Milwaukee Brewers Microbrew

Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe dig into the things that will stand out about the 2022 season; namely, the things that went wrong. How did a 95-win team with many of the same contributors shrink to an 86-win team one year later? How big does the Josh Hader trade loom? What happened to the bullpen? What about the offense? Christian Yelich? The team's offseason approach? 

Then, JR chats with Daulton Varsho, a Marshfield and UW-Milwaukee product who finished his strong 2022 season in Milwaukee with the Arizona Diamondbacks (52:30).

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Music clips:  "ABC" by Jackson 5, "Red Hot Memories (Ice Cold Beer)" by Jerry Lee Lewis, "Pursuit Music Logo" on SoundCloud and Bob Uecker on WTMJ 620-AM radio.

A nightmare week for the Milwaukee Brewers, specifically three gut-wrenching losses in four games against the Marlins, has all but ended the disappointing 2022 season. Journal Sentinel reporter Curt Hogg and podcast host JR Radcliffe again take stock of what went wrong and how they can ultimately explain a 95-win team bringing back many of the same players and performing so much more poorly. How does Milwaukee fix this going forward, both on the field and in the stands, where the team drew fewer than 32,000 fans for each of its three weekend games against the Marlins. Is there anything other than the Josh Hader trade that will be seen as the signature moment of 2022? How would they evaluate the front office and manager Craig Counsell this season? 

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Music clips:  "ABC" by Jackson 5, "Red Hot Memories (Ice Cold Beer)" by Jerry Lee Lewis, "Pursuit Music Logo" on SoundCloud and Bob Uecker on WTMJ 620-AM radio.

An above-average week is still not enough as the Brewers head into the final nine games of the season facing, essentially, a 2 1/2-game deficit against the Philadelphia Phillies. There's hope, but it's fleeting. Ill-timed home runs have cost the team's deadline bullpen acquisitions and further cemented the Josh Hader trade as the turning point of the season. Corbin Burnes hasn't been his usual self. The Brewers are healthy in their rotation finally, but how will they be used in crunch time? Kolten Wong has a big three-homer game, adding to his big second half offensively ... but does his decline in defense make him unlikely to be back next year? Plus, can you name the team's batting-average leader? Would you believe he also (technically) leads the team in ERA?

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Music clips:  "ABC" by Jackson 5, "Red Hot Memories (Ice Cold Beer)" by Jerry Lee Lewis, "Pursuit Music Logo" on SoundCloud and Bob Uecker on WTMJ 620-AM radio.

The Brewers had a good week but still only gained modest ground in the wild card chase. Some exciting moments in a 3-2 week against the Cardinals and Yankees, including a Garrett Mitchell walk-off, Willy Adames making history and Aaron Judge authoring some of his own. Which team is the likelier for Milwaukee to catch -- the Padres or the Phillies? Jason Alexander continues to struggle, but is there anyone to take his place? Where does Luis Urias fit in the long-term picture? How can Milwaukee replicate the experience of St. Louis right now, where Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and an NL Central title run have ignited the fan base?

Then, JR chats with Kyle Lobner, a frequent author of Brewers analysis who's seen a mountain of Wisconsin Timber Rattlers games this year, and thus has had a front-row seat to rule changes that will be coming to the Major Leagues next year, plus a look at some of the system's best prospects.

The Brewers had a good week, but they're still facing an uphill battle to a playoff spot. Brewers reporter Todd Rosiak and podcast host JR Radcliffe take a look at the challenge ahead, and who's going to make the starts with two rotation members landing on the injured list? Can Milwaukee really catch San Diego? Plus, what's the future of Rowdy Tellez, author of 30 home runs this season? Is the Adrian Houser renaissance for real? What's up with Devin Williams? Garrett Mitchell makes more flash plays, and another loss of the year candidate mixed in with a series of wins.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Music clips:  "ABC" by Jackson 5, "Red Hot Memories (Ice Cold Beer)" by Jerry Lee Lewis, "Pursuit Music Logo" on SoundCloud and Bob Uecker on WTMJ 620-AM radio.

Another subpar week has the Brewers up against the wall in the battle for a playoff spot, and they simply haven't shown that they can get on a hot streak. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe wade through the frustrations, from the decline of the starting pitching to the lack of a clear-cut object of interest for 2023 and beyond. It's too early to write the season obituary, but hope is running out.

