Box Score
Today's game (and yesterday's for that matter) was in line with my concerns for the season. Spotty starting pitching, unbalanced offense, and unreliable relief pitching once again doomed the Brewers as they dropped the opening series to the Rockies.
Wily Peralta extended the Brewers' streak of starters going less than six inning by surrendering 4 runs and 9 base runners in 5.1 innings. There is also the issue that such starts cause game to drag on. In this case the fans that endured the full 3:31 game were treated to another John Axford dumpster fire, which brings me to the most acute issue facing the Brewers.
Axford cannot be trusted in the closers role. This is what happens when you give up a 3 homers in 1.2 innings pitched, but it goes deeper than that. Batters are simply sitting on his fastball or in the case of Dexter Fowler tonight, his hanging curveball. He has neither the location or movement on his fastball to survive without a reliable second pitch, which he does not have at the moment. His raw stuff is good enough to warrant a spot on the roster, just not closing games.
Looking ahead, a strong start from Kyle Lohse on Friday will go a long way towards instilling some early season hope in the prospects of the team. Sadly I'll have to wait through an agonizing off day to see what's he has in store for 2013.
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