Brewers midseason grades

The Milwaukee Brewers had a good first-half considering many key players were missing for the first couple months. Zack Grienke, Corey Hart, LaTroy Hawkins all missed at least a month if not more and Takashi Saito has only pitched in five games.  Everyone has accepted their roles and are doing their part to contribute to the team. Now if the Brewers can stay consistent with their play they should have no problem taking the division.

The following are midseason grades by position.

General Manager: B+
Doug Melvin did a great job addressing the needs of the Brewers over the offseason. Acquiring Zack Grienke and Shaun Marcum turned Milwaukee's starting rotation from one of the worst in the league to one of the best. His acquisition of Nyjer Morgan right at the end of spring training was genius, as Morgan has had a huge impact so far this season. In May, Melvin signed Ryan Braun to a lucrative deal that essentially makes Braun a Brewer for life. This is something many people thought could never happen considering the money that would have been thrown at Ryan in free agency. Melvin also brought Takashi Saito to Milwaukee who is looking to have a big second-half. Recently Francisco Rodriguez was traded from the Mets to the Brewers in a crucial move to help propel Milwaukee into the post-season.

Manager: B
Ron Roenicke has the Brewers tied for first place at the All-Star break for only the third time in franchise history. He acts as if he has been managing for years and takes necessary risks to win ball games. He is connected with every aspect of the game and wants to know every detail at all times. He is a player's manager, unlike Milwaukee's previous one, and is united with all his players and personnel. The bench and pitching coaches are glued to his side constantly during games and he is not afraid to stick up for his players. Roenicke has the makings to be a great manager in this league for a long time and the Brewers are extremely lucky to have him.

First Base: A
Prince Fielder is having a MVP caliber season in a contract year. His offensive numbers are off the charts and his presence in the locker room is immeasurable. The captain of this team is willing to do whatever it takes to get the Brewers a championship this season, even if it is the last thing he does before he leaves Milwaukee. I am not saying for sure he will be gone next year and neither is he, but the chances are not looking good. Regardless, Prince is not thinking about next year, he is thinking about this year. That means that we can expect similar numbers from the first-half going forward. The only downside to Fielder this season is his defense as he has nine errors, ranked fourth on the team.
In 320 at-bats he has 53 runs, 95 hits, 21 doubles, 1 triple, 22 home runs, 72 RBIs, 59 walks, and a .297 average with 58 strikeouts.

Second Base: A-
Rickie Weeks is not only having the best season of his career, but is among the best second basemen in the game. His numbers speak for themselves as there is currently no leadoff hitter who is better. His combination of power and speed is a nightmare for opposing pitchers at the top of the order. Although he has made some special plays defensively this season, it has been sub-par as Weeks is ranked second on the team in errors with 12.
In 370 at-bats he has 67 runs, 103 hits, 22 doubles, 2 triples, 17 home runs, 39 RBIs, 37 walks, and a .278 average with 85 strikeouts. He also has 7 stolen bases.

Shortstop: C-
Yuniesky Betancourt came over in the trade with Zack Grienke as a package deal. His offensive numbers are no where near what they were last year which is troubling for many people including his manager. The notorious first-swing fastball hitter has hit into a lot of ground outs and double plays. He has become more patient at the plate recently but there needs to be a big change in his game if he wants to stay the starter. Players such as Josh Wilson have proven they are capable of playing the position and could possibly bring more to the plate offensively. Betancourt has made some flashy plays defensively, but overall has struggled with ten errors, ranked third on the team. He is far to slow in his reactions to the ball and cannot make the same plays that Alcides Escobar made last year. On the contrary, Betancourt's offensive numbers are better than Escobar's this season.
In 304 at-bats he has 26 runs, 72 hits, 13 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, 30 RBIs, 9 walks, and a .237 average with 29 strikeouts.

Third Base: D+
Casey McGehee is a shell of what he was last year. By far the most disappointing Brewer of the first-half, McGehee has struggled game-in and game-out. Batting fifth for most of the season gives Casey the opportunity to put up big numbers as he serves as protection for two of the most dynamic hitters in the game. Last year McGehee embraced that roll, but this year he just cannot seem to figure it out. The Brewers have tried everything from changing his stance, to batting him in a different spot in the lineup, to benching him for a few games in a row. Unfortunately, nothing has seemed to work and the Brewers do not realistically have any better options. Mat Gamel would be the obvious choice but there is no guarantee that he will put up better numbers. Casey's 13 errors lead the team therefore, making him a liability on offense and defense. McGehee did have two clutch home runs that went for game winners, which are signs that he still has the ability to be a great player. As for now he is our man and hopefully some confidence will help boost him to a better second-half.
In 327 at-bats he has 26 runs, 73 hits, 15 doubles, 5 home runs, 36 RBIs, 26 walks, and a .223 average with 57 strikeouts.

