Brewers' "next man up mentality" present in recent trade acquisitions

On the surface, a 13-game winning streak is an incredibly impressive feat for any MLB team, but when a closer look is taken at the Milwaukee Brewers’ current parade of victories, what the team has accomplished is nearly unfathomable. Pat Murphy does not shy away from the fact that he slots a bunch of "Average Joes" into the starting lineup every day, but right now he doesn't even have that luxury. With several of his "Average Joes" on the injured list or away from the team for personal matters, Murphy is forced to rely on the understudies, the "Average Johns" if you will.

As a result, as the Brew Crew went for their 13th win in a row, they sent an outfield group of Steward Berroa, Brandon Lockridge, and Sal Frelick to the field. You are quickly forgiven if one or two of those names are not yet commonly talked about in your household — the Brewers only just acquired both Berroa and Lockridge in the last six weeks.

Both Berroa and Lockridge were under-the-radar acquisitions when the Brewers' front office brought them in, with each of them excelling in defensive and baserunning ability, but offering little in the department of offensive upside. However, in Berroa and Lockridge, Matt "Midas" Arnold may have once again turned a scuffling big leaguer into gold for the Brewers. Each of the two recent trade acquisitions played a necessary role in the Brewers' 10-8 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.

Steward Berroa and Brandon Lockridge play important role in Brewers' 13th straight win

If you would have shown that headline to any Brewers fan before the season began, their initial reaction would have likely been excitement regarding the Brewers tying a franchise record for most consecutive wins. However, that excitement would have quickly turned into confusion in regard to who in the world Steward Berroa and Brandon Lockridge are.

However, if not for Berroa's imperative defense play in the first inning of last night's game, in which he threw Miguel Andujar out at the plate, and Lockridge's three hits and two runs scored, the Brewers would not have reached the elusive 13 consecutive win mark. Two of the most unlikely contributors, who weren't big trade deadline power bats, played an integral role in continuing Milwaukee's historic run.

How does Matt Arnold keep doing this? How does he continue to live out this Rumpelstiltskin-esque reality in which he keeps spinning straw into gold?

Among the hours of work and due diligence conducted by the Brewers' front office that results in the team finding players whose skillset is undervalued by the current market, is an emphasis to find players who fit the Pat Murphy and the Brewers' mentality. A mentality that revolves around doing what's best for the team, focusing on the little things that make a difference over the course of a season, and always being ready to be the next man up.

Prioritizing players who are hungry for success and want to compete has led to a Brewers roster that outworks every one of their opponents, frustrating them to the point of defeat by taking advantage of mistakes and capitalizing on every opportunity. Berroa and Lockridge clearly fit that mold.

Lockridge, a 28-year-old rookie, needed a great deal of resilience just to reach the majors. As such, he is unlikely to take any opportunity for granted, and the chance that the Brewers have given him over the last two weeks is exactly what he needed. The Crew is asking him to lean into his strengths, find a way to get on base, and impact the game in any way he can. Lockridge is doing just that; with a walk rate and a strikeout rate that have both improved considerably since coming to Milwaukee. He's bought into the Brewers’ approach of forcing opposing pitchers to find the zoner, all while continuing to play excellent defense.

Berroa obviously hasn't had the same opportunities as Lockridge, but he made an impression in his first game with the Crew, with his exceptional glove in center field. Additionally, Berroa was clearly up at the plate looking to draw a walk or make the defense shift into bunt coverage, as he squared around and pulled back many times in last night's game. That selfless mentality of prioritizing getting on base above collecting a hit aligns perfectly with what Pat Murphy wants from his players.

With Isaac Collins and Blake Perkins likely out for the rest of the weekend, expect to see more of Berroa and Lockridge as the series in Cincinnati continues. What their role on the team will be beyond this weekend remains to be seen, but their contributions to the Brewers’ historic winning streak will not soon be forgotten.