Goals For The Rest Of 2009
At 70-75 and a mere 14.0 games out of the division lead and 12.0 games out of the Wild Card, the Brewers' postseason hopes are all but mathematically gone. The Crew has seven games remaining on the road with a ten-game homestand mixed in as well to close out the season.
So what is there to really root for these final three weeks? A few players have some individual accomplishments they can reach, and the team can still shoot for a non-losing season if they can finish 11-6 or better. Their goal should be to finish 4-3 on the road and 7-3 on their final homestand which would be enough to get their record to 81-81.
As for the players themselves, here are some things fans can watch for players to reach through the final seventeen games.
For pitchers, Yovani Gallardo can look to finish the year over .500. He's currently 12-12, and after last night's win, is now second on the team in wins. Along with trying to pick up a couple more wins, Gallardo is now also just three strikeouts away from 200 this season. Respectable goals for his first season as an ace.
As for the hitters, Prince Fielder is currently tied with Cecil Cooper for the most RBI's in a season with 126. Fielder is also just two walks away from 100 for the year, a stat that shows just how much of a feared hitter he has become. Prince sits at 39 home runs, so a 40-homer season is all but a foregone conclusion. Fielder also sits at 157 hits, and I would say his individual goal would be to get to 175 this year. That's just 18 hits over the final 17 games, and 175 hits plus 100 walks is quite an accomplishment for the big fella.
Ryan Braun leads the team in hits, batting average, at bats, runs scored, stolen bases, and doubles as well as second in home runs, RBI's, and triples. He currently sits at 173 hits and for a while it looked like Braun might have been able to reach 200, a feat that has only been accomplished six times in Brewers history. He's cooled off a bit as of late, but he still can reach 190-195 hits with a strong finish. He also has 29 home runs, so the goal of 30 is very feasible.
A few players are just about to the 100 hit plateau for the year in Jason Kendall (97), Corey Hart (99), and Casey McGehee (92).
It's been a lost season, and this time of year is now a bit tougher to watch after last year's exciting run to the playoffs. But we as fans must push on. This is our team and we should support them through thick and thin. Even though their magic number to be eliminated has now dwindled to three for the division and five for the Wild Card, this team is still capable of excitement.
Coming next week: An early look at the possible 2010 Brewers.
So what is there to really root for these final three weeks? A few players have some individual accomplishments they can reach, and the team can still shoot for a non-losing season if they can finish 11-6 or better. Their goal should be to finish 4-3 on the road and 7-3 on their final homestand which would be enough to get their record to 81-81.
As for the players themselves, here are some things fans can watch for players to reach through the final seventeen games.
For pitchers, Yovani Gallardo can look to finish the year over .500. He's currently 12-12, and after last night's win, is now second on the team in wins. Along with trying to pick up a couple more wins, Gallardo is now also just three strikeouts away from 200 this season. Respectable goals for his first season as an ace.
As for the hitters, Prince Fielder is currently tied with Cecil Cooper for the most RBI's in a season with 126. Fielder is also just two walks away from 100 for the year, a stat that shows just how much of a feared hitter he has become. Prince sits at 39 home runs, so a 40-homer season is all but a foregone conclusion. Fielder also sits at 157 hits, and I would say his individual goal would be to get to 175 this year. That's just 18 hits over the final 17 games, and 175 hits plus 100 walks is quite an accomplishment for the big fella.
Ryan Braun leads the team in hits, batting average, at bats, runs scored, stolen bases, and doubles as well as second in home runs, RBI's, and triples. He currently sits at 173 hits and for a while it looked like Braun might have been able to reach 200, a feat that has only been accomplished six times in Brewers history. He's cooled off a bit as of late, but he still can reach 190-195 hits with a strong finish. He also has 29 home runs, so the goal of 30 is very feasible.
A few players are just about to the 100 hit plateau for the year in Jason Kendall (97), Corey Hart (99), and Casey McGehee (92).
It's been a lost season, and this time of year is now a bit tougher to watch after last year's exciting run to the playoffs. But we as fans must push on. This is our team and we should support them through thick and thin. Even though their magic number to be eliminated has now dwindled to three for the division and five for the Wild Card, this team is still capable of excitement.
Coming next week: An early look at the possible 2010 Brewers.
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