September is very good for The Crew

WOW - when will people start acknowledging Craig Councill is a genius when he has a large roster. 

Every year (until next year) MLB expands rosters to 40 players and here are the last 2 seasons W/L totals for the Brewers

April 28-26
May 34-26
June 25-26
July 28-26
August 25-27
September 31-10

YIKES  - all of a sudden this year Councill has his bullpen locked and loaded. It took 5 months to realize last years diamonds all sucked (except for Hader) and now he has a new crew. Suter, Pomeranz, Black (100+ fast ball) Albers, Peralta, Claudio, Hader.

Now we have players coming back.   I remember the first week of August when announcers were saying "Lets get through August as September we start getting guys back). 

Llast night Woodruff came back after 2 months off  with his first pitch hitting 97 mph, his 2nd pitch was 98 and a few pitches later he hit 99. A near perfect outing and the plan is to give him 15-20 more pitches next outing.  Since there is no minor league games he has to pitch his way in real games.  So far so good.

Hiura and his .938 OPS came back with a hit and while most people think he is horrible at 2B  NO - he's not.  Yea his arm draws the attention but unlike Moustakas he stops a lot of balls getting into the outfield.  I would say he is a major league average 2B.  Average range poor arm.  Moustakas no range good arm.

Meanwhile - The Cubs have their own injury issues now using their #3 SS. and a horrible last 11 games including 7 vs. the Cards and a 6 game road trip to end the season. The Cubs SUCK on the road  at 31-44.  The Cards play the Cubs 7 times and play 7 of their last 11 on the road where they have a losing record (36-38). Brewers end with 4 on the road vs. the Reds and Rockies.   What an amazing pennant race we have  this year  AGAIN!!! 

Next year lost of new rules that seem to hurt the Brewers.  A pitcher HAS to face a minimum of 3 batters unless its the end of an inning. 

The number of players on a team will increase to 26 for most of the season and 28 in September.  It will help during the season with the average starting in MLB now going 5.7 innings (slightly less surprisingly in the AL).  No more 10 day injury list as teams found a way to manipulate it as it will go to 15 days.   

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No blog tomorrow - Golf/Brewers . . . Tylenol is my friend