Watching the first half of this homestand, I am starting to think that perhaps the team we all expected to see this season has finally shown up. There have been encouraging signs in many areas lately, and now it feels like the water is beginning to boil for the first time this year. The pitching has been much-improved since the sweep at Fenway and the home run bats have now begun to sound. You can see a lot more smiling by Brewers' players than at any time this season, and, after winning eight of twelve games since leaving Boston, including four of five on this homestand, the improvement in the team's confidence is palpable.
The first two games of the Astros' series have been very entertaining for the big crowds who have witnessed them. They've been treated to a couple of Prince Fielder home runs, a monstrous blast by Russell Branyan which rattled the Dew Deck 465 feet from home plate, timely hitting from other quarters and the desired formula of pitching and defense which puts teams into October baseball. The team is back to .500 for the first time in over two weeks, and we will see if they can push forward and get back into the Cubs' rear-view mirror.
Ben Sheets continues to show why he is the true double-edged sword of this franchise. He blew through the Astros tonight and is throwing as well as we've ever seen him. As a free-agent-to-be, he will be a much-discussed commodity for the remainder of the season. His health issues have been well-documented and are maddening to all, especially to Ben, but when he is healthy he is one of the top few pitchers in the game and is just the guy you would want pitching in game one of a playoff series. If he walks after the season no one will blame him, but the Brewers will be hard-pressed to replace him. I would personally love to hear that something is in the works to keep him from testing free agency, but I have not heard anything of the kind to this point. It is going to continue to be a tough call for the club as well. Signing a huge contract with a pitcher is a major decision for most market-sizes in MLB in the current era.
Sunday's finale is sold out. I can't remember being advised prior to game-day of a contest that the next-day's game doesn't even have SRO or single seats left for the public. The fans were awesome at tonight's game. The game was really good, and the fans were equal to the task. The standing ovation given to Sheets in the ninth inning was memorable, and the way they buzzed for a good 15 minutes after the Branyan bomb was exciting too. Good seats are available, by the way, for all three games of the Arizona series.
I talked to Ben after the game on our Homes By Town Post-Game Show. You can listen HERE.
Based on my own experience, I focus most closely on prospects who have the best chance to be elite, All-Star-caliber players. On the last couple of Jockey Pre-Game Shows, I went through some of the Brewers' higher-ceiling guys with Tom Flanagan, the club's Director of Administration for Player Development/Scouting. There continues to be a lot to like about Jeremy Jeffress and quite a few others. If you are interested in the Brewers' top prospects, listen HERE to part two of our conversation.