Brew News: 7/6

Brew News for July 6th

As of 7/5: 43-39, Second NL Central

Previous Game: Cubs 8, Brewers 2

The Milwaukee Brewers continued their rough ride through Chicago this weekend with a four-game series in which they showed up for one game. The Cubs easily took the series three games to one while their pitching staff shut down the Crew leaving them fairly confused and left, thankfully, only one game back of St. Louis.

With the Cardinals coming to town tomorrow, the Brewers have a golden opportunity to regain the lead. They also have a great opportunity to blow it big time. Let’s hope Yo and co. can get it together this week.

After the series, Ryan Braun made a strong statement on how tough it is to win games when constantly being put in early holes while facing strong pitching. He went as far to put Doug Melvin on the line by saying, “We’re at the point right now where it would be important for us to go out there and acquire somebody.”

I am going to have to agree this time, Doug. The pitching is again hindering the Crew. JSOnline has it here.

Adam McCalvy continues on this by diving into the Brewers impending decisions. They definitely have a few to make right now.

Casey McGehee is proving a solid staple in the lineup at third base which means Mat Gamel is losing playing time. It also means that Brewers Nation can now push for a Bill Hall buyout. They also have some pitching decisions to make. Read here.

Speaking of Hall, Adam Lindemer at the Bleacher Report currently has a feature about the Brewers third basemen and has an idea that should have been spat out months ago and maybe even last season.

Should the Brewers send Hall to the minors to try to help him regain his 2006 form? Check it out.

Speaking of players in the minors, BrewCrewBall has taken a long, hard look at the Manny Parra situation and feels that it would be in the Brewers' best interest to have him make his next start for Milwaukee rather than for Nashville, the AAA affiliate for the Crew. I’m not certain it will happen just yet, but it is clear that the rotation is in trouble. Check it out.

Decider Milwaukee goes through their mid-season review. Take a look at their pre-season predictions and match that up with what has actually taken place and then follow it up by what is coming next. Have a look.

And on to a little lighter side. Ryan Braun is again the top vote-getter for the NL outfield this year and will be the first Brewer starting in consecutive years since Robin Yount did so at shortstop for the AL in 1982 and 1983. Prince Fielder was also selected to play off the bench by manager Charlie Manuel. See the story.

And this last headline is days old, but the Brewers top pitching prospect, Jeremy Jeffress, was again suspended after a second positive test for a ‘drug of abuse,’ believed to be marijuana.

His previous suspension spanned 50 games while this most recent suspension will last 100 games and go well into next season. Jeffress has a long road ahead of him if he wants to try to play again next year. Read here.