The Milwaukee Brewers might be better able to handle the flood of injuries the team has faced lately if the healthy regulars would just hit. The team is struggling, but none more so than the 1-2 spots in the batting order.
Right now, those players are outfielders Norichika Aoki and Nyjer Morgan and second baseman Rickie Weeks.
In the 17 different lineups manager Ron Roenicke has employed heading into tonight's game, Weeks has led off 24 times and Aoki three times. Weeks has hit second four times, Aoki three. Morgan has led off once and hit second 13 times.
Unfortunately, Morgan is hitting .169, Weeks .174 and Aoki .211 heading into tonight's game.
Aoki led off in Monday night's loss and went 0-for-4, while Morgan led off tonight.
For what it's worth, the players involved aren't panicking.
"I don't really feel pressure at all," Aoki said about hitting lead-off through translator Kosuke Inaji. "It's my job to get on base in whatever way possible just to give our cleanup hitters a chance to bring guys home."
Weeks was just as diplomatic about his struggles.
"I know it seems frustrating, but at the same time I've got to go do my job," he said. "I haven't been doing it right now but that doesn't mean I'm not going to come here tomorrow and do my job as well. I'm going to go out there and try to play hard and help this team."
The Brewers are hoping those steady attitudes turn into hits – quickly.
Jim Owczarski is an award-winning sports journalist and comes to Milwaukee by way of the Chicago Sun-Times Media Network.
A three-year Wisconsin resident who has considered Milwaukee a second home for the better part of seven years, he brings to the market experience covering nearly all major and college sports.
To this point in his career, he has been awarded six national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, breaking news and projects. He is also a four-time nominee for the prestigious Peter J. Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, presented by the Chicago Headline Club, and is a two-time winner for Best Sports Story. He has also won numerous other Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press and Northern Illinois Newspaper Association awards.
Jim's career started in earnest as a North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) senior in 2002 when he received a Richter Fellowship to cover the Chicago White Sox in spring training. He was hired by the Naperville Sun in 2003 and moved on to the Aurora Beacon News in 2007 before joining OnMilwaukee.com.
In that time, he has covered the events, news and personalities that make up the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, NCAA football, baseball and men's and women's basketball as well as boxing, mixed martial arts and various U.S. Olympic teams.
Golf aficionados who venture into Illinois have also read Jim in GOLF Chicago Magazine as well as the Chicago District Golfer and Illinois Golfer magazines.