JR also chats with Jason Gurwin of The Streamable (50:00) to look at the issues cord-cutters are having even watching the Brewers (a factor that might play into the team's steep attendance decline). Is there any hope that the situation changes in the future, and what are the machinations keeping the Bally Sports Wisconsin broadcasts off streaming services?

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Music clips:  "ABC" by Jackson 5, "Red Hot Memories (Ice Cold Beer)" by Jerry Lee Lewis, "Pursuit Music Logo" on SoundCloud and Bob Uecker on WTMJ 620-AM radio.

A grisly loss to the Cubs on Friday may sting, but the Brewers continued to tread water, buoyed by two wins to close the week. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe try to make sense of an uneven week with some bright spots (Beating the Dodgers again, Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich, Freddy Peralta) and some lowlights (Adrian Houser, Trevor Rosenthal, everything about that Friday game). Josh Hader continued to struggle for the Padres, the team that looks like the only squad Milwaukee will have a chance to catch for a playoff spot. 

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Music clips:  "ABC" by Jackson 5, "Red Hot Memories (Ice Cold Beer)" by Jerry Lee Lewis, "Pursuit Music Logo" on SoundCloud and Bob Uecker on WTMJ 620-AM radio.

The Brewers lost two heartbreakers in Chicago in the latest chapter of frustration for a team whose playoff fortunes have gone south. Brewers reporter Todd Rosiak and host JR Radcliffe search around for any signs of hope, and there are some. But what about Eric Lauer's comments about communication from the front office, Christian Yelich's struggles in the field, and the white-hot St. Louis Cardinals? Is it surprising the club hasn't brought up Sal Frelick to man center field? Is Keston Hiura finally going to get some extra playing time?

Then, Curt Hogg sits down with Brewers third baseman Mike Brosseau, who's been one of the bright spots in an offense that can't find consistency.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Music clips:  "ABC" by Jackson 5, "Red Hot Memories (Ice Cold Beer)" by Jerry Lee Lewis, "Pursuit Music Logo" on SoundCloud and Bob Uecker on WTMJ 620-AM radio.

Thanks to some high-wire acts, the Brewers were able to win half their games last week, but Milwaukee also couldn't pick up ground in the National League Central. Host JR Radcliffe and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Curt Hogg look at what, if anything, can be done to jumpstart the offense after a rough week. A check-in with a struggling Christian Yelich and a lightly-used Keston Hiura. Another glance at the infamous Josh Hader trade, including the revelation that Taylor Rogers came to Milwaukee with an injury. Has Craig Counsell changed the way he manages bullpens over time? Plus: An unlikely triple, Jackson Chourio continues to rise, an amazing defensive performance and more.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Music clips:  "ABC" by Jackson 5, "Red Hot Memories (Ice Cold Beer)" by Jerry Lee Lewis, "Pursuit Music Logo" on SoundCloud and Bob Uecker on WTMJ 620-AM radio.

In the shadow of a wildly unpopular trade shipping Josh Hader to San Diego, the Brewers endured a miserable week, going 1-5 against the Pirates and Reds and going from three games up in the National League Central to two games down. Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and podcast host JR Radcliffe look at the ripple effects of the transaction and the other moves the team made at the trade deadline. Could a comparable move been made in the offseason instead? Do the Brewers think Hader is in serious decline? What to make of the negative reaction from the clubhouse? Did the Brewers bullpen really get better? How can this team not address the offense at the deadline? Does this still look like a playoff team?

The pitching hasn't been difference-making enough to maintain its status as a playoff contender, and young Aaron Ashby has been among those struggling. But the Brewers did have SOME things to celebrate this week: Freddy Peralta's return, the 1982 team, Prince Fielder in the Walk of Fame and a stolen base from Rowdy Tellez.

Then, JR chats briefly with Taylor Rogers, the newest Milwaukee Brewer, acquired in the Josh Hader trade. The former all-star closer has now been traded twice this season. He talks about pitching at altitude while growing up in Denver, his mirror-twin big-league brother and his time at the University of Kentucky.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Music clips:  "ABC" by Jackson 5, "Red Hot Memories (Ice Cold Beer)" by Jerry Lee Lewis, "Pursuit Music Logo" on SoundCloud and Bob Uecker on WTMJ 620-AM radio.