Milwaukee Brewers squandered opportunity in 2017

In July, the Milwaukee Brewers were 5 1/2 games ahead of the Chicago Cubs. Two months later, the Brew Crew are on the brink of elimination. Why?

‘Win or Go Home’ — It’s a phrase often heard during the postseason of any major professional sport.

Very rarely, however, is the cliché used during Major League Baseball’s regular season.

Today, the Milwaukee Brewers find themselves in this very position. Though, if Monday starts Milwaukee’s off-season, then their 2017 campaign can be labeled nothing more than a missed opportunity.

In the second half, the Brewers have been a barrel rolling downhill. Craig Counsell’s squad has floundered after averaging nearly five runs per game and holding a 5 1/2 game lead over the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs at the All-Star break.

What happened?

Their bats went cold and the losses soon came against unexpected teams.

Since July 14, Milwaukee has plated 269 runs in 69 games, good enough for 29th in MLB. Their power, which ranked second in the first half, has withered — so much so, the team is one of seven to hit 83 home runs or less in the final two and a half months.

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Although the pitching staff has only improved, a lack of offense resulted in a lack of victories in “Cream City.” Yet, it was not for a lack of favorable matchups.

More than half of the Brewers’ contests (36), since the All-Star break, have been against opponents with sub-.500 records. It was in these games that their division lead deteriorated and the happy nights at Miller Park became less frequent.

From six consecutive losses versus Pennsylvanian teams to getting swept by Cincinnati in September, Milwaukee fell to inferior team after inferior team, finishing 18-18 in such games. As the cherry on top, 20 of their 34 second-half defeats transpired with the team scoring two runs or less, a testament to their lack of production inside the batters’ box.

So, as the Brewers walk into Busch Stadium this morning, they are, truly, “just a bit outside” of the final Wild Card spot.

To force a 163rd game, Milwaukee must win their final two contests and the Colorado Rockies, who host the Los Angeles Dodgers, must lose their last two. Therefore, with the odds of postseason baseball slim, one cannot help but wonder what could have been.

The NL Central appeared to be for the taking. Chicago started slow and failed to show vitality until July. St. Louis optioned multiple Opening Day starters by June. And, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh failed to stay relevant.

But times changed, losses piled high and Milwaukee gave away what could have been their second NL Central crown in franchise history.

How about next year?

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While Milwaukee is heading in the right direction, the Cubs can simply keep their current core together by re-signing Jake Arrieta and Wade Davis.

Thus, as the respective futures of Travis Shaw, Orlando Arcia and Keon Broxton remain fluorescent, the probability of Chicago playing as poorly through the first three months of next season is slim to none.

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