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Looking at an overview of the Brewers team up to the All-Star break, we see that the offense is around middle-of-the-pack in most categories (batting average, OBP, runs scored), which is actually an improvement over 1965. In homeruns, as earlier mentioned, the team has fallen considerably from 1965, when we were near the top of the league. The trades of Mark Compton (39 HR in 1965) and Pablo Gonzales (19 HR in '65) doesn't help the situation. Antonio Puente, who was second on the club in '65 with 31 HR is on a pace for 23 this season. Tanner Yurek, who hit 20 in '65 is only on pace to hit 9 this season. The team is, once again, at the top of the pile in stolen bases but the other side of that is that the Brewers are also the team most often caught stealing (49 times).
A great deal of what led to a second-place finish for the Brewers in 1965 was a strong pitching staff. This year the team is near the bottom of the pack in runs allowed. While the starting staff remains fairly competitive, the bullpen has largely been atrocious. Veteran Ron Poblano, last year's closer who came in second place in the Reliever-of-the-Year award voting, is showing his age and has been relegated to a middle-relief role. Of late he has been performing a bit better but he has left a big hole late in games. Bill Roache, who was so steady as a setup man in '65, was seen as the natural successor to Poblano but has had a simply disastrous 1966 season (0-4, 6 sv, 3 blown saves, 4.64 ERA- and these numbers look much better due to a few decent outings since being relieved of high-pressure duty.) David Windecker is showing some ability to handle late game pressure (3-1, 2 saves in 2 opportunities, 2.86 ERA) but has wriggled out of self-imposed jams due to allowing too many walks (5.7 BB/9, leading to a 1.45 WHIP). Fireballer Armando Cruz got off to a rough start but has been doing much better of late (2-0, 2 sv, 3.24 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 8.1 K/9) but is better suited in a setup role at this time.
Perhaps most troubling about Brewers pitching is their propensity to give up the long-ball. The pitching staff has allowed 101 HR thus far (the next highest in the MGL is 86 allowed by Portland). Combined with the Brewers low 57 offensive HR, this makes for a very bad negative net in this area of the game.
The Brewers are one of the better defensive teams in the league, although with several young players in key positions, they do rank near the top in errors committed.
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