Reviewing The Brew
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Milwaukee Brewers: Jimmy Nelson has Been Better Than Yovani Gallardo

By Pete Schwichtenberg

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Jimmy Nelson can’t replace Yovani Gallardo. How can the Milwaukee Brewers trust an arm with little big league experience and deal a pitcher that has so much? Nelson struggled at the big league level last year, they are going to be sorry they made that trade.

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These were comments from many Brewers’ fans when the Gallardo trade went down in the winter. Many feared that there was no way that Nelson could be counted on to eat the innings and pitch at a high level like Gallardo had done in the past. While his record is not where he would like it to be, (win-loss record may be the worst statistic in the MLB) Nelson is showing that the Brewers not only made the right choice in counting on Nelson to step into the rotation, but he can step in and be a counted on starter for years to come.

This year Nelson has not only been arguably the best pitcher on the Brewers staff, but he has out-pitched Gallardo as well. Through 10 starts as the Texas ace, Gallardo is 4-6 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.324 WHIP. Though Nelson’s win-loss record of 2-5 is worse, he is pitching much better in almost every other category. With a 3.67 ERA and 1.172 WHIP, Nelson has put his team in position to win much more than Gallardo.

Take away a seven-run short outing against the Reds earlier in this season and Nelson has given the Brewers a chance for victory each time out. With poise on the mound and a new sharp-breaking curveball, he has looked in command and more confident than ever.

Gallardo was a huge piece of the Brewers’ rotation for a long-time, but with his contract expiring and re-signing not an option, the trade was well worth it. Not even looking at pieces received in the trade (though Luis Sardinas and Corey Knebel are excelling at the big league level as wel) Nelson has lived up to the hype each time he has taken the mound. With a rebuild approaching in Milwaukee, Nelson is showing each time out that the Brewers made the right move in trusting in him and that his right arm is going nowhere.

Next: Corey Knebel's Bright Future

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