2018 Brewers Optimism Thread!

[FVBrewerFan]

Barnes. If he has figured it out and can consistently pitch like this, wow what a bullpen.

[B-Train]

I really hope Albers solidifies the 8th inning set up role, as it seems that is what CC has planned. It is nice to have some insurance there, provided by Barnes, as well.

[TJseven7]

Was banned for a bit so missed add in...

Cain Yelich

The potential of this pen... feels strange to be very comfortable with 7 pen pieces while gazing at williams peralta in the minors and just wow. Early yeah, but could be a super pen in the making. Albers Barnes Jennings and Jeffress can make this thing go lethal. Knebel woodruff unavailable (assumed game 3) and even with 5 from Suter I couldn't figure out what path CC would take because there were real OPTIONS!?!

 

1 more... Hiura's gonna be here soon at this rate. OPTIMISM!

[torts]

TJS, this is a year long optimism thread! Keep the positivity coming all year long! 162-0 HERE WE COME!

[jjfanec]

Brewers related. The Cubs rotation did not looked special against a bad Marlins team in a pitcher friendly park. 15 runs in 13 plus innings combined for Lester, Darvish and Quintana. Kyle Hendricks had a very good start.

 

Also I agree with much of what has been said. This team has a bunch of professional hitters now. Cain, Yelich, Braun, and Shaw are all very good. Just get a second baseman! Also I love how CC is using the bullpen. Hader in the multiple inning role like Miller in Cleveland is great. Albers looks solid in the 8th inning role.

[TJseven7]

Davies has had terrible aprils so nothing to see here.

[FVBrewerFan]

Optimistic CC will rarely give Cain or Yelich a day off.

 

Also optimistic TJ will stay out of the penalty box.

[Never Outhustled]

By essentially getting 2 days off in a row, the bullpen couldn't be more rested.

[TJseven7]

3-0 in games involving a BS.

 

5.2 runs

3.9375 era (pen lethal)

+1.26 run diff

[torts]

1-57 last season when trailing, already 2-1 this season, booyah baby! Already better than last year!

[JohnBriggs12]

Once the starters get through their dead arm period, they will take off. Yelich still looks to me like a guy who'll be in MVP discussion all year.

[ThisIsMyCrew]

On pace to win 108 games! Let’s get a long sweep of the Cubbies this weekend!

[istanbultaye]

Even though the starting pitching hasn't been able to pass 6 innings yet, and we've had an extra inning game, none of the BP arms, especially the prime arms of Hader and Knebel seem like they've been overworked in particular. The Brewers have been able to use their lesser relievers in low leverage situations to eat up innings, and have been able to spread out the other innings around the several serviceable arms in the pen. Gives me hope that if we can even get 5 innings out of SP, there are enough arms to spread the innings out in the BP without burning any individual out like has sometimes occurred in previous seasons, where we only had a couple really credible RPs.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm comforted by how bad all facets are playing. Makes me think everyone can get better.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

After 7 games last year: 2-5. Opening Day starter on DL after trying to bunt. Peralta in the rotation. Feliz closing.

 

I will take 4-3 with this roster any day.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

After 7 games last year: 2-5. Opening Day starter on DL after trying to bunt. Peralta in the rotation. Feliz closing.

 

I will take 4-3 with this roster any day.

 

The 2011 team was 0-4 and 14-20. They were middling around .500 until about mid July.

[pacopete4]

After 7 games last year: 2-5. Opening Day starter on DL after trying to bunt. Peralta in the rotation. Feliz closing.

 

I will take 4-3 with this roster any day.

 

The 2011 team was 0-4 and 14-20. They were middling around .500 until about mid July.

Great points. We found out last year that it is not how you start it is how you finish (Cubs). Hopefully, this team can stay at or just above .500 into July and then figure it out from there. I believe they can. Lots of talent on this roster and organization.

[kestrel79]

Agreed. It's a long season strap in and enjoy! We'll be there in the end when it counts.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Key injuries suck, but they do often create opportunities for other players to step up and become stars. I'm not worried about the 9th inning at all. The ML squad and upper minors are flush with heat-throwing arms.

 

I think by this time next year, we'll be fondly looking back on the Summer of Taylor Williams.

[torts]

POSITIVE MINDS BREED POSITIVE TIMES!!! A COUPLE BUMPS IN THE FIRST WEEK, NO BIGGIE, ITS A LONG ROAD AND WE WILL BE OKAY!

[Greenleaf1]

I'm honestly not particularly worried about losing Knebel for an extended period.

 

It definitely makes our bullpen worse in the short term but I'm more than OK doing closer by committee with Jeffress/Albers/Hader/Barnes based on situations, with Williams hopefully getting called up and being trusted later and later in games as he goes.

 

Knowing Stearns/Counsell, they'll use this as an opportunity rather than a setback.

 

Hell, even Drake is pitching pretty well thus far, and Jennings has mostly looked pretty great too for a 6th guy/LOOGY. I'm just not all that worried about the bullpen right now.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

After 7 games last year: 2-5. Opening Day starter on DL after trying to bunt. Peralta in the rotation. Feliz closing.

 

I will take 4-3 with this roster any day.

 

The 2011 team was 0-4 and 14-20. They were middling around .500 until about mid July.

 

2011 is such a great reference point. In my head, the May Prince walk off kicked the team into high gear and the T. Plush winner in June solidified contention, but you are right that they slid back before the AS break. Crazy how long a season is, and somehow I forget it every opening week.

 

Looking forward to watching this lineup go to work! It starts tonight!

[A Swing and A Drive]

Knebel likely won't be out all long as we all feared!!!! (4-6 weeks)

[brewmann04]

I think the loss of Cory does not really hurt this team since we have have many quality relievers.

[Jenkins5]

Hader being able to pitch 2-3 innings of great baseball after our rotation fails to do their job is great! Hopefully Houser can do same as well! We need plenty of guys in order to piggy back 5 starters every 5 days