Tim_VanVooren's Blog

The Brewers have heard the criticism - they don't play small ball.  In other words, they don't utilize sacrifices and walks and well-placed groundouts to manufacture runs or keep innings alive.  And guess what, they don't care !  Sunday, their best hitter, Ryan Braun, was hitless.  However, the next three guys in the order combined for seven hits and six runs batted in.  In that same game, they concluded their homestand with a 6 and 3 record by beating Baltimore.  In those six victories, they hit 15 home runs.  The Brewers are a power hitting team, with big bats up and down the lineup.  As we saw earlier this year, they aren't going anywhere without consistent pitching.  But the pitching they do have looks a whole lot more effective when the offense is bludgeoning opposing pitchers.  And since the Brewers are not prone to keeping rallies alive, their best scoring option is the home run.  They just aren't small-minded.