Part 2: Brewing up some ball smackers
Casey Olbrantz
Issue date: 10/15/09 Section: Sports
This begs the question, how this once promising core fell apart? The problem was how this team was built, long before these players reached the majors.
Throughout their respective careers, every player mentioned had striking similarities. All of them play shoddy defense (Hardy excluded), have above-average athleticism (for baseball players), have horrendous plate discipline, all but Fielder are right-handed and tear the cover off the ball.
No variety.
Every player seemingly had the same goal in every at bat; hit a home run or strikeout trying. This led individuals to sick hot streaks, only to be leveled by atrocious cold streaks.
For years, the Brewers have lived and died by the home run, and that style of play led to a regression in basic hitting fundamentals, plate discipline and confidence. This crop of players just couldn't pull it off, and it's time to start over. Hardy and Hart need to be traded for (any) pitching help. Utility infielder Casey McGehee needs to play every single day. Center fielder Mike Cameron needs to be let go, and, for the right price, Fielder should be traded.
The time has come to assemble the next crop of Brewers' hitters - and the farm league is loaded with prospects. The Brewers have in the minors right now at least 10 players who are legitimate major leaguers within the next two years. You will hear all these names by the end of 2011 (pending injury or trade). Shortstop Alcides Escobar, third baseman Mat Gamel have already seen the majors. They could be joined by second baseman Taylor Green or second baseman Brett Lawrie, catcher Jonathon Lucroy or catcher Angel Salome, center fielder Lorenzo Cain or center fielder Logan Schafer, right fielder Caleb Gindl and left fielder Kentrail Davis.
Where the Brewers should find room for them and what will happen to their predecessors will be discussed next week in the final edition of our three part Brewers season wrap-up.
Throughout their respective careers, every player mentioned had striking similarities. All of them play shoddy defense (Hardy excluded), have above-average athleticism (for baseball players), have horrendous plate discipline, all but Fielder are right-handed and tear the cover off the ball.
No variety.
Every player seemingly had the same goal in every at bat; hit a home run or strikeout trying. This led individuals to sick hot streaks, only to be leveled by atrocious cold streaks.
For years, the Brewers have lived and died by the home run, and that style of play led to a regression in basic hitting fundamentals, plate discipline and confidence. This crop of players just couldn't pull it off, and it's time to start over. Hardy and Hart need to be traded for (any) pitching help. Utility infielder Casey McGehee needs to play every single day. Center fielder Mike Cameron needs to be let go, and, for the right price, Fielder should be traded.
The time has come to assemble the next crop of Brewers' hitters - and the farm league is loaded with prospects. The Brewers have in the minors right now at least 10 players who are legitimate major leaguers within the next two years. You will hear all these names by the end of 2011 (pending injury or trade). Shortstop Alcides Escobar, third baseman Mat Gamel have already seen the majors. They could be joined by second baseman Taylor Green or second baseman Brett Lawrie, catcher Jonathon Lucroy or catcher Angel Salome, center fielder Lorenzo Cain or center fielder Logan Schafer, right fielder Caleb Gindl and left fielder Kentrail Davis.
Where the Brewers should find room for them and what will happen to their predecessors will be discussed next week in the final edition of our three part Brewers season wrap-up.
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