Milwaukee Brewers Microbrew

Before the MLB winter meetings get going and we return to baseball, here's a special episode marking the re-launch of the Journal Sentinel podcast covering the University of Wisconsin, primarily football and basketball. Host JR Radcliffe and Badgers reporters Mark Stewart and John Steppe look at the stumbling blocks that put the football program in such bad shape, an issue highlighted by a tough national signing day Dec. 3. How does Wisconsin get back on its feet? Did they make a mistake keeping Luke Fickell? 

They also talk about the men's basketball team on the heels of a win in its Big Ten opener and check in with the women's hoops team and its new coach, plus a look at the women's volleyball team's NCAA journey ahead.

Find the Wisconsin Badgers Podcast (and help us give it a new name) on Apple Podcasts, as well as Spotify soon.

Brandon Woodruff will be back with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2026 after accepting the qualifying offer of one year, $22 million dollars, so what does that mean now for the team's rotation and the possible trade of Freddy Peralta? Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss that early-offseason development and more, including the discussion of some possible names in free agency (you know, if the Brewers ever consider trying free agency). Pat Murphy is now a two-time manager of the year. Is Caleb Durbin definitely a third baseman moving forward after his top-three finish in the Rookie of the Year voting? Plus, Curt discusses a cool Jacob Misiorowski event in Milwaukee.

The offseason has begun! Surely the Brewers will be signing all sorts of free agents, right? Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe, both of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, highlight some of the interesting calls, including news that Rickie Weeks won't return in the same role in 2026. They look at what happens next for Brandon Woodruff, the intriguing roster decisions still out there (namely Andrew Vaughn), the addition of Coleman Crow to the 40-man roster and more. Is it possible there is anyone on the free-agent lists that would work for the Brewers? JR continues to seethe about the Dodgers, meanwhile.

Journal Sentinel Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe look back at their hot takes from before the season and ... hoo boy, there were some doozies. Did they get ANYTHING right? Maybe one or two small things, offset by the big things they got wrong. After that, they recount their favorite moments from 2025 in one last Three Up, Three Down. 

The Milwaukee Brewers sure appear set to contend again in 2026, but do they have the firepower to bypass a team like the Dodgers competing at full strength? Journal Sentinel reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe look ahead. Is Freddy Peralta definitely going to get traded? If so, does Jacob Misiorowski become the de facto ace? Why should people believe in the Brewers next year? Who are the prospects that we need to know for next year? Are there areas this team could (fingers crossed?) add in free agency? Will there be changes to the coaching staff? 

After 97 wins, crazy winning streaks and a win over the Cubs in the NLDS, the Brewers season came to an end after four frustrating games against the Dodgers. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss whether or not the Brewers could have done anything against the high-powered (and high-cost) Dodgers rotation. If so, what was it? Why did they look so out of sorts? What roster moves could have precluded this from being such a blowout? What's up with Christian Yelich? Could this result really cause a greater likelihood of a work stoppage in 2027?

There were some bright spots, namely Jacob Misiorowski, as well as Jake Bauers, Caleb Durbin and Jackson Chourio, not to mention an unreal double play in Game 1 that we'll never see again. They briefly discuss some future roster decisions, particularly Freddy Peralta ... will he get traded this offseason?

Whew, that was fun. The Milwaukee Brewers took a 2-0 lead in the series, lost it and then prevailed in a 3-1 thriller Oct. 11 to win the National League Division Series against the rival Cubs and former manager Craig Counsell. Chad Patrick and Jacob Misiorowski were heroes, Andrew Vaughn and William Contreras led a homer barrage and the Brewers earned a date with the Dodgers in the NLCS. Could their first World Series since 1982 be right around the corner?

Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and host JR Radcliffe break down the biggest storylines, the granular details (the phone celebration, the L-Flag, Jackson Chourio's hamstring and more) and look ahead to the Dodgers, a juggernaut that nonetheless couldn't beat the Brewers in six tries this year.

Music intro from bensound.com. Musical cue "I Got What You Want" (Extended Version) by Gloria Tells from www.epidemicsound.com.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored six runs in the opening inning and prevailed over the Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, 9-3, but not without a serious cause for concern. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe break down what they saw at American Family Field, from the electric pro-Brewers crowd to an interesting starting-pitcher decision by former Brewers manager Craig Counsell. The Jackson Chourio injury is top-of-mind; will he be OK enough to play in this series going forward? They discuss the aggressive start, the Game 2 pitching plan, old friend Aaron Civale, an interesting Counsell comment and more.

In Three Up Three Down (36:46), they discuss the NLDS roster decisions that stick out and Peralta's big outing. In Remembrew When (54:00), JR looks back at another six-run outburst in Brewers playoff history. And in Curt Blanche (59:30), Curt wonders how players really feel about Counsell.

Music intro from bensound.com. Musical cues (in order): "I Got What You Want" (Extended Version) by Gloria Tells, "Arriving at Dusk" by American Legion and "Screaming Fool" by Andreas Dahlback, all from www.epidemicsound.com.

Yep, it's the Chicago Cubs. The Milwaukee Brewers know their first-round opponent and also know that the National League Division Series will get started at 1:08 p.m. Saturday. Can the Brewers send Craig Counsell packing or will their heated rival stand in the way? Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe look at the matchup and then take reader questions on a variety of topics like Jacob Misiorowski, rally towels, Joey Ortiz, Rhys Hoskins and more.

Music intro from bensound.com. Musical cues (in order): "I Got What You Want" (Extended Version) by Gloria Tells, "Arriving at Dusk" by American Legion and "Screaming Fool" by Andreas Dahlback, all from www.epidemicsound.com.

The Brewers achieved a franchise-record 97 victories, the best record in baseball and the top seed for the upcoming playoffs, and now comes a week of waiting before the division series begins. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe explore the questions surrounding the postseason like which matchup -- Cubs or Padres -- would be better for Milwaukee and what questions stand out when it comes to the postseason roster. Will Jacob Misiorowski be on it? What about Rhys Hoskins? Does the offense's struggles in September portend anything at all? What happened to Isaac Collins? Also, please forgive the slap-happy hosts recording after a 40-40 Packers tie.

In Three Up Three Down (42:35), we've got managers flipping pancakes, Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich at leadoff. In Remembrew When, JR looks back at a different wild day of season finales (59:00). In Curt Blanche (1:04:45), Curt takes the playoff format to task, and JR offers a take you probably didn't expect.

Then, JR is joined by Sal Frelick (1:13:45) who, among other topics, discusses his crazy home run from the 2024 playoffs.

Music intro from bensound.com. Musical cues (in order): "I Got What You Want" (Extended Version) by Gloria Tells, "Arriving at Dusk" by American Legion and "Screaming Fool" by Andreas Dahlback, all from www.epidemicsound.com.