Brewers

This week at Brewer Fanatic, we’re running a series enumerating some of the X-factors of the 2023 Milwaukee Brewers. These are factors beyond sheer talent or previous production, which could have a huge impact on the way the long season ahead unfolds. Today, let’s discuss an under-the-radar project for Chris Hook and the team during camp: Bryse Wilson.

This past season's injuries and regression exposed the Milwaukee Brewers' lack of starting pitcher depth. While they won't look to acquire a top-line free-agent starter, the Brewers should kick the tires on a mid-level arm to provide quality innings.

This is where things start to get really interesting, with a gluttony of good players drafted in Round 11 to Round 15, most of whom signed, leaving only a couple of notable unsigned players drafted by the Brewers in these rounds. 

This is where choices get way too tough, as there are so many great players drafted by the Brewers between round 2 and round 5. The signed player ends up being a current star of the MLB, while the player who Milwaukee couldn’t secure should’ve been the best shortstop of all time, but injuries cut that short.

Thirty five years ago this month, Paul Molitor’s magical 39-game hitting streak came to an end. There has been a lot of reminiscing about the streak but no one has compared it to The Undertaker’s legendary Wrestlemania winning streak. Until now.

Think you know what the Brewers should do? Awesome. Time to put your money where your mouth is at BrewersPayroll.com. OK, well, maybe not money, but your ... ideas? Reputation? Are you confident enough to risk those?

There's a long way to go in the 2022 season, but the Milwaukee Brewers' Corbin Burnes is again on a Cy Young track. As is often the case with greatness, it feels like fans are taking him for granted. I implore you to admire and cherish each of his starts.

There is a considerable gap between a thing being 'factual' and that thing being 'truthful'. Facts can be deployed in the service of understanding. They can just as easily be used to disinform. This is a fact: the Milwaukee Brewers have lost eight games in a row.

There are many possible permutations for the Milwaukee Brewers infield in 2023, but no matter which comes to fruition, it feels like there’s only room for one of the two right-handed infield bats who rode the bench for Milwaukee throughout 2022.

There are many baseball gods, but one of the more obscure is Versatilus, the patron god of utility players. Few players have worshiped at the alter of Versatilus more than former Brewer Eddie Romero , who parlayed his modest skills into a long career as a a player - and then as a coach and instructor.

There are many "what might have been" moments in the history of any franchise. The Brewers reportedly wanted to draft Mike Trout in 2009, but the Angels took him one slot ahead of Milwaukee. Or how about if Nomar Garciaparra had signed with the Brewers after he was selected in 1991 instead of choosing college? Another great ‘what if’ surrounds Gary Sheffield, who came up with Milwaukee with great fanfare in 1988 at the age of 19 - only to be traded after showing promise - but also inconsistency and immaturity. He went on to have a long and stellar career.

The Willy Adames trade paid massive dividends for the Brewers in 2021, but can Willy be the spark the Brewers offense needs for the second straight year?