Brewers Week In Review: April 11 -- April 17
An eventful week for the Brewers in Baltimore and back home in Milwaukee saw the back end of the team's bullpen hold up better than the American Family Field parking lot porta-potties on Thursday afternoon. There are great weeks, there are horrible weeks, then there are some that fall in the middle. That's what April 11 to April 17 was for the Crew. There were a few impressive wins, there was a nail-biter and there were some brutal losses. But that's baseball.
We're back on this Sunday evening to recap the first full week for the 2022 Milwaukee Brewers.
Record: 4-3
Current Standing: 5-5 (4th in NL Central)
The Good: Bounce-Back Starts
The Brewers' top starting pitchers Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff had nightmarish starts to their 2022 campaigns last weekend in Chicago -- Woodruff allowing 7 earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings and Burnes 3 earned runs in 5 innings. The two stars performing at the top of their games is a significant key to the team's success this season. So if there was one "good" to take from this week, it was the bounce-back performances from both star pitchers.
Woodruff toed the rubber Thursday against a good Cardinals lineup and posted 5 scoreless innings on his way to his first win of the season. Burnes, on the other hand, dominated the Orioles on Wednesday with 8 strikeouts through 7 scoreless innings. Their combined line this week: 2 wins, 12 innings pitched, 10 strikeouts, 6 hits allowed, 2 walks.
Unfortunately, Freddy Peralta is another story, as the Cardinals roughed him up on Friday to break the Brewers' 3-game winning streak. Give it a few weeks and he will soon find his name listed in this end-of-the-week category.
The Bad: Devin Williams
There was a lot of "bad" to choose from after a 4-3 week which saw the team get shutout Monday in Baltimore and drop two straight to St. Louis. When the offense clicked, the Brewers won baseball games. But the team's combined run total in its three losses? Only 2. Those performances were not a week-long trend, though, as the wins were full of timely hitting from all over the lineup.
That is why this week's "bad" is Devin Williams. The reliever's final stat line: 3 games, 2 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 5 hits, 6 walks, 18.00 ERA. The most alarming number of all is the walks. Williams did well to escape a two-walk inning in Baltimore on Tuesday, walked one while giving up 2 runs during 1/3 of an inning on Wednesday and gave out three free passes during a near-complete collapse against St. Louis on Sunday.
Williams' 12.00 ERA through four appearances in the Brewers' first 10 games is the only real blemish for a bullpen that has pitched its way to a 3.02 overall ERA so far. Williams and Peralta need to find a groove as the month continues for Milwaukee's pitching to return to its league-best levels.
MVP(s): SP Corbin Burnes, 1B Rowdy Tellez
Story Of The Week: Two Levels Of Offense
The Brewers in wins this week: 5 runs per game.
The Brewers in losses: 2 total runs in 3 games.
Stat Of The Week: Josh Hader joined Dan Plesac (133) and John Axford (106) as the only Brewers with 100 saves.
Best Video:
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1513610846362079242
Best Tweets:
-Last week's struggles with runners in scoring position carried over to Monday in Baltimore
https://twitter.com/AdamMcCalvy/status/1513646887039078402
-There was some discipline handed down after last week's scuffle in Chicago
https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1513638590445666304
-Not a lot of length from the starters early
https://twitter.com/WillSammon/status/1514042511102259204?s=20&t=aLwafsifk3nIHaFkt_6SxA
-The new wall in Baltimore looks stupid
https://twitter.com/zachsilver/status/1514033685309308936
-Walks are a problem
https://twitter.com/AdamMcCalvy/status/1514028982244712455
-Thursday was a bad day to be a porta-potty
https://twitter.com/620wtmj/status/1514634038723629058
-Enough said.
https://twitter.com/ByAndrewWagner/status/1514728259094724613
-Brent Suter: 1, Dugout Rail: 0
https://twitter.com/bruter24/status/1515553140166344707
https://twitter.com/Hughes2392/status/1515172604864307205
-Mike Brosseau was pumping 59 MPH...and lowered his career ERA to 3.38
https://twitter.com/Masterflip_/status/1515164915505545217
-The Brewers' offense started the season slow. Chorizo started slower.
https://twitter.com/WillSammon/status/1515493103364362241
Next Week: vs. PIT, @ PHI
Brewers Week In Review: April 3 -- April 9
Milwaukee Brewers baseball is back.
How do we know this? It took only 24 hours for a game to be rained out thanks to that roofless stadium in Chicago, the Brewers' offense picked up right where it left off (sputtering with runners in scoring position) and Wilson Contreras is already mad about being hit by pitches.
There were thoughts the lockout could push the season back far enough for us not to complain about early-spring weather in Chicago. But instead, that's what I am now doing -- while also noting the Brewers haven't had a home rainout in 21-plus years.
