To say you’re worried would be admitting that there’s a problem. So the Milwaukee Brewers are all pretending to not be worried about the team’s recent slide, a slide that has seen them drop 6 of their last 8 and see their lead in the NL Central fall to 5 1/2 games over the St. Louis Cardinals.
With 12-games left, the Brewers magic number to clinch the NL Central remains at 8 after a 6-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park on Wednesday night.
Kevin Millwood scattered a pair of runs over six innings to end the Rockies 6-game Miller Park losing streak. Carlos Gonzalez homered and drove in three runs for the Rockies.
The Brewers concern shouldn’t necessarily be the Division title. The Cardinals have made a small run, do much in part to the Brewers lending a helping hand. But with 12 games left in the regular season, barring a major meltdown by the Brewers, St. Louis will likely run out of time.
What the Brewers do need to worry about is the state of their game entering the playoffs. Right now, the hitting is sporadic at best and the defense has been questionable. Throw in the fact that the Brewers have played themselves back into a tie with the Arizona Diamondbacks out west and the Brewers may not have home field advantage in the Divisional playoffs.
If Arizona overtakes the Brewers, that would send the Brewers to Philadelphia for the first round of the playoffs.
I don’t see any leadership on this team. Nobody is willing to step up and grab the bull by the horns and lead this team into the post season.
Francisco Rodriguez wants out because he’s not being allowed to close games for the Brewers and Prince Fielder is discussing his future, which doesn’t include the Brewers, when he should be focussing on the here and now.
We all know Prince isn’t going to be with the team next season. But instead of throwing gas on the fire, why not just avoid any conversation about his future until after the season is over.
As for K-Rod, regardless of what you believe was promised you, the Brewers are in a playoff chase. If I’m Ron Roenicke and Doug Melvin, I tell Frankie to shut his mouth and pitch in the role the Brewers put him in. The next time he appears in the newspaper, unhappy about his role, would be the time that he should be sent home for the rest of the season. Let him watch the playoffs from his living room sofa.
Should we be surprised at this? No. The Brewers acquired a problem child and now they’re dealing with the fallout.
Who’s next? Nyjer Morgan, errrr… Tony Plush. Let’s hope he can avoid further blowup. Morgan is a player that energized his team when he was acquired early on. It may have to be Morgan that has to get this team going again. Is that a stretch? Maybe, but who else is going to do it?
