Braun, Fielder carrying offense

Despite the Brewers' well-documented offensive struggles this season, there has been one bright spot.
OK, make that two bright spots.

Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder have been downright nasty to opposing pitchers this season, combining for a combined .312 batting average with 35 home runs and 126 RBI. In addition, they've scored 99 runs and walked 88 times.

If only they had some help.

Considering the lack of consistent production from the rest of the lineup for most of the year, it's almost hard to believe that the Brewers are tied for first place in the National League Central Division. Before he was lost for the year with a wrist injury, Rickie Weeks was putting up nice numbers (.272, 9 HR, 24 RBI) but after that, it hasn't been pretty.

Corey Hart has been up and down all season and Mike Cameron started off hot, but has come back to earth in recent weeks while fighting through through some extended slumps.

There have been some minor signs of life though lately. Craig Counsell was effective off the bench as a pinch-hitter and as an occasional starter and Casey McGehee has come on strong of late, batting .336 with four homers and 17 RBI.

And now J.J. Hardy, snakebitten as much as anything else this year, is starting to finally see a little bit of success. He's still batting just .220 on the year, but is hitting .286 in his last 11 games after going hitless in four trips Sunday.

Many times, manager Ken Macha noted Hardy was smacking balls right at infielders or outfielders, just a couple of inches between posting numbers more like he did last year, when he was named to the National League All-Star team.

His current hot streak came after he snapped a bitter 0-for-30 run with a base hit in Cleveland on June 15 and is starting to feel some confidence and produce some much-needed offense.

Still, if the Brewers hope to start making some hay in the division, and chase their second consecutive postseason appearance, they're going to need to find was to start providing some support for the big guns batting third and fourth in the lineup.



(onmilwaukee.com)