What Went Right

When last I checked in I was complaining about interleague play and how inherently unfair it was, plus I was immediately regretting my premonition All-Star Break standings. The Brewers thankfully proved me wrong, since the fateful keyboard taps left my mind into the machine they have won seven of eight and can sweep Atlanta with a win today. It is certainly a strange sight when the Brewers are playing like annual playoff contenders and the Braves commit three errors in one inning. More promising from eyes is the way Rickie Weeks hammered a high fastball on Monday night, leading to a double in left center … that is what I, and most others, expect from him.

I've taken a break from studying to type out this idea that may be more fitting for the official midseason point, but you get it now. The internet breeds deviation, so here's my attempt: this entails what I think have been the key moves during the first almost three months of the season. These aren't necessarily in-game moves by Yost (which are constantly debated in game threads at BCB), more so the heavy decision making that upper management and field management both have had a part in (which is impossible to tell who made the real decision). The next post will be decisions which have gone sour, then perhaps another on player performance (because all playoff-bound teams not named the Yankees or Red Sox need career seasons from players to make it). These are in random order:

01 Moving Villanueva from the rotation and inserting McClung
First I was sad to see Villanueva get bumped because I'm a real believer in his starter potential, but the writing was on the wall: dominating the first nine hitters, then imploding after that. So, why not limit his implosion timeframe by having him face hitters only once? Thus far, he's been excellent in relief (2.35 ERA in 15.1 innings, >1K per inning, .196 BA against). After a brief breaking in period, McClung has turned out to be yet another in a long line of NL Central relievers turning to starting. In his last four starts, each of which have been at least six innings (equaling Villanueva's total), McClung has a 2.55 ERA in >24 innings, a 3:1 K to BB ratio, and opponents are batting only .186/.245/.326 against him. Working in McClung's favor is the league's unfamiliarity with him, but it's hard to not think that, with a hot arm and years of wildness, perhaps he's figured something out.

The rest of the season, I don't think McClung can hold onto his recent success once the league catches up to him and fatigue from his new role, so maybe these two will flip roster positions again. Villanueva will probably have a dead-arm period in August again, but I would like to think that he's learned from last year.

02 Keeping Bush in the rotation
I'm not completely convinced that Parra should be starting given his bouts of wildness (again, it stems from the roster decision to keep him in the majors and jettison Vargas), his 4.29 ERA is misleading. In any case, I'm happy that Bush was kept in the rotation to figure out whatever his issue was … he's a workhorse if he's not hammered. His last six starts feature an ERA of 3.00 and 3.5 strikeouts for each walk (previously that ratio was very close to parity), so whatever groove he's found, let us hope he continues to give at least six innings per start.

The two above factors both have had an influence in the recent Brewers' surge.

03 Signing Mike Cameron
I'm not certain why others are ragging on Cameron, but obviously it's because they are looking at his low BA. That's what he does, that's why he's underrated, and that's why the Brewers were able to get the man at a reasonable price! Seriously. Aside from one inopportune play in Houston, he's been as advertised in the field. Sure, his BA is 32 points off from his career average, but his slugging percentage is 33 points better than his career average, leading to a OPS+ of 99. You taketh and you giveth away with Cameron, certainly I would like his BA to be higher, but he's been hitting mad extra base hits to compensate. The numbers will regress to his mean as the season progresses, but I have no qualms with Cameron. Also, the Cameron signing set into motion Braun moving to LF, giving the 3B job to Hall, then bringing up Russell Branyan once Hall faltered.

04 Signing Russell Branyan
Who knew Hall would regress so much against right handers and carry that into the field? I once again thought Branyan was washed up, but this time many other people had the same thought, but he's proved everyone wrong. He changed his stance and checked his ego for minor league duty for a while, and here he is, hammering like he's never hammered before. Again, in hindsight he looks like an obvious choice on the team with a dearth of left handed hitters, but his value wasn't apparent in February.

05 Signing Jason Kendall
This was probably the most underwhelming signing I can remember, but he's done a great job thus far. By all accounts, the pitchers love to pitch with him, he's more animated and mobile in the field than the tank that used to be stationed there, and he has hit fairly well with an OBP of .362 and a homer (which is more than I thought he'd hit this season). Through June 24 of last season, Estrada had four more hits than Kendall at that point in roughly the same number of at bats. Estrada had a .722 OPS and Kendall now has a .705 OPS. When you consider the defensive advantage of Kendall and his non-cancerousness, this is a definite win for the Brewers.

06 Giving Sheets the extra rest to be cured of whatever ailment he had
The Brewers need Sheets to reach the postseason, Sheets needs to be healthy for the big pay day, the Brewers needs sheets to eat up seven or more innings on occasion to rest the bullpen. At the time I thought "Here we go again," but it's worked out. Sheets has been a workhorse, road warrior, and probable All-Star.

07 Batting Kendall 9^th and the pitcher 8^th (maybe)
The overall feeling without quantifiable evidence is that this was a success, if the measure of success is Kendall not hitting into double plays. Hard evidence doesn't exist, though, which is the reason Yost decided to go with the more conventional lineup because Hardy was complaining. Of course, since the switch the Brewers have been playing much better, so causation it is. I label this a success because it irritated the mainstream baseball people. If I were in this situation, I would have kept the pitcher 8^th, but put the veteran-y goodness of Kendall batting 7^th and moved Hardy, if he is man enough to handle it, 9^th. Hardy has hit into ten double plays this season.

08 Bullpen moves
A piecemeal "right," but a right nonetheless. The decision to not carry Narveson out of spring training was a good one, obtaining Torres and Mota, the limited engagements of Stetter/Dillard/DiFelice show promise, and, against my feelings to the contrary, the stretching out of Shouse. I wish Tavarez were still with the organization (but that's his choice) and Weaver turned it around, but we can't have everything. I can't complain … well, I can, but that will be saved for another day.

Standings:
Brewers are nine games above .500, sixth best record in baseball (unfortunately, the Cubs and Cards have better winning percentages), five games from the division lead, 1.5 out of the wild card.