{image1}Slowly, but surely, things are beginning to take shape for the Milwaukee Brewers.
The final weeks in the quest to end 12 consecutive losing seasons may have been slowed by the recent season-ending injury to Ben Sheets, but is being jumpstarted by an unlikely hero as of late.
Rookie shortstop JJ Hardy was a poster boy for the Brewers' anemic offense through much of the first half. The 23-year-old held a .176 batting average at the All Star Break, and no doubt heard the rumblings about his readiness for the big league level.
But since then, Hardy has been on a tear, hitting at a .306 clip since the break, and approaching the .250 mark for the season. He's also leading the league in hitting over the past two weeks, and in his first at bat against future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens, Hardy homered on Friday night.
Not bad for a kid who missed almost an entire year at the AAA level last year to have shoulder surgery.
His recent success at the plate -- and continued defensive improvement -- have allowed manager Ned Yost to move Hardy from the No. 8 spot in the lineup to second, something Brewers fans should probably get accustomed to.
Hardy, drafted in the second round of the 2001 draft, put together a .272 average in the minor leagues, including a career best of .293 at Class A (high) High Desert in 2002. He's received accolades and been named to All Star teams, and in talking to him, you never would have guessed.
While first baseman Prince Fielder draws the oohs and ahhs with his sheer power and Rickie Weeks makes fans drool over his raw talent, it will be Hardy that glues these baby Brewers together.
Quiet, humble, and positive, management sees in him talent and consistency, which they are banking on for the future.
Many a young player has never been able to find his way out of slumps less than Hardy's, Kevin Barker comes to mind. But the kid had confidence. Even if he didn't, Yost and his teammates sure did.
There's just something about the kid. The way he carries himself. It's a respectful, quiet and confident demeanor that Hardy brings to the clubhouse and it's what has kept him sane during some pretty rough times this year.
Brewers fans were quick to jump on the guy early in the season, and in some ways it was warranted. Nobody wants to see the guy the franchise touts as its future struggling to get the bat off his shoulder.
No doubt, Hardy heard the boos. But he just kept -- and keeps -- working.
Considering he only had 100 at-bats at the AAA level, the team opted to assign him to the Arizona Fall League after the season, and Hardy agreed to it.
When the going got tough, Yost kept the kid on the bench for a few games, but he kept working. Hardy was always working.
It's paid off. A recent power burst including a pretty massive ninth-inning home run off San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman and the grand slam at Cincinnati last week did a lot to impress fans, his teammates, and management.
No, he's not flashy. He's not a trendsetter, either. He's got a job to do, and he gets it done.
If Hardy is an example of the type of player General Manager Doug Melvin and owner Mark Attanasio want to build the franchise around, it's only the start of good times in Milwaukee.
