I have always believed that in baseball, more so than other sports, you can learn more from a loss than you will from a win.  Even though today’s games did not end in victory, there were some very exciting things happening.  If certain players learned something, or gained some confidence from today’s games…then the loses are well worth it.

Today the Brewers played the Oakland A’s, meanwhile the Milwaukee Brewers also played the Seattle Mariners.  It’s very strange I know.  Basically, it is a ST gimmick, used to cram more playing time in than the calendar would allow.  This is a practice only used during Spring Training (where attendance is in the Benjamin’s).  It can only happen because of the sheer number of players involved in ST.  These sort of shenanigans can only happen in the magical land of…Arizona.

Game 1:

Brewers 6  vs.  Athletics 8

This game was bizarre.  It really reached ‘Total Recall’ status, when the A’s decimated Frankie De La Cruz in the bottom of the 7th.  Let’s keep it simple.  He did not record an out, but was responsible for 4 runs.  This is something we already know, FDLC is erratic as H.  However, Michael Fiers looked very good today.  The aspiring prospect got the start , pitched 2 solid innings.  Gave up 1 run, on 1 hit, with 4 strikeouts.  Any pitcher will give up runs, but to strikeout 4 of the 6 outs you recorded…nice.  Tim Dillard continues to be very impressive, as h threw two innings and gave up one solo home run. 

The offense was a different story.  Martin Maldonado was the lone Brewers home run in this game.  Logan Schafer and Nyjer Morgan were the only two player to record more than one hit.  On the ST seasons, Schafer is batting .588.  Who is going to complain about that?  Then you have Carlos Gomez…who went 0 for 4, with 2 strikeouts.  That brings his ST average to a smoldering .125.  Maybe we will see a trade before the season starts, because it appears that the Brewers are stacked in the outfield.  Brooks Conrad was no better, he struck out in all 3 of his AB’s.  But my favorite downer of this game would be the 5 and 6 spots in today’s lineup, Taylor Green and Mike Rivera.  Those two fellows combined to leave 11 runners on base. 

What did we learn?  Fiers can pitch.  FDLC is a coin flip.  Dillard should be in the pen.  Logan Schafer might steal Carlos Gomez job. Brooks Conrad misses a lot.  Don’t ever bat Tay Green in front of Rivera.  Score more runs.  Let’s see what was going on with the other Brewers.

Oct 14, 2011; St. Louis, MO, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher

Game 2:

Mariners 7  vs.  Brewers 4

This game featured another 5 run outburst…this time it was in the Top of the 9th inning.  The score was tied 2-2, until Mark Rogers put himself in a really bad spot.  He left the game with the bases loaded, one run had already scored, and he had only recorded one out.  Things just spiraled out of control from there.  The highlight of this game though, was Zack Greinke.  Our boy threw 3 complete innings, striking out 5, giving up one hit, and one walk.  I’m calling it right now, he is going to win the Cy Young.  You can all laugh if you want, but we should have locked him up before the season started.  We will never be able to afford him after the clinic he puts on this season. 

What I was really excited about today, was Scooter Gennett.  Now, he went 0 for 2, but I was just excited to see him on the field.  Ryan Braun went 0 for 3 again.  My panic meter skipped a little, but went right back to “Don’t Panic”.  It was nice to see Aramis Ramirez and Alex Gonzalez both get into the swing of things, each going 2 for 3.  Travis Ishikawa is trying really hard to make this team.  Today, he hit his 2nd home run of ST and went 2 for 4 on the day.  There are all kinds of upsets a-brewin’ (pun intended).  And, even though the team was down 7-2, George Kottaras hit a 2-run homer to make the score more acceptable.  That home run also gave me hope that the Crew will be able to hit multi-run homers this season…because so-far, it seems like 2011 was not a strange coincidence.  Get ready for A LOT of solo home runs. 

So, what did we learn?  Mark Rogers is meh.  Zack Greinke is going to win the Cy Young and we will all cry.  Scooter Gennett played.  Braun is not making me panic.  Aramis and Alex are in talks to star in their own sitcom.  Travis Ishikawa wants to be the Japanese Prince Fielder. George Kottaras gave me hope. 

Tomorrow we play the Cubs.  Wolf is on the mound.  Aramis Ramirez should sit this one out, unless he wants to get beaned. 

Go Brewers!!! 

Oct 5, 2011; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez (right) celebrates with teammate George Kottaras after hitting a two run home run in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during game four of the 2011 NLDS at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

In 2011, the Brewers went to great lengths to fill their bench with aging veterans to help the team.  From what I saw this off-season, the team ran out of money, so they could only afford one or two old guys.  From my personal standpoint, this is excellent news.  Veterans should be starters, not bench warmers.  You need to have the young guys getting some opportunities to play in the big leagues, thus your bench should be littered with promising young talent. 

Over the past few seasons, the Brewers have gotten away from that.  Thanks to K-Rod and some well deserved raises, the team did not have the funds to add three to four players worthless players to fill the bench.  Since that is the case, lets meet the some potential bench candidates for the 2012 Crew.

So, here are our options and who I think will be on the opening day roster.

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The Milwaukee Brewers flexed some muscle today with five home runs and still had to hold on for a 12-9 win over San Diego. The Brewers built a huge lead, but the Padres kept chipping away before the Brewers were able to close out the game and get the win.

Prince Fielder and back up catch Mike Rivera each hit two home runs  and Ryan Braun went deep also. Fielder’s one home run traveled an estimated 465 foot off the Miller Park scoreboard and is tied for the third longest home run at the Park.  The Brewers got started early and built a lead which is what they need to do more of. They scored four in the second and five in the third to build a 9-0 lead before San Diego was able to get on the board.

Manny Parra went 5.2 innings, but gave up 13 hits and six earned runs, but he did get the win. The bad part about this game was the Brewers built a big enough lead, but still had to bring in Trevor Hoffman because it seems he is the only one that can close games out for them. Hoffman did pick up his 26th save of the season and I don’t know how bad the Brewers record would be without him. Next up for the Brewers is a home series with the Houston Astros.

Sometimes injuries are a part of the game and when Mike Hampton went down for the Houston Astros the Brewers were able to make the most out of it. The Brewers scored nine runs on the Astros bullpen for an easy 12-5 victory to get back to .500 and still a shot at the division.

Prince Fielder hit his 27th home run and was 3 for 6 with 3 RBI’s and Ryan Braun was 2 for 6 with 2 RBI’s as well.  Mike Rivera was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI’s the Brewers back up catcher who got a start last night. In all the Milwaukee Brewers pounded out 14 hits, but did leave 11 base runners on so it could have been much worse.

Manny Parra started for the Brewers and did go 5.1 innings giving up 3 earned runs and the bullpen closed it out. When you get 12 runs that really helps out your pitching and that is what happened tonight. The pitchers did not have to be great and they did what was needed to get the win. The Brewers need to take today’s game as well as you do not want to lose series especially to teams you should beat.