Milwaukee Brewers: Will bullpen rise to the occasion?
The 2012 Major League Baseball season has all the flavours making it exhilarating, and irresistibly watchable. From the sudden rise of the otherwise underdogs, to the downfall of stronger sides, it has been a mix beg of surprise and disillusionment.
While all the teams put tremendous efforts to outshine the rivals, the results are generally not up to the expectations. One of the teams that have struggled to hold its grip this season is the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers were a team that effortlessly made it to the playoffs the past season, outmanoeuvring the rival teams with class. They were a side that inspired awe and admiration; thanks to the incredibly strong defence and offence combination that they successfully
put.
That actually worked, and helped the team to go as far as the National League Championship Series. It was – at the end, their luck that they could not go past the St. Louis Cardinals which not only won the NLCS, but also qualified for the World Series, eventually
beating the Texas Rangers to win their 11th title.
What was of considerable help, and lent support to the Brewers the last time, was its aggressive and always in-form offence. While the pitchers had their equally big role to play, the Brewers offence – nonetheless, was too strong, being a constant support
for the defence.
The relief woe has badly struck the Brewers this time, something that they are reeling from. Once the All-Star break ended, the Brewers hoped they would come stronger in the second half. But there were consecutive losses that they had to suffer.
One of the reasons was the inability of the relief to capitalize on the opportunities that they got. Thus it resulted in the team’s ultimate decision to dismiss the bullpen coach, Stan Kyles. Lee Tunnell was brought in to replace the dismissed bullpen coach.
The Brewers Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin had his own view to share about it.
“It is important that we make every effort to try to improve our bullpen performance,” said Melvin. “While Stan is not solely responsible, I felt that this change was the first step and was necessary. Stan has been a loyal member of the Milwaukee Brewers
organization for 11 years. His hard work and dedication has been an integral part of the Brewers’ success and is greatly appreciated. His professionalism, personality and knowledge will be missed.”
When the views started pouring in on this issue – whether or not the Brewers should have taken this decision, the team manager Ron Roenicke came up with his own explanation.
He said he had trouble watching whatever was happening. Even though the bullpen coach was not solely responsible for whatever transpired – wherein the Kyles was dismissed, the decision had to be taken. "If I'm an owner, if I'm a GM, I don't think I can just
sit and watch what's going on," Roenicke said, "Unfortunately, it always seems that when the players aren't performing that the coaches are the ones that are let go."
The appointment of the new bullpen coach, the Brewers hope, will bring the relief long awaited. A change whereby the Brewers perform the way they did last year, winning the games with confidence and being a tough competitor in the league.
It is to be seen if the change of guards can help the bullpen to rise to the occasion, the way John Axford did in 2011, saving 42 of 46 games.
Tags: