Every couple days I will try to keep some up-to-date information on the Milwaukee Brewers. Team and individual stats, rants, etc. I am just now learning how to blog on this site, so forgive me for the first couple posts if something is posted incorrectly.First off, I just finished watching the Milwaukee Brewers conclude their FIRST EVER series sweep of the Atlanta Braves.
Everyone knows the Brewers started out 5-0 this season. They finished their first home series (and season) 5-1. They then went on the road against St. Louis, NYM, and Houston. They finished that road trip with a record of 3-6 (8-7 for the season). The Brewers returned home and immediately lost 3 of 4 to Cincinatti before sweeping the Braves and bringing their record on the homestand to 4-3 and season record to 12-10 overall. Now the brewers will have an off day then journey to Chicago for a three game roadtrip to finish out the month needing only one win in the 3 game series to finish the month of April with a winning record. This is a pretty big series for the Brewers considering this could be the last time this season they face the hapless Cubs current staff and they get back to Prior, Wood, Zambrano, and Maddux. In a four game series vs. those guys, the Brewers could strike out over 50 times.
The biggest hurdle for the Brewers could be winning 30 games on the road this year, which they will actually need closer to 35-40 road wins if they have any hope of winning the wild card.
FANTASY INFORMATION
Well, I would imagine that the reason you may be reading this blog is for information on Brewers fantasy stats and implications, so I have already wasted enough of your time. Now onto fantasy...
Let me start out with a little information on my fantasy history and my person fantasy thoughts. I have finished in the top 3 in ALMOST every fantasy league I have ever played in, winning about 1/3 of the time. That changed last year with the help of Sammy Sosa and Mike Lowell. I know everyone in baseball is enamored with "the next big thing" which is one reason I do so well in fantasy baseball. I am about the last person to pick up the next hot thing. I rely on the veterans and i then use cheap free agents to fill gaps (these can be young players). I am one of the few people who remembers when J.T. Snow and Tim Salmon got called up and Snow was ungodly hot. Salmon wasnt so hot and everyone thought J.T. would be the next big thing.
BEN SHEETS today finished with a line of 6 IP, 2 ER, 9 SO, 6 hits, 1 BB (his first of the season in 3 starts), and his first win (1-2 on the season). Sheets is one of the 5 best fantasy pitchers in the league (oddly enough, I think that about ten pitchers qualify as top five pitchers). Sheets is someone who should be started EVERY opportunity, and shouldn't be traded under any circumstances, especially in a keeper league. His only downside is in the wins catagory which will be changed around this season considering they plan on winning 90 games. Sheets could easily have 2 wins if the Brewers could have gotten him any run support in his first start of the season.
PRINCE FIELDER is someone that I wouldnt have drafted coming into the season unless he fell ridiculusly low. It is one of my not drafting young players too early. (I have similar thoughts about Ryan Howard). There are too many players that can be picked up later on who will do just as well as Howard. I ended up with Thome in both of my fantasy leagues (as my 1b/3b) and i got him WAY after Howard was gone. Anyway, back to Fielder. Today he went 1/4 with an RBI to DROP his average to .361. One thing about that to remember is that he started out the season 0-11 with seven K's. Since then he is hitting .417 (30-72). While watching and listening to quite a few brewers games I would have to say that he is a very good clutch hitter when its a close game with men on base in the late innings. Of course when you are hitting at a .400 clip, you get hits in alot of other situations too. I would LOVE to have Prince on my team but since he is young, owners would want too much in exchange for him and i dont find him worth it (unless you can get a great deal). He will surely have a few cold streaks and depending on how he reacts to them, he could be shaky.
BRADY CLARK is almost like an ice cube and I wouldnt use him unless there were no other options, even if he were playing well. At best he could go for 15/15 in HR's/SB's.
BILL HALL is not playing particularly well and I cut him about ten days ago. If he is available you should definately keep an eye on his numbers and get ready to pick him up when he catches a little steam (which could be right now). He is available in my league but with any player who is a FA, the question ISNT whether he is worth owning, but it is more a matter of who you will drop for him. In his last seven games he is hitting a little over .300 with two HR's. Right now, I dont have anyone I would drop for him. Hall will definately get his AB's. Hall has been giving Weeks and Hardy a day off at least once a week, as well as playing 3rd and occasional OF. I wouldnt expect him to see much playing time at OF though since they have other players to get into the game.
GEOFF JENKINS is one of, if not THE streakiest players in baseball. If he is COLD, sit him. If he is HOT, ride him out. He will go ten games hitting .150 with 2 rbi, then in his next five hit over .500 with four HR and 10 rbi.
Carlos Lee is one of the best offensive players in baseball. Nothing more to say.
This Blog is getting pretty long right now so I will put an end to it right here. Later on today I will be commenting on the Brewers pitching staff, and a couple other rants from around the league.
~Rollin' with the Brew Crew- Tony
