Fear the Beer? How the Unintended Result of a Trade Created a Contender In Milwaukee
(AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
October 28, 2018, the Milwaukee Brewers suffered a heartbreaking loss in game seven of the NLCS to the Los Angeles Dodgers. A disappointing ending to a true Cinderella run. At the time, Brewers fans were just happy to see their team in the playoffs. The thought that they were one game away from the World Series after almost two decades of sub-par baseball was almost unbelievable. Now in 2021, expectations are higher than they have ever been. Is this the year the “Brew Crew” could win it all? The simple answer; yes, but it didn’t appear that way early in the season. It was the unintended consequence of an early season trade that turned them from mediocre to great. Management made a decision to trade fan favorite shortstop Orlando Arcia to make way for the young, up-and-coming Luis Urias. As time progressed, it became clear that Urias was not the answer at short. The Brewers had dropped to 3rd place in the NL Central. Urias was not only struggling at the plate, but his struggles throwing the ball to first base made fans, team mates, and coaches hold their breath on every ground ball. In years past, Milwaukee may have been content to let the mediocrity continue. However, the current general manager, David Sterns, has made it clear that his goal is nothing short of a World Series. Sterns acted swiftly and made a big trade to acquire shortstop Willy Adames from the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays. The rest is history. Since the trade happened on May 22nd, known locally as “Willy Adames Day”, the Brewers offense exploded. While Adames’ leadership and impact on the team can not be fully quantified, the team went from the lowest batting average in the NL, to the second highest batting average since the break. The team went from 3rd place in the Central, to 1st place with a chance to clinch the division this week. In addition, even Urias, who was replaced by Adames, caught fire at 3rd base and currently has 21 home runs with two weeks to go in the regular season. The offense was the last piece of the puzzle needed to create a real contender. Since Adames’ arrival, the whole team has been hitting the cover off the ball. With a pitching staff led by Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, and Brandon Woodruff, each having record seasons, an MLB leading road record of 49-26, plus a winning record against both the Giants, and the Dodgers this season. Try not to be surprised if the “Crew” is the last team standing in October.