That aside, it is great to have normal baseball discussions and critiques back in our day-to-day dialogue.
Throughout this season I will take to the keyboard every Sunday afternoon and recap the week that was for the Brewers. Players of the week, trends to note, the best Tweets and videos from the ballpark and more.
So, here is your Week In Review for the 2022 Milwaukee Brewers (April 3 -- April 9):
Record: 1-2
Current Standing: T-last in NL Central
The Good: The middle of the lineup
A popular offseason storyline was what President of Baseball Operations David Stearns would do to bolster an offense that struggled mightily in the playoffs last season. The first move came rather quickly---a trade for Boston Red Sox OF Hunter Renfroe. The second, a one-year deal with OF Andrew McCutchen had to wait until after the lockout concluded. But no matter what Stearns did to bolster the lineup, the Brewers entered the season needing OF Christian Yelich to return to All-Star form.
Not much will be taken away from just one series in Chicago. Though if there is any "good" to point to after dropping two of three to the Cubs it has to be the production from the heart of the lineup. Willy Adames hit .333/.667/1.052 with 1 HR and 2 RBI, Yelich started off his important season with a .375/.500/1.038 line and Rowdy Tellez picked up where he left off in last year's playoffs with a line of .429/.857/1.357, 1 HR and 2 RBI.
The overall run production wasn't amazing -- 3 runs per game -- but the good thing is there are signs of life from the heart of the lineup.
My one honorable mention here: Brad Boxberger, Devin Williams and Josh Hader shutting the door on Sunday's 1-run win.
The Bad: Starting pitching
The Brewers started the year on Thursday with a dismal 1-for-10 performance with runners in scoring position in a 5-4 loss, followed it up with a 9-0 dud where Brandon Woodruff couldn't get anything going and finished the series with a 5-4 win thanks to big days from Yelich, Adames and Tellez. One common thing through those three contests: the team's top-end starters couldn't keep Chicago off the scoreboard.
Sunday's win will largely cast aside some of the struggles from the starting staff. But Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta combined to allow 13 earned runs, 13 hits and 10 walks in only 12 2/3 innings. While their combined record sits at only 0-1 (both Burnes and Peralta received no-decisions), it's hard to imagine their season debuts going any worse.
No reason for doom and gloom here. The staff just didn't have a good week in Chicago.
One other honorable mention: Everybody in the lineup not named Adames, Tellez, Yelich or McCutchen. There was next to zero production aside from those four names.
MVP(s):
-Christian Yelich (.375/.500/1.038)
-Rowdy Tellez (.429/.857/1.357) 1 HR, 2 RBI
Story Of The Week: Tempers flare yet again
If you're sitting at home and wondering why there are so many hit batters when the Cubs and Brewers face off, you would be correct in recognizing it happens at an alarmingly high rate. Over the last three years no team has been hit more than the Cubs by Brewers. Second on the list: the Brewers being hit by the Cubs.
It happened again on Saturday, as Woodruff plunked Nick Madrigal in the 1st and Wilson Contreras in the 4th, Trevor Gott hit Madrigal in the 7th, then Keegan Thompson hit McCutchen in the top half of the 8th. Naturally, McCutchen took exception to being intentionally hit and the benches quickly cleared.
Tempers are flaring between these two rivals and it's only April 10th.
Stat Of The Week: Chicago scored 18 total runs on only 22 hits.
Best Video(s):
https://twitter.com/BallySportWI/status/1513247594692202497
https://twitter.com/BallySportWI/status/1513253805948870664
https://twitter.com/BallySportWI/status/1512904234404040714
Best Tweets:
-First W
https://twitter.com/BallySportWI/status/1513267276262391815
-Brandon Woodruff's stat sheet was full from the start---though not in a good way.
https://twitter.com/AdamMcCalvy/status/1512862530489786372
-The analytics we need.
https://twitter.com/CyrtHogg/status/1512908828530073610
-It rains in Chicago in April.
https://twitter.com/CyrtHogg/status/1512435789371686912
-Not a great start for the Big 3.
https://twitter.com/AdamMcCalvy/status/1513245127526993929
-McCutchen talks about the near brawl
https://twitter.com/CyrtHogg/status/1512922441940705288
-The front-page headline game is still strong.
https://twitter.com/suntimes_sports/status/1512995917863006208
Next Week: @ BAL, vs. STL
Talk to you again next Sunday.
Madison native Jerry Kelly repeats as AmFam champion
Madison, Wisconsin native Jerry Kelly entered the final round of the American Family Insurance Championship trailing leader Miguel Angel Jimenez by two strokes.
