Plagued by an inconsistent offense and a porous defense, the only way the Brewers will make the playoffs in 2011 – barring an unforeseen blockbuster trade or prolonged hot streaks from their shortstop and third baseman – is if the pitching can continue to perform at its current level during the final two months.
Milwaukee's starters have excelled most of the year and are currently riding a stretch of 15 quality starts in the last 18 games, posting a 2.81 during that span.
But because the offense has been so incredibly lackluster this year, the relief corps has become more important than ever.
The need to protect leads in mind, general manager Doug Melvin sent two minor league players to be named later to the New York Mets for closer Francisco Rodriguez – despite already having an effective closer in John Axford.
The combination of the two gives the Brewers a formidable one-two punch at the back of the bullpen and also helped redefine roles for other relievers. Kameron Loe had mixed results as the de facto set-up man but has been able to settle down a bit now that he's moved back into a middle relief role.
He was forced into the eighth inning spot early in the season when Takashi Saito went on the disabled list. LaTroy Hawkins also spent time on the DL early in the year so options were limited for manager Ron Roenicke.
Now, though, with Rodriguez and Axford pitching the final two innings, things have become more clear. Saito and Hawkins will both get work while Loe will be summoned to situations with runners on base and a double play is needed.
"Once we got K-Rod, Ron came to me and said he would be using me in several different situations, whenever we needed a ground ball or whatever," Loe said. "I told him, however he feels we're going to win a ballgame, just pitch me where he feels fit."
Other teams have taken notice of the Brewers' late-inning abilities. The bullpen held the Cubs scoreless for 9.1 innings during the three-game series at Miller Park. Chicago managed just three hits and a walk while striking out seven times.
"They're tough," Chicago infielder Jeff Baker said Tuesday. "You look down there and see those guys ... when they get to the seventh inning, you know you've got your work cut out. They don't give you a lot of stuff to hit. They make pitches. They're good ... really good."
In their last six games, Brewers relievers have allowed just one run – a solo home run in the ninth inning last Saturday at San Francisco – on eight hits while striking out eight.
That kind of success has led some to suggest that the Brewers might have one of the best bullpens in the National League. Roenicke doesn't entirely dismiss the notion.
"I think we've got the guys out there that can be the best bullpen in the league," manager Ron Roenicke said earlier this week. "If they're consistent in what they do, sure, I don't think you can say that there's anybody better than us."
