Mid-Season reports and the All-Star Game

So we just passed the mid-way point and thus far I think the Brewers season has been inconclusive. Sure, there have been absolutely brilliant spots and certainly the team is looking better than it has in decades.

However, if we weren’t where we are, people would be disappointed, so I say being 10 games above .500 and 4 ½ games in first is really just kind of average. I wrestled with using the word mediocre, but Ryan Braun alone lifts this team above that status.

The new has worn off and real Brewers fans have moved past just being happy that we don’t suck. There was novelty in those first few weeks and months in the pure fact that we were winning and we were in first place. But heading into the close of the season, I don’t think that’s enough anymore. There are expectations and high hopes and seven of ten to head into the All-Star break isn’t going to cut it.

I have to say that I was a little disappointed in the Brewers' performance in all the All-Star game festivities. That's not to say that they did bad, but rather that I think they didn't capitalize on the situation. The Crew still gets little to no respect and I think this would have been a good chance to make a splash on a national stage.

During the Home Run Derby during Prince's attempt, the (many) broadcasters had a discussion first, about A-Rod and then one of them piped up and said something along the lines of you, "You know, we just spent all the time focusing on A-Rod, who, since he's in New York gets all the attention. Here's Prince Fielder, who, because he's in Milwaukee, is off everybody's radar."

It was nice to hear that someone out there at least realized what kind of bias there is. Now, let's see him do something about it.

I was surprised by the rash of positive media coverage the Crew received in this off-week. I thoroughly expected there to be a lot of negative comments about the way the Brewers played in the closing week or so. Instead, the opposite happened. Nobody mentioned it.

Two separate SI writers, one in the magazine and one online, named their picks for the mid-season awards. On SI.com Jon Heyman named Prince Fielder his mid-season NL MVP saying “Budding superstar is the anchor of baseball’s best infield. The most obvious choice of all has one more home run than he hit all last year.”

SI the magazine’s Tom Verducci also put Prince at #1 for NL MVP, with the Rockies’ Matt Holliday in 2^nd. “Here’s why: Milwaukee wouldn’t be in first place without the big-time power of Fielder, who leads the league in homers (29) and slugging (.622). Holliday’s road numbers are too pedestrian (.301 – 78 points lower than his home average – with five homers) for a team that hasn’t gotten more than 4 games over .500.”

Heyman names Houston’s Hunter Pence as NL Rookie of the Year. There are two sentences following that proclamation: “Very exciting combination of speed, power and hunger. But Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun is coming on..”

Verducci gives the nod to Pence as well, with Braun at #2. “Here’s why: Pence, who spent more of the first month of the season in the minors, has only drawn 10 walks, but his .342 average can’t be overlooked. However, Braun, who wasn’t called up until May 24, already has as many homers as Pence (11) in 112 fewer at bats. He’s a good bet to pass the Astros outfielder on this ballot by season’s end.”

Heyman names Ned Yost NL Manager of the Year saying “Who else? The Brew Crew looks talented and hungry. See ya in October.”

Verducci’s got Yost #2 behind the Padres’ Bud Black.

So if this team continues to slide and ends up out of first place in the oh-so-pathetic NL Central, I think it will be a serious disappointment. I can't imagine the fans that have gotten Brewer fever over the past few weeks will stick around to see if we can catch-up.

Brewer's fans have had a lot of build up and a lot of let down over the years. We're used to disappointment and hangovers. Your average Milwaukeean doesn't believe this is the year. They think this year is going to be like many past, where things start off looking good and the big accomplishment of the year is ending the season AT .500. I'd hate to see that happen this year. I'd hate for the Brewers to lose their newfound popularity. I'd hate for all the bandwagoners and Homers to feel vindicated.