The leaderboard was loaded with big names at the top, Jimenez in the lead at -10, Fred Couples sitting in solo second at -9 and Retief Goosen and Jim Furyk tied with Kelly at -8.
The leaderboard stood as it did thanks in large part to a Kelly double-bogey on Saturday’s final hole---the slip-up coming after he had played his first 35 holes bogey-free. Then, after his first hole on today's picture-perfect Sunday, he slipped even further, missing the green with his approach and finishing with a bogey to drop back to -7.
After that, it was all systems go for the defending champion.
He birdied the Par-5 5th, Par-3 3rd and Par-5 9th to enter the back nine at -10, still two back of Jimenez. Then a scalding-hot stretch on the back nine with birdies at 11, 12, 14 and 16 sent him into the solo lead at -14 stepping to the 18th tee.
Chasing him at the time was 2017 champion Fred Couples, former World No. 1 and Masters champion. As Kelly was teeing off on the final hole, Couples stuck his tee shot on the Par-3 17th to three feet and went on to birdie his way into a tie for the lead.
It’s all you can ask for in a golf tournament: a co-lead on the 18th hole with only putts left to decide a champion.
Kelly, in the group ahead of Couples, had to do just that. After a short chip got away, a mid-range par putt was necessary to stay at -14.
https://twitter.com/benzkenney/status/1404179668446715904
He made it, and put pressure on Couples in the group behind to match his total.
Just minutes later, Couples’ approach from the left rough ran through the 18th green. His attempt at a low-running chip then sailed by the hole, leaving a similar distance as Kelly had to save his par.
https://twitter.com/benzkenney/status/1404182855660486656
His putt stayed high, giving the trophy back to the hometown hero and now two-time defending champion.
“Well, 17 I hit a good shot. 18, I've been there before, I don't mind driving it over there,” Couples said after the round. “Then I chose to be long coming back this way. I knew I wasn't going to get it close and it just came out hot and rolled through the green. I thought I was putting and then chipped it strong and pushed the putt and that was it.”
Kelly’s finishing score of 66 gave him the one-shot victory. Couples and Jimenez tied for second at -13 and Furyk and Goosen tied for fourth at -12.
"Can't get any better than this," Kelly said after the win. "After doubling the 18th hole yesterday and bogeying the first hole, I was reeling a little bit, and those two birdies settled me down and just tried to grind as hard as I could. It means so much for me to win around here, and now twice, I'm over the moon."
The win is Kelly's eighth on the PGA Champions Tour and No. 11 total as a PGA professional.
The AmFam Championship will be back at University Ridge Golf Course next June where Kelly will have the chance to go for three straight victories.
https://twitter.com/benzkenney/status/1404195020102590467
Saturday at the AmFam Championship: Miguel Angel Jimenez posts 69, leads packed leaderboard entering Sunday
It was another picture-perfect day at the American Family Insurance Championship on Saturday, highlighted by sunshine, hot weather and a welcomed June breeze.
Malaga, Spain native Miguel Angel Jimenez entered the day with the lead after a stellar first-round 65. Joining him on the first tee was 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk and Madison, Wisconsin native Jerry Kelly, the three following the second-to-last trio of Fred Couples, Retief Goosen and Ken Tanigawa.
Steady play defined Angel Jimenez’s day, two front-nine birdies propelling him to nine-under and back-to-back birdies late on the back nine pushing him to -10 and the solo lead.
https://twitter.com/benzkenney/status/1403826459983192068
"Not as good a score as yesterday," Jimenez said, cigar in hand. "Still hitting good, hitting some good shots there, a couple up-and-downs...But the game is solid, 3 under par I think is a fair result, maybe a couple more birdies, but that's golf."
Consistency was also the story for defending champion Kelly, as he played his first 35 holes of the tournament bogey-free and sat at -10 for much of today’s back nine. Or, at least, it was the story until the 18th hole.
The Madison native found a bunker off the tee, hit the lip of the bunker with his second shot, sent his third shot off the back of the green, finally found the green with his fourth shot and finished with a two-putt for double bogey. The 6 on the par-4 18th sent the 54-year-old back to -8, tied for third place entering Sunday.
“I didn't hit it great again today. I was making the most of it again, just not making any big mistakes, and then I made a big mistake,” Kelly said. “It was a bummer to finish on, but I'm the same amount of shots back that I was yesterday. I know it's there. But boy, I would have liked to be in the last group putting pressure on, but second-last group putting pressure on is okay.”
Then there’s Fred Couples, former World No. 1 and 1992 Masters champion. The 61-year-old started slow with a front-nine 35, but then took advantage of a scorable final stretch to close with a five-under 67.
He sits in solo second and will join Angel Jimenez in tomorrow’s final group.
