Milwaukee Brewers Microbrew

Brewers beat reporter Todd Rosiak joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss a crazy week for the Milwaukee Brewers, including a number of roster moves and a handful of thrilling outcomes. Most notably was a Wednesday win in extra innings, 13-12, that featured Christian Yelich hitting for the cycle -- and that was just part of Yelich's crazy week. Where does he stand in the MVP conversation?

Also, what does Todd make of Craig Counsell's comments about the usage of Josh Hader, who wasn't brought into the game Saturday night as the bullpen lost a 3-1 lead?

Then, JR is joined by Keon Broxton, the Brewers outfielder whose 3-run homer Sunday helped Milwaukee cap the road trip on a positive note.

Did we mention the Cubs are coming to town? And the Brewers are leading the wild card?

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

In this special crossover episode, we present the debut of the Wisconsin Badgers Journal Sentinel podcast.

The Wisconsin Badgers head into 2018 with some lofty goals and expectations. Journal Sentinel beat reporter Jeff Potrykus joins host JR Radcliffe to talk about what makes this team special, which players it can't live without, how the off-field problems facing the receiving corps will impact the on-field approach, and does Western Kentucky provide any risk of a monster upset on Friday?

Each week, Jeff breaks down the matchup ahead and the bigger picture as the Badgers pursue a Big Ten Championship and their first berth in the College Football Playoff. Find the Badgers podcast on iTunes soon.

Music available at http://freesound.org (Rhythm 1 Dist Gated - 95 BPM by Khoon and American Football Match by barcelonetasonora)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt discusses three starting rotation questions: what's the long-term prognosis for Chase Anderson, is Freddy Peralta locked into the rotation going forward, and what comes next after the Matt Harvey waiver claim went for naught?

Also, quick discussion of Jonathan Schoop, Scooter Gennett and Corey Knebel, plus are there any surprises on the horizon for September call-ups?

Host JR Radcliffe also chats with third baseman Mike Moustakas, who has been a huge lift to the offense (and defense) since he arrived from the Royals as a midseason trade acquisition.

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

Host JR Radcliffe is joined by Brewers legend CC Sabathia (34:45) -- whose 3 1/2 months with the team may be the most memorable pitching performance in franchise history when he led the Brewers to the playoffs 10 years ago. Sabathia discusses that frenzied performance that snapped a 26-year playoff drought for the organization. 

Before that, JR is joined by Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (12:50) to try and put Sabathia's performance in context. Is it the best Brewers pitching performance ever, and would the team make that same trade again, knowing what it knows now? JR also attempts to find three reasons for optimism with the 2018 Brewers (5:35), now tied for a Wild Card spot after their downward trend continued last week.

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

A very rough week for the Brewers puts Milwaukee's playoff hopes in jeopardy. Brewers beat reporter Todd Rosiak chats with host JR Radcliffe about the struggles on the pitching staff. What's up with Chase Anderson, and will the Brewers soon make a move to trim Freddy Peralta's workload?

There's some silver linings though, including a hot start for new acquisition Mike Moustakas and a catch by Ryan Braun that might rank as the best Brewers defensive play of the year -- is it No. 1? 

After that, JR sits down with rookie right-handed reliever Corbin Burnes, brought up from the minors and directly inserted into high-leverage innings. He talks about his transition to the bullpen, his late-blooming into a big-league prospect, his skyrocket up the minor-league chain, his famous-ish near-namesake and his sweet specs.

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 podcast host JR Radcliffe to discuss the acquisition of Jonathan Schoop -- and the struggles he's endured since arriving. Mike Moustakas, meanwhile, has quickly become a fan favorite, while Matt Albers has become a puzzle. And who is the more realistic MVP candidate: Lorenzo Cain or Christian Yelich? Rosiak does have a vote for MVP, after all. And what's the best walk-off of the season so far?

Then, JR is joined by Brewers team translator Carlos Brizuela to talk about his path to the Majors and the role he plays with the team.

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

Christian Yelich swings by (29:00) to discuss his eventful All-Star Game experience, his celebrity doppelganger, his brother in the Marines and the memorable final days with the Miami Marlins. Before that, Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss the team's two big recent trades, what's left with two days to go before the trade deadline, the up-and-down play of Corey Knebel and Orlando Arcia and surging Jhoulys Chacin. 

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

The all-star break was a wildly newsworthy time for the Milwaukee Brewers, and not for good reasons. Josh Hader's past came back to haunt him when a series of offensive tweets from his teenage years came to light, and then the team learned that it had lost out to the Dodgers -- a team heading to Miller Park on Friday -- in the pursuit for top trade prize Manny Machado. 

Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt and host JR Radcliffe talk about what comes next for the team in the wake of this news, plus what to expect in the second half and maybe a bit about an All-Star Game that was already eventful for the franchise-record five Brewers involved.

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 examines the state of the Brewers at the all-star Break, with a dismal 1-7 road trip putting a big downer on the season so far. Just how much panic is justified, and will it inform what the club does at the trade deadline? Should this be the year the Brewers "go for it?" Also, Brewers pitcher Adrian Houser visits to chat about his loaded high-school class in Oklahoma, his trade to the Brewers, the road back from Tommy John surgery and that infamous game June 17 when he threw up on the mound.

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 have three all-stars -- and maybe a fourth -- with Josh Hader, Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich all earning tickets to Washington, D.C. and Jesus Aguilar part of the "Final Vote" process. Hear from all four players after Sunday's game, starting with the three selections (9:00) and followed by Aguilar on his own (20:00). Host JR Radcliffe discusses a wildly busy Sunday that also included a flurry of roster moves and yet another win for the red-hot Brewers, who took six of seven on the homestand. Finally, JR chats with catcher Erik Kratz, whose role will increase after an injury to Manny Pina. Kratz, the team's elder statesman who has been part of 13 different organizations, talks about his high-school teammate's infraction that led to catching for the first time, learning of his first MLB callup at age 30 in the middle of the Triple-A All-Star Game, the odd jobs he's undertaken during the journey (including a mishap with a nail gun), one memorable time when he wanted to walk away from baseball and the three best pitchers he's caught.

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