Milwaukee Brewers: Why their plan is for the long-term

When the Milwaukee Brewers came within one game of October baseball in 2017 fans had every right to be optimistic going into 2018. With the additions of Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain, there was a good reason to feel positive about their direction. Should fans take a more long-term view of the team?

There are now 37 games remaining in 2018. The Milwaukee Brewers are struggling and find themselves not in possession of a playoff spot for the first time since mid-April. But was the plan to compete this season?

Whats going on?

Honestly, there is no true diagnosis as to what ails this current Milwaukee Brewers squad. They are just not good at anything right now. The pitching is struggling, the defense is rough, and the “stacked” offense can’t drive runners in.

So is it fair to label this just another collapse?  You could say that, but with 37 games left anything can happen. The Brewers are playing head scratching baseball. Should some struggles be blamed on the front office?

Why didn’t they add a starter?

The Milwaukee Brewers lacked a dominant ace coming into the 2018 season. Brewers GM David Stearns didn’t add a starting pitcher at the deadline when he knew Jimmy Nelson was not going to pitch until September at the earliest.

Instead, the Brewers made the odd move of acquiring more offense.  They made the two big moves for Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich in the off-season, but then they added Mike Moustakas and Jonathan Schoop in July.

Why would the Brewers make those moves?

The Cain and Yelich moves are obviously for the long term, but maybe the addition of a pitcher was never in the plans from the beginning? Maybe it’s in the cards for this immensely stacked 2019 free agent class?

The upcoming free agent class contains names that would bolster the teams’ rotation for 2019 and beyond without giving up any prospects.  Some notable names include Dallas Keuchel, Patrick Corbin, and possibly Clayton Kershaw.  Those are just the top arms available. Also, take into account the possibility of Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader to the rotation, and the Milwaukee Brewers could have a few ways to boost the starting five without dealing from within.

Why wait for free agency?

Waiting for the market would signal that this plan put in place by Stearns is indeed for the long haul. He doesn’t want to give up top young and controllable talent mid-season. He never has and he probably never will.

Fans should sit back and take a breath and realize that the plan has worked this well so far. We should allow the plan to take full effect.  No matter how difficult it is.