Milwaukee Brewers Microbrew

Brewers beat reporter Todd Rosiak joins host JR Radcliffe to look back at a memorable final week of 2019, including a sweep in Cincinnati that guaranteed a playoff berth and three straight losses in Colorado that kept Milwaukee from the NL Central title. How do the Brewers stack up against Washington star pitcher Max Scherzer? Might there be any surprises on the wild-card roster? Are we ready for this?

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

Brewers beat reporter Todd Rosiak joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss the rapidly changed fortunes of the Milwaukee Brewers, now a near-lock to make the playoffs. Where are Keston Hiura and Brandon Woodruff at in their returns from injury? What's Todd seeing from Trent Grisham lately? How will the Brewers work this same magic with the roster once the rules change in 2020? Will there be any surprises on a potential playoff roster? How do the Brewers stack up against likely wild-card foe Washington?

Then, JR chats with reliever Jay Jackson, who has gone from unheralded minor-league signing to a key member of the Brewers' late-season surge. He talks about his multi-year stint in Japan, the wild ride of the 2019 season and how he got his own logo.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

Brewers beat reporter Todd Rosiak joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss the crushing loss of Christian Yelich to injury last week. Yet, the Brewers are in the midst of a hot streak that has them right in the thick of the playoff chase. Could they really still do this without Yelich? Are his MVP chances kaput (spoiler: not necessarily)? When will reinforcements like Keston Hiura and Brandon Woodruff arrive? Will the team lean on Ryan Braun down the stretch after his heroic grand slam Sunday? Will Yasmani Grandal catch every inning the rest of the way? 

Then, JR chats with Brewers first-year pitching coach Chris Hook, who's been riding the wave of the up-and-down Brewers season. How does his ascension to the big leagues compare to his ascension as a player?

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

The Brewers won three straight games against the Cubs over the weekend, leaving them just two games out of a playoff spot. But injuries are taking their toll; is there anybody left to keep this team rolling? Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt joins host JR Radcliffe to talk about the uplifting week, the chances of contract discussions with Yasmani Grandal and Christian Yelich, the recurring struggles of Travis Shaw and Jimmy Nelson, the sneaky excellence of Eric Thames, questionable umpiring and when we might see Keston Hiura and Brandon Woodruff again. 

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt chats about where Milwaukee stands after yet another 3-3 week -- but back-to-back shutouts over the Cubs to get within 3 games of the second wild card. Does he think the club could bring back Jeremy Jeffress after he was designated for assignment on Sunday? What about the million injuries (Hiura, Braun, Moustakas, Houser, Cain, Woodruff), and what could we see out of Brent Suter and Jimmy Nelson. Plus, "Relax Roxane" and the ESPN Body issue might ultimately just be footnotes in the 2019 season if it doesn't end in the playoffs, but we do know one thing: Christian Yelich isn't afraid of the spotlight, and that might be a great thing.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss the state of the Brewers on the cusp of a monster stretch against the Cardinals and Cubs. He offers a brief post-mortem on Jhoulys Chacin's Brewers tenure after he was designated for assignment and looks at options for the 2020 rotation. Then, the guys look back at Friday's near no-hitter; could Josh Hader have been used in the seventh? How much juice do we still have for no-hitters, especially as they become more of the combined variety? True story: Tom left his parents in the car of the stadium parking lot in Baltimore so he could finish writing about Juan Nieves' no-hitter in 1987. 

Then, JR chats with Jordan Lyles himself, the author of six no-hit innings Friday. He talks about his desire to play football for Steve Spurrier, his role in a zany 2018 game and everyone in his family given "J" names ... until now.

 Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org. 

Brewers beat reporter Todd Rosiak joins host JR Radcliffe to look back on the absurdity of Saturday's 15-14 Brewers win in 14 innings, although it was a rough overall week with a lost lead Monday, a brutal blowout Sunday, a frustrating 2-1 setback Friday and two nail-biting wins in between. What do we make of Josh Hader's continued struggles, as well as the team's decision to send down Freddy Peralta to the minors? Are we seeing cracks in the foundation with the starting pitching? Does Craig Counsell agree with everyone else that the team's struggles with runners in scoring position are a true concern? Is it premature to start looking at some of the fascinating roster decisions awaiting the Brewers in 2020?

With the zany Saturday game in mind, JR sits down with Brewers broadcaster Bill Schroeder to look back 35 years at the Brewers' 7-6 loss to the White Sox in 25 innings -- the longest game in modern MLB history. Schroeder, who had five plate appearances in the game, looks back at what stood out from that memorable two-day extravaganza.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

The Brewers were able to win five of their six games last week -- including four of them without Christian Yelich -- but should we be worried about the continued wobbles in the bullpen and the ongoing health issues of the starters? Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt chats about that and more, including Keston Hiura's defense, the demotion of Travis Shaw and the Brewers Wall of Honor ... would the club make an exception for CC Sabathia?

Then, host JR Radcliffe sits down with Devin Williams, a new arrival to the Brewers pitching staff and chats about his eventful journey to the big leagues.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

The free-falling Milwaukee Brewers get swept in Chicago; is there any way they claw back into the playoff chase? Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss what's gone wrong, what's left to cling to, and how he evaluates what the Brewers did at the trade deadline. Did they give up on Jesus Aguilar and Mauricio Dubon? Plus: Trent Grisham arrives earlier than expected, Travis Shaw's struggles continue, and did the Brewers truly misfire with Miley and Smyly? Plus, how concerning should Baseball America's rock-bottom ranking of Milwaukee's farm system be?

Then, JR Radcliffe sits down with former Brewers general manager Doug Melvin to look back at a memorable 2015 trade deadline maneuver that sent Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers to the Astros for Domingo Santana, Brett Phillips, Josh Hader and Adrian Houser. The exchange featured some wild drama, when an earlier trade to the Mets was nixed -- possibly by a crying infielder? Melvin talked about the zaniness of the moment and how his staff was quickly able to make lemonade out of a lemon.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

The trade deadline is right around the corner, and the Brewers figure to be busy, but can they do enough to overcome a sudden shortage of starting pitchers? Brewers beat reporter Todd Rosiak joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss the wild swings of Milwaukee's 3-3 week and what the Brewers have to offer in a potential trade before Wednesday's deadline. Updates on Travis Shaw, Jeremy Jeffress, Keston Hiura and Christian Yelich, who is back in the Triple Crown chase. 

Then, JR sits down with the red-hot Hiura, mere hours after he was named National League Player of the Week. How does he react to being the subject of fan conversation this year, and how did he create that compact swing? After that, it's a chat with the man who replaces Hiura as the organization's top prospect, Brice Turang. Could the 2018 first-round draft choice be part of any trade packages this week? The 19-year-old discusses his favorite artifact from his father's Major League playing days, the stressful time before he signed with the club last summer and working his way upward through the organization.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.