Many strikeouts, lack of timely hits for Brewers

With football season just around the corner, it is time for us fans to start practicing our criticism of the coaching staffs. Since the Brewers have not been playing great ball lately, we can start with them.

In a recent game, Brewers manager Craig Counsell refused to call consecutive bunts in the ninth inning of a close game. Manny Pina, who is not a speed merchant, hit into a double play on the first pitch instead of bunting which might have moved the runners to second and third. This wiped out a rally leaving the go ahead run at third with two outs instead of having runners on second and third with one out.

Counsell then compounded matters by pulling starter Jimmy Nelson and letting Jacob Barnes pitch the ninth, which resulted in a walk-off home run. Why can’t a pitcher who seems to be in control be allowed to finish with a complete game even though his pitch count may be high?

I am sure a lot of pitchers would object to being pulled in that situation, but I guess analytics rule these days by forcing a manager to comply with the “numbers.”

Speaking of numbers how many times have the Brewers stuck out, especially with runners in scoring position? The team is near the top of the NL in strikeouts, and their average for getting hits with runners in scoring position is near the bottom.

They can’t get a bat on the ball. What are hitting coach Darnell Coles and his assistant Jason Lane doing to rectify this? Most of the players’ batting averages are on the decline with the exception of Orlando Arcia’s.

Maybe the Brewers need to change their approach to hitting with more contact and less going for the fences. It also could be that they’re just not that good and are still a year or two away from contention. Phil Vitrano Lake Geneva