Milwaukee Brewers Microbrew

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Brewers salvage ugly west-coast road trip and wait, Brice Turang isn't an all-star? Plus a chat with Trevor Megill (07.08.2024) Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe look back at a shaky west-coast trip to Colorado and Los Angeles, which nonetheless ended with a salvageable 3-4 record. But how was Brice Turang not elected to the National League all-star team? The guys have thoughts on player balloting and the recent hiccups by a tired bullpen, plus the full-fledged resurgence of all-star starter Christian Yelich and the work by new pitchers Aaron Civale and Dallas Keuchel.
In Three Up, Three Down, it's yet ANOTHER grand slam, a controversial bunt play, a 55-pitch inning and Bryan Hudson's recent struggles. Remembrew When looks back at another unflattering chapter Brewers-Dodgers history, and Curt's Take of the Week is back talking about a Dodger Stadium staple.
Then, JR sits down with relief pitcher Trevor Megill, enjoying a breakout season at the back end of the Brewers rotation. They discuss the role water polo and rowing played in his life story, his scary injuries this year and how he arrived at a comfortable place in his career.
Musical cues (in order of use): "Strobes" by Epocha, "Ricketts Glenn" by Roy Williams and "Rock is Back" by Got Happy. Royalty-free music available at EpidemicSound.com.

The Grand Slam Gang enjoys a thrilling week of baseball, plus a conversation with Tyler Black (07.01.2024) Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

The Milwaukee Brewers finish a highlight-heavy homestand at 5-1, sweeping the reigning World Series champion Rangers and taking 2 of 3 from the Cubs. An unprecedented grand-slam binge has the Brewers playing an exciting brand of baseball. Host JR Radcliffe and Journal Sentinel Brewers reporter Todd Rosiak look back at the successful run, including more great stuff from Jackson Chourio, a truly elite first half of the season from Brice Turang, the long-awaited return of Garrett Mitchell, the surprising arrival of Dallas Keuchel and an injury to Jared Koenig.
Three Up Three Down looks at some sobering moments from the week, including the loss of former public address announcer Robb Edwards and a terrifying escalator malfunction at American Family Field. Could the Brewers have two all-star starters for the first time in a decade? Remembrew When goes back in time to 1980, when an inside-the-park home run and grand slam happened at the same time.
Then, JR sits down with Tyler Black, a rookie infielder with a bright future. Though he was optioned back to Class AAA Nashville at the end of the week, Black has been with the Brewers for multiple stints this year, and he discussed giving up hockey, Canadian baseball, his first memories of Milwaukee playing for Wright State at Hank Aaron Field, the automatic strike zone and his defense.
Musical cues (in order of use): "Strobes" by Epocha, "Ricketts Glenn" by Roy Williams and "Rock is Back" by Got Happy. Royalty-free music available at EpidemicSound.com.

How can the Brewers address a struggling pitching staff and the struggles of William Contreras, plus author Lee Kluck on the legacy of Harry Dalton (06.24.2024) Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

A 3-4 West Coast road trip doesn't sound too bad, but the Brewers pitching staff continues to take on water; just what solutions can the Brewers muster to stay afloat through the final three-plus months? Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss the surging Tobias Myers, the return of Freddy Peralta but the question marks elsewhere on the staff, including in the bullpen. William Contreras has been struggling for a month, leading JR to invoke a comparison to the dreaded 2014 season. Sal Frelick saved the day with an unforgettable catch, but is he the leading candidate to go down to Nashville if and when Garrett Mitchell returns? What's the deal with one highly regarded modern statistic regarding the home-run saving leap as ... routine?
Plus, discussion on Jackson Chourio's sprint speed and continued improvement, a Brice Turang grand slam and Remembrew When goes back in time to a legendary moment in Milwaukee from the late Willie Mays. Curt Blanche then questions if the Brewers are limiting how much they can get out of one of their best players.
Then, JR is joined by Lee Kluck (1:05:00), who wrote the new book "Leave While the Party’s Good: The Life and Legacy of Baseball Executive Harry Dalton." Dalton, a former Brewers general manager, led the franchise to its first brush with greatness, including the 1982 World Series. What made him a compelling topic and what did the Stevens Point native learn in writing the book?
Musical cues (in order of use): "Strobes" by Epocha, "Ricketts Glenn" by Roy Williams and "Rock is Back" by Got Happy. Royalty-free music available at EpidemicSound.com.