Catcher: B-
Jonathan Lucroy has done a decent job behind the plate for his first full season. He is a good hitting catcher who has a chance to be great one day. He is no doubt Milwaukee's catcher of the future which is a good thing for Brewer fans. His bat is by far the best part of his game as his defense needs quite a bit of work. Lucroy does a textbook job of blocking balls in the dirt, but struggles throwing runners out. The good thing is this is something he can work on and become good at. He also has five errors and one passed ball.
In 236 at-bats he has 28 runs, 66 hits, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs, 36 RBIs, 14 walks, and a .280 average with 56 strikeouts.

Left Field: A
Ryan Braun has been outstanding thus far for the Brewers. His offensive numbers are top tier as usual and has no indication of slowing down. Braun's career-best hit streak and ability to get big hits in clutch situations is proof that he will be an impact player for Milwaukee for a long time. Every time he steps up to the plate fans are expecting something amazing, and the best part is he usually delivers. With Braun and Fielder hitting in the three and four spot, expect big things to happen for the rest of the season. His unselfishness and loyalty goes a long way with the people of Milwaukee as he is by far the fan favorite. Like Fielder, he will stop at nothing to bring Milwaukee a championship. Like his friend Aaron Rodgers, he plans on doing it this year.
In 306 at-bats he has 57 runs, 98 hits, 19 doubles, 3 triples, 16 home runs, 62 RBIs, 40 walks, and a .320 average with 51 strikeouts. He also has 19 stolen bases.

Center Field: B+
Nyjer Morgan has been a breath of fresh in Milwaukee. A fan favorite, Morgan clearly enjoys playing baseball and living life. He makes the game fun and plays as hard as anyone out there. He is here to do one thing and one thing only, win. Every time he is at the plate he seems to get a hit and every time at the end of the game he seems to be involved in the winning run. His defensive skills are excellent as he has made some amazing catches. There are times where he does seem lost and occasionally loses track of the ball, but he makes up for it with his hustle.
In 159 at-bats he has 29 runs, 52 hits, 8 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs, 19 RBIs, 5 walks, and a .327 average with 33 strikeouts. He also has 6 stolen bases.

Carlos Gomez has not had a very good year offensively which is a major reason why Morgan seems to be getting more playing time. He has never been known to be an offensive player and since he has arrived in Milwaukee he has proven that. On the other hand, his defensive skills and speed are superb. Gomez can cover any length of the field and can make any catch out there. There might not be a better defensive center fielder in the game and I know there is no one faster. He has stolen a few home runs and has made crucial jaw-dropping plays. A good team can carry a weak bat in center, but the great teams need a superior glove.
In 205 at-bats he has 31 runs, 46 hits, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 6 home runs, 18 RBIs, 13 walks, and a .224 average with 60 strikeouts. He also has 15 stolen bases.

Right Field: B-
Corey Hart was injured for the first month of the season, but is doing everything he can to make up for it. He will not put up numbers like he did last year, but he can still make an impact on this team down the stretch. His speed and ability to hit for power make him a great asset to the lineup. Hart's defensive skills are excellent as he utilizes his quickness to make great diving plays and uses his arm strength to cut down runners.
In 226 at-bats he has 31 runs, 61 hits, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 10 home runs, 26 RBIs, 27 walks, and a .270 average with 59 strikeouts.

Starting Rotation: B
The starting rotation either plays amazing or very poorly. Zack Grienke is no where near the form he needs to be for the Brewers to make a championship run, but on the contrary Randy Wolf has upgraded his skills from last year. Grienke came to Milwaukee because he wanted to win a World Series. He will need to improve on all phases of his game in order for that to become a reality. Shaun Marcum has been unbelievable and continues to surprise everyone with his amazing ability to throw any pitch in any location. Yovani Gallardo needs to be more consistent with his pitching. He throws a complete game but then gets blasted the next game. Randy Wolf has been a surprise this season as he has shown form similar to his last season with the Dodgers that garnered him his $30 million contract. Chris Narveson is a decent fifth pitcher who has shown the ability to be great but also has several things he needs to work on to be a better contributor. Everyone will need to hone in on their skills and build confidence in themselves for the Brewers to have a chance.

Bullpen: C-
Milwaukee's bullpen has been a struggle this season. They either all pitch well as a unit or give up many runs as a whole. The Brewer's have one of the worst bullpen ERAs in the majors and the relievers have combined for 20 losses. This is not what championship teams are made of so it must be fixed. The acquisition of Francisco Rodriguez is crucial as he will be a major contributor. A healthy Takashi Saito and LaTroy Hawkins will also be important for the Brewers. LaTroy's 1.04 ERA is outstanding as he is prepared to take the seventh inning duties. Kameron Loe and Marco Estrada are both capable of being great pitchers but must improve on their bad outings.

Closer: B+
John Axford has been fantastic in his first full season as the closer. He has collected 23 saves in 25 chances. His 2.83 ERA and 53 strikeouts are exceptional. The "Ax-Man" is everything a team would want in a closer and is Milwaukee's man for the future. His fastball and curveball are the real deal and he pitches with a swagger. Two things he needs to work on are his walks and opponent average. He simply puts to many men on base which could be extremely dangerous down the stretch. He has the stuff to get out of it but there is no need to take a chance.