“I felt like I hit the ball pretty well. I'm not going to say I wasn't getting anything out of my round, because it was blowing in the first seven, eight holes,” the smooth-hitting Couples said. “Then the back nine, you know, I just -- I just started to hit it a little bit better, a little closer to the hole and made some putts.”
The tournament leaderboard is loaded at the top heading into Sunday’s action. Miguel Jimenez leads the way at -10, Fred Couples sits in solo second at -9, Retief Goosen, Jerry Kelly and Jim Furyk sit T-3 at -8 and three more names sit at -7, just three shots back.
https://twitter.com/benzkenney/status/1403836506951856136
Steve Stricker starts slow, Fred Couples and Jim Furyk find a groove at the AmFam Championship
The PGA Tour Champions returned to University Ridge Golf Course in Madison, Wisconsin this weekend for the first time since 2019.
Leading off the tournament was a well-known and well-accomplished trio of Steve Stricker, Fred Couples and Jim Furyk. And judging by the crowds on the first tee and following the group, they were the three to watch during Friday’s action.
Tournament host and fan-favorite Stricker was stuck in neutral for much of his first round. A birdie on 1 started him in the right direction but he went on to play the next 14 holes at +1 and enter the final stretch at even par.
“Yeah, it was a bit of a struggle at times. Just had a hard time getting going. Birdied the first hole right out of the chute, but then bad swing at No. 3, put it in the hazard over there and made a good bogey. Just had a couple opportunities here and there, didn't make them,” Stricker said. “Then a couple of divots on the back side with sand wedges, lob wedges in my hand...The second one I got on No. 14 was awful; super wet, sitting in a divot, down in a little bit of a hole. I should have probably just chipped it out sideways and got it up on the green somehow for my third to make par and move on.”
There were some good signs to build on at the end for the U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, however, as he eagled 16 and birdied 18 for a first-round 2-under 70.
“I hit the ball actually okay today at times, it just got on the wrong side of a few things, but finished strong with some really nice shots...I just made a couple nice putts and I hit some nice shots, and I've been doing that,” Stricker said. “In practice rounds here I've done well, the pro-am I played really nicely, so it's in there. First round here trying to play well, feel like there's a little extra pressure. I want to play well, so got this day out of the way and hopefully get going tomorrow and get off to a good one and keep it rolling.”
The same story cannot be told about Furyk and Couples’ opening 18 holes.
Despite inconsistent play off the tee, Furyk hit all 18 greens in regulation and finished with a bogey-free 4-under 68.
“The golf course is in good shape,” Furyk said after his round. “A couple tough pin placements out there, a couple difficult ones...I’m really still in my first year on the Champions Tour and seeing a lot of these golf courses for the first time, so really trying to kind of figure out how to play them, where the pin placements are going to be, where you have to attack, where you have to be a little more patient. I'm still learning that, but enjoying that process”
Couples, a clear favorite of the fans in attendance, was a birdie machine all day with three in his first six holes, three straight on holes 9, 10 and 11 and one more on 16. The 2017 AmFam Champion battled through three preventable bogeys---one on the par-4 15th hole---to finish with a 4-under 68.
“I think I could go play where I was on 15 a thousand times and maybe bogey it once and I happened to bogey it today just because I was in a groove and I thought it was not a difficult shot,” Couples said. “Other than that, it was a good round. Bogeyed 17, mis-clubbed a shot, made a good bogey, two-putted from 100 feet. But I made my share of putts, I made a lot of putts.”
With Miguel Angel-Jimenez and Jerry Kelly out in front at seven-under-par and five-under-par respectively, Furyk and Couples will enter Saturday T-3 at -4 and Stricker at T-14 at -2.
Even despite the condition of the course and the golf itself, though, the story of the day for both the fans and the golfers was the weather.
“Well, you know, to be honest with you, if we did this for another month or so, it wouldn't be a problem, but it's like our first tournament with humid and hot heat. It will whip you,” Couples said. “No, I'm not going to die. I mean, I hope not. But again, it's the first day. Last week I played in Des Moines, it was a little warm but nothing like this. You just get drenched on the range. There's no wind, so it's just hot. Hate to use the word, it's a challenge, but it's not an easy day to keep thinking and keep fresh.”
Wisconsin native Stricker echoed Couples’ statement.
“Oh, is it hot. Yeah, this is August weather in Wisconsin. Like on 18 there with all the stands around there, there's no breeze whatsoever, so it was very hot at times. Then the wind would kick up and you'd be like, wow, like the air conditioning unit turned on. It was extremely hot. I thought it was a great crowd considering the conditions.”
The three will tee it up again tomorrow, look to rise up the leaderboard and gain ground after tournament leader Angel-Jimenez’s opening round 7-under 65.
