Despite setbacks, Milwaukee Brewers stand behind John Axford – MLB News
The Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke on Wednesday, June 20, came to the defence of the team’s closer John Axford as the latter failed to save a supposedly easily winnable game against the Toronto Blue Jays. In his last five appearances, Axford has squandered three chances to bring victory for the team.
However, much as the blown chance would have disappointed and irked many, the team manager had to come forward to defend the closer. Whatever the observation of the game experts, Roenicke for now does not want to exert much pressure on the talented, but out of form, closer.
As to whether Axford will pitch in the next game or not, the team manager preferred keeping the answer unknown as he said he was not sure about it. Asked what he thought of the seemingly deteriorating performance of the player, the team manager had his own explanation.
"He's scuffling, he is," Roenicke said. "I can't give you an answer why. For a while, it was not pitching enough, and now it's pitching too much. It changes a lot."
Among other things that could have tremendous impact on the closer’s performance might was the fact that he had no certainty if he should have appeared in Wednesday’s game. That was largely because his wife was admitted to hospital where she gave birth to the couple’s second child.
Did he not have the option of having an off night? He, in all likelihood, did. That was his discretion and he would have got an endorsement by the management.
However, John Axford opted for playing the game as, in his own words, it is "my job – for now, anyways." Nonetheless, the closer has to sceptically reassess a lot of things that have gone wrong this season.
He had come forward as one of the single most reliable closers the Brewers could have in the line-up. However, this season has witnessed his shaky performance, not enough of his famous command with him that could have adverse impact on his chances to win games for the team at a time when it is desperately needed for a variety of reason.
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