2021 Brewers Optimism Thread

[torts]

160-2 HERE WE COME!!!!!

[RollieTime]

The defense has been fantastic and the starting pitching has been superb. When the bats come alive, we will win games in bunches.

[clancyphile]

The defense has been fantastic and the starting pitching has been superb. When the bats come alive, we will win games in bunches.

 

For me, I see the potential of dominating the decade if they can get Woodruff, Burnes, Hiura, and Hader locked up long-term. Those four, plus Yelich are the core.

[Octobercrew]

The defense has been fantastic and the starting pitching has been superb. When the bats come alive, we will win games in bunches.

 

For me, I see the potential of dominating the decade if they can get Woodruff, Burnes, Hiura, and Hader locked up long-term. Those four, plus Yelich are the core.

 

 

I see possibly Williams instead of Hader. Going to be cheaper longer and his pitching style could age better.

[clancyphile]

The defense has been fantastic and the starting pitching has been superb. When the bats come alive, we will win games in bunches.

 

For me, I see the potential of dominating the decade if they can get Woodruff, Burnes, Hiura, and Hader locked up long-term. Those four, plus Yelich are the core.

 

 

I see possibly Williams instead of Hader. Going to be cheaper longer and his pitching style could age better.

 

The way I see it, there is a core and an inner circle the Crew should try to keep together.

Core: Woodruff, Burnes, Yelich, Hiura, Hader

Inner Circle: D. Williams, Suter, Peralta, Pina

Bubble: Houser, Urias, Rasmussen, Arcia, Feliciano, Ray, Taylor

Prospects: Small, Ashby, Mitchell, Turang, Hummel, Henry - see Brewerfan Top 25 results

 

There may be some prospects who could force their way into this. Garrett Mitchell, for instance, made a huge case this spring for eventual inclusion in one of those categories. But the nine players in the core and inner circle groups are the ones I'd build around if I was the Crew's GM as things stand today. Woodruff, Burnes, and Peralta would anchor the rotation, Hader, Williams, and Suter nail down the pen, while Yelich and Hiura anchor the lineup (to be potentially joined by prospects like Mitchell, Turang, etc.) while Pina becomes a steady backup catcher - and I bet there are plenty of teams who would want him as their starter.

 

All of this could change, based on injury, prospects emerging from nowhere - like Brent Suter did, trades, or free agents who the Brewers sign. But today, there are nine players I'd be trying to keep in Milwaukee for at least the next 5 years, in some cases, ten.

[Lathund]

Tonight is where the Brewers offense jumpstarts their season, chasing Williams early and feasting on the Cubs bullpen.

[clancyphile]

Tonight is where the Brewers offense jumpstarts their season, chasing Williams early and feasting on the Cubs bullpen.

 

May Cubs pitchers prove their courage by pitching to Christian Yelich... and may their man cards be revoked for intentionally walking him.

[wntrtxn21]

Tonight is where the Brewers offense jumpstarts their season, chasing Williams early and feasting on the Cubs bullpen.

 

It seems this year is going to be just like the previous years, it all depends on putting the ball in play. Obviously they won't continue to whiff as badly as the first three games (45% of the outs were by K) but cutting down the whiffs and getting more guys on base has to be a priority. Somebody is going to get hot and hopefully it carries over to the rest of the lineup.

[jjfanec]

Offense heating up with guys having bounce back seasons - Narvaez, Garcia, and Shaw. Starting pitching has been phenomenal. The bullpen has somethings to work out but Boxberger and JP looking like they can help. This schedule is a tough way to start a season but so far looking decent.

[JohnBriggs12]

Cardinal pitching looks very shaky. Cubs are just 3-3 vs. Pirates. Reds will be the Reds, eventually.

[Eye Black]

The Brewers now have the 4th best run differential (+5) in the National League behind only the Dodgers, Reds, and Padres.

[jjfanec]

The Brewers now have the 4th best run differential (+5) in the National League behind only the Dodgers, Reds, and Padres.

 

That is a pretty crazy stat. +5 is 4th best. The reds should have an * since they got the Pirates.

 

Also reason for optimism - the cubs are 2nd to last in runs scored when you dont count teams who have missed games due to covid, their starting pitching and bullpen still are average at best and they have already used up 6 of their pirates games

[brewtank34]

Pitching and Defense will win you the division and we have the best in the division. This is going to be a fun season boys and girls!

[adambr2]

Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes are controlled through the 2024 MLB season. Freddy Peralta, 2026.

[RobDeer 45]

Let's keep this thing going! Scoring some runs and pitching really well. Seems like a recipe for success. Already excited for tonight's game!

[JohnBriggs12]

Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes are controlled through the 2024 MLB season. Freddy Peralta, 2026.

 

And they have a nice group of young starters like Ashby, Small, etc. to fill in the 4th and 5th spots with low cost options going forward.

[clancyphile]

We have THREE TOR starters in Woodruff, Burnes, and Peralta.

 

And a bunch of other guys, some of whom could also be TOR types in the 2023-2026 timeframe. Seriously, if Stearns can get Burnes and Woodruff extended through 2026... there could be some sweet times at American Family Field.

[Eye Black]

If you want end up smiling from ear-to-ear read this Corbin Burnes article from MLB.com’s Mike Petriello:

 

How Burnes is even more dominant in 2021

[clancyphile]

If you want end up smiling from ear-to-ear read this Corbin Burnes article from MLB.com’s Mike Petriello:

 

How Burnes is even more dominant in 2021

 

Maybe it's time to get a good extension for Corbin... one that locks him up for a decade?

[RobDeer 45]

Great Article Eye Black, thanks for sharing. So in depth and makes me even more excited about him.

[homer]

Crazy that the Brewers have two TOR pitchers that are homegrown on the same squad (Peralta more or less is but we didn't sign/draft him originally). We've literally had ONE of those in the last 20 years and he was on a gawdawful team.

[clancyphile]

Crazy that the Brewers have two TOR pitchers that are homegrown on the same squad (Peralta more or less is but we didn't sign/draft him originally). We've literally had ONE of those in the last 20 years and he was on a gawdawful team.

 

Given the level Peralta was at when he was acquired, I have no problem claiming him as homegrown.

 

I'd even argue that Hader was homegrown as well.

 

What the Crew does with the minor-league prospects it gets matters, even if they're at AA or AAA.

[Eye Black]

Brewers have now won three consecutive series. That’s something the Brewers never accomplished last season, and they only won back-to-back series once.

[wallus]

We will be very difficult to beat in a playoff series with Burnes and Woodruff starting and Williams/Hader relieving.

[nate82]

Garcia right now is the best hitter on the team and no one is even close to him right now. At 54.8% of his hits being that of the hard hit category and that puts him in an elite category. Obviously he won't continue to do this but he has started out red hot when he has been making contact. Elite for a full season is around 47%.