Season’s first half was fun to watch; can it continue?

Being Fourth of July week, All-Star Game voting and the start to the second half of the season already upon us –– not to mention another series win over that team from south of the border –– the old commercial jingle, “baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet” that was a 1980s staple on WTMJ 620 Brewers broadcasts became Monday’s musical nugget I couldn’t get out of my head for a portion of the work day.

That is, until I had some strange urge to search for that early ‘80s gem “Brewer Fever,” which also uncovered the catchy “Turning up the Heat” theme song from the mid-80s. Good memories if you’re a fan of a certain age who has time to waste on YouTube.

Seems just about every sports fan I’m running into these days wants to talk Brewers with me and, at this time of the summer, that usually means good stuff is happening with the Crew. Indeed it is as I write this 85 games into the 2024 season.

A 50-35 record, a six-game lead over St. Louis in the National League’s Central Division, a fun-to-watch crew of young and rising stars, another year of complete unknowns shocking everyone by how well they play when called upon, veterans doing their thing and, oh yeah, an 11-game lead over the last-place team from down south and their manager.

The baseball season is the epitome of the cliché “marathon, not a sprint,” so trash talk carries next to no weight on July 4. Success in September and October is what a baseball season is all about.

So far, Pat Murphy is certainly at the top of the list for NL Manager of the Half-Year in his first season at the helm, seemingly getting even more out of this team than his predecessor did despite having a pitching staff that’s been riddled with injuries and a few more to key position players. He’s unleashed his young, speedy roster on the base paths and pushed the right buttons more often than not with the bullpen, again, much like the previous manager did before he went to the dark side.

Probably even more credit goes to general manager Matt Arnold and the scouting staff, who keep finding the right talent to keep the Major League roster competitive in the smallest market in a league where revenue and money matter most. There was despair when the previous GM, David Stearns, left after 2022. It’s early in his tenure but, so far, Arnold has been just as good, if not better than Stearns.

Look no further than the Joey Ortiz acquisition in the Corbin Burnes trade this winter. When the deal was first made, pitcher DL Hall sounded like the key piece the Brewers were getting back, along with a no-hit, good-glove infielder, who might figure into the lineup someday after Willy Adames gets traded or leaves through free agency. As it turns out, the Brewers probably wouldn’t be in first place without Ortiz while Hall has been a non-factor so far, but could be a factor soon as he returns from injury.

Getting left-handed reliever Bryan Hudson from the Dodgers has been another steal. How about signing Tobias Myers in November of 2022 after he was dropped from the White Sox minor league system? Or finding the now injured Jarrett Koenig on the scrap heap this past November. He actually leads the staff in wins with seven. His previous two teams were the San Antonio Missions and the El Paso Chihuahuas.

That being said, success down the stretch will likely hinge on Arnold and the scouting department because if the Brewers continue to win in July, there will be no choice for the organization but to go for it at the trade deadline and add depth for the stretch drive and post-season.

As usual, that depth will probably have to be found on the pitching side. The Brewers continue to rank well below average for innings pitched by starters at 4.71 through 85 games. That ranks 24th out of 30 teams and it’s a stat that always makes you nervous when you’re 52% of the way through the season. At what point does the bullpen tire?

Granted, that stat is skewed a bit by the Brewers’ use of openers –– relievers whose job is to get the first few outs of the game based on matchups. Still, the Brewers haven’t had many seven-inning starts. You’d like to see a few more.

Maybe Hall or Jakob Junis, who also just returned from injury, will help in the second half. Getting All-Star closer Devin Williams back later this month also should help the ease the bullpen burden.

That being said, the pitching has been pretty darn good. A team ERA of 3.75 that ranks ninth in the majors, 30 saves in 39 opportunities despite not having Williams, a ranking of 12th in walks/hits per inning (1.25). Pitching will have to remain good over the long haul with lots of matchups remaining against teams like the Dodgers, Braves, Phillies, Guardians, Reds, Giants and Cardinals.

The Brewers’ defense so far has been stellar, led by Gold Glove candidate Brice Turang at second base, but that was expected coming in. Ortiz at third base has made it even better.

After four years of talking about nonexistent offense, that aspect of the game has thankfully improved. And, to me, it still hasn’t hit on all cylinders as off-season acquisition Rhys Hoskins hasn’t hit his stride yet and Garrett Mitchell has just returned from injury and should provide more punch than Blake Perkins. Stud rookie Jackson Chourio has been coming on, which is encouraging.

The Brewers haven’t had trouble getting guys on base, ranking fourth in the majors in team batting average (.257) and on-base percentage (.332). They’re tied with San Diego for fifth in runs scored with 412 and are tied with Phildelphia for third in hits with 744. They are lacking a little bit in power, despite what last week’s unreal run of grand slams would tell you. That’s where Hoskins has to pick it up in the second half and Christian Yelich, as good as a year as he’s having, could hit for more power too. Adames, who was talked about as mid-season trade bait when the year started but I can’t see being moved now, has hit for power, but could stand to raise his average a bit.

But more productive offense can aid the pitching staff as well down the stretch with hopefully fewer high-pressure innings to get through.

Again, there’s a long way to go and, so far, the rest of the Central Division has underachieved with the Cincinnati Reds, I’d say, being the biggest underachiever that could wake up at any time. You never count out St. Louis, of course, and maybe that other team could figure things out too and make a run.

But so far, Cheeseheads have to like what they see.

Matt Frey is the Sports Editor at The Star News.