Blake Perkins redemption, Freddy Peralta struggling, and Snoop Dogg in the house (06.17.2024) Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

Snoop Dogg! Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe spent quite a bit of time talking about the rap legend in the house Saturday, but they did find some time to talk about a 4-2 week of Brewers baseball, chock full of exciting endings. That included Sunday, when Blake Perkins' throw home helped atone for a big-time miscue earlier in the series. Plus: Freddy Peralta is struggling, and so is Sal Frelick. Does the former mean the team is more likely to trade for a starter, and is the latter a pre-cursor to a trip back to Nashville? Jackson Chourio is heating up, and Three Up/Three Down starts with "generational player" Joey Ortiz.
Remembrew When looks back at a wild moment in Brewers history that included Bill Schroeder, the longtime announcer who was celebrated Friday for his 30th year on the mic.
Then, JR sits down with Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen, an Appleton West native reaching an interesting juncture in his career as free agency looms. They talk Rowdy Tellez hosting his wedding, his Bears fandom and his close connections to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers franchise.
Musical cues (in order of use): "Strobes" by Epocha, "Ricketts Glenn" by Roy Williams and "Rock is Back" by Got Happy. Royalty-free music available at EpidemicSound.com.

Injuries have pitching staff in more flux, and what to make of Jackson Chourio, plus a conversation with Reds reporter Gordon Wittenmyer (06.10.2024) Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

An injury to Robert Gasser has further thrown the Brewers starting rotation in flux, with another top prospect in line to make a start Tuesday as the Brewers return home. All things considered, a 2-4 week isn't terrible considering the Brewers faced two and maybe three Cy Young contenders. Brewers reporter Todd Rosiak and host JR Radcliffe recap the six games and again find themselves wondering how the team is supposed to hold the pitching staff together, though Aaron Ashby and Tobias Myers delivered some encouraging performances. The offense has another double-digit scoring performance, but there are a couple red flags: The homers have vanished, and William Contreras is slumping.
Rhys Hoskins' return to Philadelphia is among the topics in Three Up, Three Down, and after a huge Myers start, Steve Woodard's gem is the topic in Remembrew When.
Then, JR chats with Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Gordon Wittenmyer, who follows the Reds but also previously covered the Cubs and knows both teams intimately. The Reds just snuck past the Cubs in the standings; are they suddenly the team to beat? What's his take on how Chicago is reacting to the early struggles of the Cubs under Craig Counsell?
Musical cues (in order of use): "Strobes" by Epocha, "Ricketts Glenn" by Roy Williams and "Rock is Back" by Got Happy. Royalty-free music available at EpidemicSound.com.

Brewers have a massive week against Chicago, including Craig Counsell, plus a conversation with Colin Rea (06.03.2024) Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

What a wild week of baseball in Milwaukee, with both Chicago teams coming to American Family Field and leaving with only one win. The Brewers went 6-1 and in the process got one over on former manager Craig Counsell, and not without some voiced displeasure from the home fans. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss the many twists and turns of the week, including the heroics of Blake Perkins, Gary Sánchez and Willy Adames, the 23-hit game against the White Sox and another dust-up Sunday.
Remembrew When looks back at a 31-hit onslaught against Toronto in 1992 and Curt Blanche takes issue with one particular stat measurement.
Then, JR is joined by Brewers pitcher Colin Rea, who discusses his connection to a country musician with the same-sounding name, the unusual circumstances that brought him to Japan (and back again) and the evolution of his fastball arsenal.
Musical cues (in order of use): "Strobes" by Epocha, "Ricketts Glenn" by Roy Williams and "Rock is Back" by Got Happy. Royalty-free music available at EpidemicSound.com.

