What a Difference a Year (And Some Pitching) Makes

Miller Park: The Site of Much Optimism

This time last season it was become painfully apparent that despite all of the Milwaukee Brewers’ offensive firepower, their lack of quality pitching wouldn’t allow them anywhere near the postseason.  Yet things feel quite a bit different in 2011, and it ain’t because the offense is setting records.  It’s because for the first time in over a decade the Brewers have a deep, talented, and reliable rotation of starting pitchers.

Sure, at one point they had C.C. Sabathia, who during his time in Milwaukee put on a pitching clinic like few have ever seen.  That same season, the Brew Crew also had Ben Sheets, who predictably came up with a season-ending injury just before the playoffs.  It’s almost like Sheets had it in his contract that he was never to pitch or pitch well in a game of any magnitude.

Then once C.C. left and Sheets shot out the door, Milwaukee was left with an ultra-talented, young ace in Yovanni Gallardo and a pile of cow manure borrowed from a nearby hippie commune.  Jeff Suppan was terrible, Manny Parra was wildly inconsistent, and Randy Wolf just wasn’t quite good enough to be the second starter on a contender.

As a long-time fan of the Brewers, mediocrity is what I’ve come to expect, but the pitching last year was so far below average that even with my lowered expectations, I couldn’t help but chafe at just how pitiful my team had become.  Certainly I didn’t expect the pitching to get much better this year, because although management has gotten better about spending money, it’s still the Brewers we’re talking about.

So when Milwaukee landed Zach Grienke and Shaun Marcum via trades, I wasn’t just surprised, I was shocked and overjoyed.  Finally, it appeared, Milwaukee would trot out a rotation to battle any other.

Then the Brewers got out of the gate with a faith-shaking 13-19 record, including an awful 7-game losing streak.  I began to believe that no matter who took the field for my team, we were simply allergic to winning.  Thankfully, I was wrong.

Since May 7th the Brewers are an astounding, MLB-leading 24-10 primarily because of the consistent strength of their starting pitching.  Since the Crew can routinely shut down, or at least keep in check, the opposing lineup, they’re in every game and have a shot to win every time they take the field.  Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun having career years doesn't hurt either, but I have to believe their at-bats are helped by the knowledge that the offense doesn’t need to score 8 runs to win a game.

Marcum has been the best of the Brewers revamped starting staff, posting a 2.68 ERA, leading the team in strikeouts, and averaging just over 6 innings per outing.  Young stud Gallardo started the season shakily but is rounding into form with an 8-3 record and a 3.96 ERA.  Greinke had some rust to shake off after missing the first portion of the year with a broken rib, but like Gallardo, he is finding his rhythm, posting quality starts in his last three outings.  Wolf, who would be a very good #3 pitcher on any team, is a tremendous #4 starter and has been the rock solid innings eater you need out of the back end of the rotation, averaging 6 innings per outing and posting a 3.49 ERA.  Even Chris Narveson, who many regarded as just the temporary fifth starter, has been a pleasant surprise.  He’s made all of his starts, posted a decent 4.32 ERA, and consistently goes fairly deep into games.

With an underwhelming bullpen, the Brewer starters have to go deep into games and allow minimal damage while they’re in, which is exactly what they’ve done.  It keeps the bullpen fresh and reduces the burden on the less proven arms of the Milwaukee relievers.

With an offense that boasts superstars Fielder and Braun, rising star Rickie Weeks, and established good hitters like Corey Hart and Casey McGehee, the Brewers have just about everything needed for a deep playoff run, though the bullpen may ultimately be their undoing should they make it there.  But the talent of their offense and the consistency of their starting pitching make the playoffs a very real possibility for a fan base that's reached the postseason just once in the past 27 years.  And a mere appearance in the postseason will be just fine with me.

--from @AdamHocking

(image from flickr.com)