Bill Hall needs some time in centerfield and at the plate: The Brewers MVP in 2006 finally got an everyday position this season. Nobody expected Hall to turn into a Gold Glove centerfielder overnight, but what is even more surprising is his sub-.200 batting average. Entering today, Hall has just one hit in 16 at-bats. Neither Hall, manager Ned Yost nor hitting coach Jim Skaalen think that his position change are affecting his slump, but the Brewers are counting on Hall's ability to produce in order to make a run at the postseason.
The bullpen can hold its own: Yost came into the season with five reliable starters. He had a top-notch closer and a reliable situational lefty at his disposal. Filling the gaps in the bullpen looked to be a problem, but the relief corps seems to have found a groove. In just less than 19 innings heading into Saturday's game, the pen had allowed just one run. Derrick Turnbow's second-half implosion looks to be a thing of the past; he joins Greg Aquino, Brian Shouse, and d Francisco Cordero as the only Brewer pitchers that haven't allowed a run this year.
The left field platoon is working: Many wondered whether Geoff Jenkins would still be a Brewer at this point. He's still here, as is Kevin Mench. And for all their anger about shared playing time, the platoon is making Yost look like a genius; Jenkins - facing mostly right-handed pitching - was batting around .350 while Mench is hitting at a .304 clip, mostly against lefties.
The offense is a work in progress: The Brewers have shown improvement at the plate, with a .264 batting average (fourth in the NL) and only striking out 67 times. They're still trying to become a better unit with runners in scoring position, hitting well below the Mendoza line with men on base. Jenkins, Hall, Rickie Weeks, and Prince Fielder were a combined 2-24 in RISP situations going into the weekend.
Welcome, Johnny: The pickup of Johnny Estrada could end up being one of general manager Doug Melvin's best moves with the Brewers. Finally giving Yost some pop from the catcher's position, Estrada was batting .344 with a pair of doubles after nine games.
Ben Sheets is fine: Many had begun to question the logic of signing Ben Sheets to a multi-million dollar contract extension, but it looks like the Brewers' ace is just fine. Making his first healthy start in nearly two years, Sheets was dominant on opening day and was serviceable in his second outing. (He will throw again today). The Brewers need Sheets to throw 200-plus innings, as he did in his first few seasons, if they plan to become a legitimate contender.