After 92 common season wins and an NL Central championship, the Milwaukee Brewers lasted handiest two video games within the 2023 MLB postseason. They had been swept at house via the 84-win Arizona Diamondbacks within the Wild Card Series they usually blew a multi-run lead in each video games. The Brewers had various visitors, however controlled to depart 20 runners on base in 18 innings.
“It was a night, again, where we felt like we were a hit away. Where we needed something to fall. It didn’t. That’s how it is,” manager Craig Counsell told MLB.com following the Game 2 loss. “… These chances are sacred for players. You get this window to have a great month of October, and so it hurts for it to be over.”
Starting with Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS towards the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Brewers are 1-8 of their final 9 postseason video games, and feature scored handiest 17 runs. That’s 1.89 runs in step with sport. In different phrases: no longer just about sufficient. Milwaukee has been to the postseason 5 instances within the final six years and all of the group has to turn for it’s one collection win.
It’s imaginable the 2023 Wild Card Series marked the tip of an technology for the Brewers. Longtime govt David Stearns is now with the New York Mets and different core Brewers might quickly practice him out the door. Here are 3 questions facing Milwaukee as they input the offseason.
1. So is Counsell leaving, or what?
Counsell simply finished the overall assured yr on his contract and he has been noncommittal about his long run. He has indicated he wish to spend extra time together with his circle of relatives, although following Stearns to New York turns out imaginable as neatly. The Brewers have made it transparent they would like Counsell again. Understandably, he used to be no longer able to speak about his long run following Wednesday’s Game 2 loss.
“That ain’t for tonight, man,” Counsell told MLB.com.
One approach or another, the Brewers want solution moderately quickly. If Counsell intends to stick with Milwaukee, his native land group, nice. If he needs to spend time together with his circle of relatives or go away to enroll in another group, then that is his determination and he is loose to make it. The Brewers would then need to discover a new supervisor, and that is the reason one thing you need to get accomplished quicker moderately than later.
Counsell is the franchise chief in video games controlled (1,332) and wins (707), and some of the best possible managers in baseball length. Losing him could be an important blow, however this is a distinct chance. One approach or the opposite, the earlier the Brewers get readability on Counsell’s long run, the easier it’s for them. They do not want their managerial uncertainty to head on too lengthy.
2. Will they industry a core piece prior to loose company?
The Brewers may just run it again with the similar core next season. They want to determine a couple of positions — first base, 3rd base, a pair spots within the bullpen, and so on. — however the core is unbroken and underneath keep watch over for a minimum of another yr. Therein lies the issue although. Numerous necessary Brewers are a yr clear of loose company. Specifically:
SS Willy Adames: A proficient defender with energy, Adames had a down yr on the plate in comparison to 2022. Brice Turang can slide over to shortstop when the time comes, although that handiest opens up a hollow at 2nd base, and the Brewers cannot in reality manage to pay for to lose Adames’ energy.
RHP Corbin Burnes: Still excellent, although no longer rather the Cy Young model from two years in the past. Burnes allowed 3 homers in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series and it used to be the 3rd time in 2023 he allowed a minimum of 3 house runs in a sport. He had 0 three-homer video games from 2020-22.
RHP Brandon Woodruff: Shoulder hassle, come with an damage that saved him off the Wild Card Series roster, clouds Woodruff’s long run. Can he be counted on to stick wholesome and efficient next yr?
The Brewers have a historical past of buying and selling avid gamers (together with necessary avid gamers) prior to they achieve loose company. Josh Hader is the high instance. Would they transfer Burnes this wintry weather? The loose agent elegance is vulnerable and industry marketplace stipulations may well be ripe to get a large bundle for a tumbler with ace upside, despite the fact that it is only 365 days of him.
Point is, determination time is coming near. Do the Brewers, who once a year run some of the smallest payrolls within the recreation, open the pockets to increase one or all of those guys? Or do they industry them? Keeping all of them and permitting them to stroll proper into loose company next wintry weather turns out not likely although that may well be the group’s best possible shot at rivalry in 2024.
If a industry(s) will occur, this offseason is the time. There are extra imaginable suitors within the offseason — wait till the cut-off date and the marketplace shrinks as a result of fall out of the race, are quick on payroll area, and so on. — and extra imaginable replacements. Either approach, the Brewers will have to quickly decide the most productive plan of action with their upcoming loose brokers.
3. Where will they to find energy?
The Brewers hit 165 house runs all through the common season, 6th fewest in baseball, and the loss of energy used to be noticeable within the Wild Card Series. They had 21 hits within the two video games: 18 singles, two doubles, one homer. At one level the Brewers went 63 at-bats between extra-base hits. It’s in reality, in reality tough to win postseason video games via stringing in combination singles.
A complete and wholesome season of Garrett Mitchell can lend a hand, as can expansion from Joey Wiemer. Top prospect Jackson Chourio reached Triple-A as a 19-year-old this yr and hit 22 homers in 128 minor-league video games. He will have to debut next yr, although depending on a participant that younger to be a constant energy supply is so much to invite. There is some energy doable knocking at the door although.
The Brewers know what they are doing with the blokes at the mound although the pitching faltered within the Wild Card Series. It’s the offense, particularly the shortcoming to position runs at the board with one swing, that has held them again the previous few postseasons. Power is costly, it prices so much in arbitration in loose company, however the Brewers badly want extra of it. It will have to be a concern this offseason.