is on second with one out, and Corey lays down a bunt). He needs to drive in runs like these if we are going to have any chance at the playoffs. Bill Hall is an all or nothing player, and always has been. In my opinion, he is nice to have around at times, like when we need a long ball. But thats about it. I really think that he shouldn't be playing as much right now with the little production he has given the team.

JJ Hardy and Jason Kendall- Hardy is on average about a .250 as we all know. Like Corey Hart, Hardy needs to drive in more runs as well. He also has to learn to be patient in my opinion. This kid could be something special for us, just like the beginning of last year. I look for him to get going soon. Kendall on the other hand, seems to be slowing down. He was off to a pretty good start, with once the highest BA on the team. He needs to stop hitting so many ground balls, and start driving the ball to the opposite field. (As well as Bill Hall needs to).

Pitching- Our Starting pitching just is not going to get it done. Ben Sheets can't win every game for us all the time, as we have seen lately. He is our Ace of the staff, but Suppan and Bush need to pick it up. Especially Suppan. Both pitchers need to work on their command a bit. If they can do that, I think we may have a chance. As for Villanueva and Parra, I think that Manny is starting to come around. He had a great outing last time out against the Dodgers. I think he should be put ahead of Carlos in the rotation. I even think that maybe Carlos should go back to the bullpen. We just brought up a couple pitchers, and one is going to take his spot, and should take his spot in the rotation. Now that we have signed Ryan Braun to an 8-year $45M contract, I dont think that Ben Sheets will be back next year. I say trade him now, and try to get two quality pitchers back, to join Gallardo and Suppan next year. Someone like a Rich Harden from Oakland would be a great pickup for the Brewers. The bullpen is not what I expected all year so far. Eric Gagne so far is a bust with blown saves all over the place. And we are surrendering way to many runs late. Once again, comes down to command.

Update- The Brewers have just lost game 2, 7-6 to Boston, and fall to 20-23 on the year, and we are now approaching last place in the NL Central. I'm sure that everyone is just as surprised as I am.

And most importantly on why I think the Brewers are losing, is because we simply cannot get our pitching and bats going together. It's either one or the other. Nobody can get hot at the same time. Granted Suppan, Bush, and Villanueva, and Parra all had great outing last time out for each, that was the first time all year. And Sup picks up another loss today to drop to 2-3.

Overall, my season prediction for the Milwaukee Brewers is 81-81. And I see this being the record if our play continues how it is now. And a .500 record isn't bad with the way that we are playing right now. If we can get things going, I see us at 85-77, and just missing the playoffs once again unfortunately. I still beleive that Milwaukee is one or two years away from making the postseason. But it will happen for us guys. It will! Continue to back our team, and hopefully it will all pay off in the end.

And plus, Mark Attanassio seems serious about winning. Otherwise he wouldn't have locked up Ryan Braun through 2015 if that wasn't the case. Now we have a great bat in our lineup, and a good LF for the next 7 years.

Now we have a great bat in our lineup, and a good LF for the next 7 years.

Who is the good left fielder you speak of?

This team needs to be shaken up and it all starts with batting order and line-up.  We need to start platooning 3B, 2B and centerfield.  Weeks and Cameron need to be removed fromt he top two spots in the order.  Here is my line-up against righty's.

Gwynn, CF

Hardy, SS

Braun, LF

Fielder, 1B

Hart, RF

Branyan, 3B

Counsell, 2B

Kendall, C

Pitcher

My line-up against Lefties

Hart, RF

Hardy, SS

Braun, LF

Fielder, 1B

Hall, 3B

Cameron, CF

Weeks, 2B

Kendall, C

Pitcher

Saloman Torres got Jacoby Ellsbury to hit a grounder to 2nd. and Dustin Pedroira to hit a grounder to 3rd. Both hitters reached on errors by Rickie Weeks and Bill Hall respectively, leaving 1st. & 3rd. with no outs instead of bases empty with 2 outs. Don't blame Torres for this one.

8 successive losses on the road to be precise, and 8 more road games in the next 8 days, including 3 games at the Pirates where we NEVER play well (and who are better than us right now). If you think the standings look ugly now, re-visit them on May26th.

They flat out suck right now. Period. Could Tony Gwynn Jr. and Craig Counsell or Joe Dillon possibly be any worse? I think not.

You have more faith in J.J.Hardy than I do. Last April & May are looking increasingly like a fluke. Take that out and you are left with a .250 career hitter with little power. What's he hitting this season? Oh, right.

Haven't seen enough of the 'all' this year. Right now he looks like Russell Branyan with more athletic defense.

Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Corey Hart & Jason Kendall should be exempt from criticism, even if their numbers are not quite what were expected. It is the other 4 who are dragging the offense down.