Each Sunday evening we will review our favorite and least favorite events of the previous week, and share our perspective on how the team is doing. Please enjoy responsibly.
Cheers! (Something good that happened)
We Finally Get to See Orlando Arcia: We’ve been hearing about Arcia for some time, but other than a few glimpses at Spring Training we weren’t quite sure what to expect. Not only is Arcia the Brewers’ No. 1 prospect, he’s also a product of the Brewers’ Dominican Republic academy. He’s been in the Brewers organization since he was 16 years old. He’s a homegrown player with a ton of upside. With expectations raised this much, it might be hard for Arcia not to disappoint.
Arcia was hitless in his first two games in San Diego, which wasn’t anything to get worked up about, but three games and surely there would have been some pressing. Not by Arcia, but by the fans. On Friday in Arizona, he got his first hit and RBI out of the way so we could all breathe a sigh of relief and not sit through another Keon Broxton slow start. Hilariously, his first hit also turned into an error when the kind-hearted Jean Segura threw the ball into the Brewers dugout without calling time.
[mlbvideo id=”1016555583″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]Truly, no good deed goes unpunished.
Arcia was on base four times in yesterday’s game and reached safely twice again today. Not a bad first week, all things considered.
Buzzkill (Something forgettable that happened)
Pretty Sure We’re Not Going to See Domingo Santana: He’s not coming back, is he? A couple weeks ago, Santana’s first rehab assignment was put on ice due to a “big setback.” He’s just about ready to begin another rehab assignment, but it doesn’t sound promising:
Santana has spent most of the past 2 1/2 months on the disabled list, first with a shoulder injury and more recently the elbow. The ailments have spoiled what was supposed to be his first full season as a Major League starter.
“We were doing a couple of exercises that were really bothering it,” Santana said. “We got together and talked and eased down on the exercises to see if it doesn’t get as tight. It’s been a lot better and a lot looser, so we’re going to try it again.
“Overall, I just want to come out here and try to make myself an everyday player and help the team win. That hasn’t happened this year, but who knows.”
That doesn’t sound like a guy who is coming back this year. But who knows.
Here’s to You (Standout player(s) or play(s) of the week)
Ryan Braun’s Unrecognized All-Star Season Continues: Braun is having a really good season, and yet it doesn’t feel particularly remarkable. Jonathan Lucroy captivated our attention leading up to the trade deadline, and he was the Brewers’ only representative at the All-Star game. Braun’s days as an All-Star may be behind him, and his contract situation made a trade unlikely. Now Lucroy is gone, and Braun is the Brewers’ remaining veteran star. We can now take some time to appreciate that Braun is putting together a fine 2016 campaign.
The RBIs are down, to be sure, but starting play today Braun had the fifth best batting average in the league, which isn’t too shabby. He’s coming off an excellent week – after missing a few games with an injury – going 6-for-15 with 10 RBI before today. On Saturday, not only did he match the club record of 7 RBI in one game, he hit a phat homer off Evan Marshall – the same pitcher who intentionally hit Braun two years ago, much to the appreciation of his teammates and fans. He hit another one for good measure.
[mlbvideo id=”1020753983″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]Back on the Wagon (Thoughts on the week ahead)
We’re back home with series against two lousy teams this week! The Brewers are actually five games over .500 at Miller Park, so add in some last place teams and this could be the best week since two weeks ago. First, it’s four games against the Braves, a team that’s 30 games under .500 as of this writing. What else is there to say about the Braves? The Brewers just need to go out and take care of business against these suckers. Then it’s a visit from the Jay Bruce-less Cincinnati Reds. Bruce has a .904 career OPS against Milwaukee, so goodbye and good luck to him. I see a winning week in the Brewers future!
(Image: Rick Scuteri/Associated Press)
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