Brewers need help from outfield
Garcia only starter to produce offensively
When the Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent Jackie Bradley Jr. in the early days of spring training, the first question everyone asked was: How is the team going to find playing time for four “starting” outfielders?
With Christian Yelich in left field, Lorenzo Cain in center and Avisaíl García in right, the Brewers did seem to be well set in the outfield. But the club's decision-makers decided they couldn't pass on the chance to sign Bradley Jr., a Gold Glove centerfielder who manned that position capably for seven-plus seasons in Boston.
In terms of financial commitments, the Brewers certainly expected banner production from those four outfielders. On an opening day payroll of more than $92 million, that quartet featured the highest average salaries for 2021: $17 million for Cain ($1 million deferred); $14 million for Yelich; $13 million for Bradley, of which only $6.5 million is being paid this year, with $3 million of that deferred; and $10.5 million for García.
At the all-star break, only García had come close to performing to expectations. Injuries were mitigating factors for Cain, who played in only 31 of the team's 92 games, as well as Yelich, who played in 59 games. Bradley Jr.'s playing time proved to be much more than originally expected because of Cain's absence but he was unable to take advantage, suffering through the worst first half of his career.
A look at where the Brewers ranked offensively among the 30 clubs at the three outfield positions at the break gave a clear picture of how lacking it was in left field and center field:
Left field: .213 batting average (26th in the majors); .330 on-base percentage (9th); .362 slugging percentage (26th); .692 OPS (16th); 11 home runs (14th); 40 RBI (18th).
Center field: .206 batting average (28th); .294 on-base percentage (22nd); .346 slugging percentage (25th); .640 OPS (27th); 11 home runs (13th); 29 RBI (25th).
Right field: .232 batting average (20th); .303 on-base percentage (23rd); .417 slugging percentage (18th); .720 OPS (18th); 16 home runs (9th); 67 RBI (1st).
The high rankings in RBI and home runs in right field were reflective of mostly solid production from García, who hit the break with 16 homers and 55 RBI in 81 games, then added another blast Friday night in an 11-5 victory in Cincinnati. The No. 9 ranking in OBP in left field was indicative of the one area in which Yelich excelled; he had a .399 OBP thanks to 47 walks, not his .241 batting average.
With Cain spending two stints on the injured list, including a hamstring strain that has sidelined him since June 1 -- he currently is on rehab assignment at Class AAA Nashville and should return soon -- Bradley Jr. has been a regular in center field. That did not get him going at the plate, however. His .167 batting average at the break was the lowest in the majors among qualified hitters and
Jackie Bradley Jr. has struggled at the plate this year. His .167 batting average was the lowest in the majors among qualified hitters.
his .532 OPS was second lowest.
In 298 plate appearances, Bradley Jr. struck out 90 times (30.2% whiff rate) and drove in only 24 runs, tied for fourth lowest among qualified hitters. He constantly grounded out into infield shifts (51% groundball rate) when he did hit the ball, resulting in a .222 batting average on balls in play, by far the lowest of his career.
Bradley Jr. had his ups and downs at the plate during his years in Boston but never struggled for an extended period like this. And he was coming off a strong offensive showing during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when he compiled a .814 OPS over 55 games with seven homers and 22 RBI.
Asked before the all-star break if the four days off might help him reset, Bradley Jr. said, “I don’t necessarily need a breather. There have been moments (of positive signs) but there’s always going to be moments. I want moments to happen more often.
“I’m always confident, no matter the struggles that I go through each and every single day. As long as I have a breath in my body, believe me, confidence is not lacking.”
Well said but it stands to reason that both Yelich and Bradley Jr., suffered a bit in the confidence department during the first half. No matter how successful a player or pitcher has been in the past, long droughts take a mental toll. These guys are human beings, not robots.
Despite the overall lack of production in left and center, the Brewers hit the break in first place in the NL Central, four games ahead of Cincinnati. The Reds won the final three games of a four-game series in Milwaukee before the break but the Brewers countered with their comeback victory Friday night at Great American Ball Park to go back on top by five games as the teams resumed their rivalry.
Thanks to big first halves from allstar outfielders Jesse Winker and Nick Castellanos, the Reds were among the most productive major-league clubs in left field and right field, respectively, during the first half. They ranked first in left field with a .968 OPS and second in right with a .946 OPS.
That production from the corner outfield spots allowed Cincy to cover a notso-great showing in center (.644 OPS, 24th in the majors). But Tyler Naquin has taken over a majority of the playing time there, especially against righthanded pitchers, and has been fairly productive (.750 OPS, 13 HRs, 49 RBI in 281 plate appearances).
The Brewers will be looking for improved offense in the second half to back a strong pitching staff that has carried them. The corner infield spots have been problematic as well but Luis Urías stabilized third base with his recent offensive production.
If Yelich gets it figured out at the plate and a healthy Cain returns soon to provide a spark, left field and center field will turn from trouble spots to assets, as has been the case more often than not since Jan. 25, 2018, the day they were both acquired. It’s always easier when answers come internally, no matter what does or doesn’t happen on the trade market.