BONUS minor-league extravaganza on Brewers top prospects and players still to know for 2024, plus Nashville Sounds announcer Jeff Hem May 31, 2024

Show notes

Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and host JR Radcliffe have a nice weekend bonus episode for you looking entirely at the Brewers minor league system (we know the Brewers took three of four from the Cubs; we're saving that for the normal Monday episode). They're joined by Spencer Michaelis of Brewers Fanatic to discuss all things minor leagues, from the top-tier prospects (Jacob Misiorowski, Brock Wilken, Cooper Pratt) to the litany of pitching standouts (Carlos Rodriguez, Brett Wichrowski, Logan Henderson) to players who might still help this year (Bradley Blalock, Craig Yoho?).
Then, JR is joined by Nashville Sounds play-by-play announcer Jeff Hem (43:00) for more prospect talk, but also about the way the Sounds interact with the Nashville community, the relationship with the Brewers and the umpire ball/strike challenge system in the minors. Did you realize there are two versions of the system, and most players strongly prefer one to the other? What has Jeff seen from Aaron Ashby?

Here comes Craig Counsell, plus discourse on William Contreras as MVP and Josh Hader (05.27.2024) May 27, 2024

Show notes

The Brewers split six games in Miami and Boston, but the attention quickly turns to what's ahead, with the Chicago Cubs and Craig Counsell coming to Milwaukee for a four-game set. How has Pat Murphy proven to be different than Counsell (in ways that even manifested this week). Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss. William Contreras continues to look like an MVP; how serious is that candidacy? Plus: Some interesting comments from Josh Hader illustrating what many suspected about his time in Milwaukee, and Joe Ross heads to the injured list.
In Three Up, Three Down, we've got popcorn flying, a fight in Boston and Jared Koenig's back-to-back starts. Remembrew When riffs on Christian Yelich's steal of home and a look back at a sensational 2003 rookie season. And Curt Blanche explores a stupid MLB rule that cost the Brewers early in the week.
Musical cues (in order of use): "Strobes" by Epocha, "Ricketts Glenn" by Roy Williams and "Rock is Back" by Got Happy. Royalty-free music available at EpidemicSound.com.

William Contreras continues an epic season, but we're still worried about the starting pitchers, plus an interview with Robert Gasser and Jared Koenig (05.20.2024) May 20, 2024

Show notes

William Contreras continues to look like an MVP candidate, with his 13th pitch-homer off future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander the latest example. Brewers reporter Todd Rosiak and host JR Radcliffe discuss the unreal season from the Brewers backstop and revisit a trade that seems destined to live forever.
In general, the power was there for the Brewers this week, but the patchwork starting rotation is barely getting by. Will that come back to haunt Milwaukee, or can the team remain on its first-place path thanks to its cadre of effective relievers? Plus: Joey Ortiz steps up, Rhys Hoskins in lost with injury and Remembrew When looks back at another 13-pitch blast.
Then, JR is joined by rookie starter Robert Gasser (48:45), who now has two strong outings on his MLB resume. After that, JR chats with Jared Koenig (55:30), a reliever whose winding path to the big leagues took him to five different independent leagues, including one in New Zealand.
Musical cues (in order of use): "Strobes" by Epocha, "Ricketts Glenn" by Roy Williams and "Rock is Back" by Got Happy. Royalty-free music available at EpidemicSound.com.

Robert Gasser's electric debut, two big bombs and Christian Yelich's return, plus an interview with Joey Ortiz (05.13.2024) May 13, 2024

Show notes

Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe revisit a 4-3 week for the Brewers, one with a number of highlights, including an excellent debut start from pitcher Robert Gasser on Friday. Plus, Rhys Hoskins and Willy Adames deliver big-time home runs, Christian Yelich is back and mashing yet again, and the St. Louis Cardinals look ... bad. What's up with Jackson Chourio (and Joey Ortiz) getting held out of the starting lineup. Remembrew When looks back at the Happy Youngster and Curt's Take of the Week is tackling a Sunday send.
Then, JR is joined by Joey Ortiz, who discusses the circumstances that brought him to Milwaukee and the origin of his Packers fandom.
Musical cues (in order of use): "Strobes" by Epocha, "Ricketts Glenn" by Roy Williams and "Rock is Back" by Got Happy. Royalty-free music available at EpidemicSound.com.

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