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Mike's BlogDude, whatever I want to talk about
July 24, 2012 | 05:03 PM
After last weekend's three-game debacle against the Cincinnati Reds and Monday's nightmarish loss in Philadelphia, the Milwaukee Brewers may finally be cooked as far as postseason hopes go this season.
Through Monday, the Brew Crew is seven games under .500 (44-51), 10 1/2 games out of the National League Central division race and 7 1/2 games out of the fifth and final Wild Card spot. The Atlanta Braves are in the fifth spot right now with a 52-44 record.
Three teams, the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, sit ahead of the Brewers in the NL Central standings.
It's not looking good, and time is running out. Manager Ron Roenicke pointed at the nine games coming out of the all-star break against the Reds, Cardinals and Pirates as a pivotal stretch to the team's playoff chances. The Brewers won two of three against the Pirates and Cardinals, but Cincinnati's pitching dominated the Brewers offense last weekend. Milwaukee scored only four runs in three games. Then, Monday night, the Brewers blew a 6-3 lead in the ninth in a 7-6 shocker at Philadelphia. Milwaukee is simply finding ways to lose.
With the chips down, the Brewers face many questions entering the July 31 trade deadline. The biggest issue could be the status of ace pitcher Zack Greinke. The former Cy Young winner has been one of few bright spots for the Crew this season with a 9-3 record and a 3.57 earned-run average. He has yet to be beaten at Miller Park in two seasons and was a major contributor in the team's division title last year.
However, Greinke's contract is up after this season, and big-market teams will most likely throw major money at the 28-year-old star. Just like they did with Prince Fielder and C.C. Sabathia, the Brewers struck first in the Greinke sweepstakes. They recently offered him a contract worth five years, $100 million.
Greinke would be a fool not to test the market, and without a long winning streak, the Brewers may have to start planning for next year. Other players on the trading block include pitcher Shaun Marcum and third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who signed a three-year deal before this season.
Trading Greinke would not be the end of the world. The Brewers dealt for Sabathia, Marcum and Greinke in the last four seasons but had to deplete their farm system.
To read the entire column, pick up tomorrow's Lake Geneva Regional News.
Mike Ramczyk
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