Brewers at the Break

Wow, what a year it has already been for the Milwaukee Brewers. Came into the season with rather high expectations for the first time in years and they lived up to it with a huge start. Then came a large slump that they stayed in for most of May. But if I had to sum up the first half of the Brewer season, it would be a feel-good rollercoaster. It has sometimes felt like I was going to be sick with disappointed a la Justin Verlander's no hitter then it felt like I was going to collapse in a coma of joy such as the huge 5-4 win against the Cubs early on in the season.

Things that need to happen for the Brewers to be a playoff team

• Get rid of either Kevin Mench or Gabe Gross, preferably Gross but there is no need for both of them on this squad. They have a lot outfielders as it is without Bill Hall and Geoff Jenkins can hit lefties, he is never given the chance.
• Consistent pitching please. I think that is one of the most important things for the second half of the season is that the starting pitchers keep the consistency. Jeff Suppan was great in the beginning of the year but has since dragged his heels with a 5.00 ERA making everyone think how much Melvin wasted his 40 million yet lets not forget Soup had a huge second half last year, so lets wait and see. Where is Cappy? That man is looking like he is a classic "lighting in a jar" Brewer. Only comes up big in one year. Dave Bush has really got his shit together in the last couple of weeks which is making me very happy. Claudio Vargas has given the Brewers some great starts but needs to go way deeper in games. If it doesn't happen in the next couple weeks, then Vovani is the easy answer to our problems.
• Ben Sheets and Coco continue to lead this staff- Both of them have been very bright spots to the Crew and they need to have a great second half to really put a stamp on things. Showing teams, "if you meet us in the playoffs, you got to see Sheets once maybe twice" and "if you trail, then expect Coco in the 9th, tell the heart of the order to bring it."
• Don't Rely on the Longball: Too many of the Brewers are trying to make a difference by hitting the big homers when I would rather see Prince Fielder hit a double then Jenks driving him in with another double then pushed to third then a sac fly brings him. Those 2 runs are much refreshing for me then seeing a two run homer.
• Ryan Braun Bounce Back from your First Slump: It will happen as much as I like to think it will not, the guy I called "The Messiah" from day one and wish everyone at Tosa West a happy "Ryan Braun Day" the day he was called up will hit the skids. When it does happens, hopefully he will just come back better than ever, then that's really scary.
• Take Advantage Anytime the Cubs Lose- Enough said.

You will see what I like to call "Brewer Weekly" which means that I will wrap up whatever is going on with the Brewers that week. For example on this Sunday night or early Monday, I will talk about the All-Star festivities and the Rockies Series.

Charlie.