What We Learned: New GM, new players, same results

Yesterday Results

Cubs 4, Brewers 0

Looking at this game, it was pretty obvious at the start that the Brewers didn't have much of a chance. They were piecing together a start from the bullpen, while the Cubs were starting their ace, Jake Arrieta. It went about as expected. Jake Arrieta pitched a shutout, allowing only three hits and striking out eleven Brewers. Tyler Cravy did ok in four innings, allowing just two runs, but took his eighth loss of the season. Only Scooter Gennett, Khris Davis, and Hernan Perez managed a single hit each, and Logan Schafer, Adam Lind, and Domingo Santana each had multiple strikeout games.

Brewers News & Notes

Hiring of David Stearns as GM

• The Brewers officially introduced David Stearns as the new GM at a press conference on Monday. Derek published some excerpts from the press conference, as well as some of his thoughts on the new GM.
• With Stearns officially hired, it signals a big change coming in the Brewers organization. Derek wrote about how the organization is set to change with the new GM in place.
• As Stearns takes over the GM role, his young age and relative inexperience with the position makes him an unknown as he starts. Mike Bates of MLB Daily Dish writes that this is a good thing for the Brewers as it signals a complete willingness to change the organization.
• Over on FanGraphs, David Laurila had the chance to interview Craig Counsell in the wake of the hiring of the new GM.
• While he may have been unsure of his role at the time of that interview, Stearns has already decided what to do with the current management. Adam McCalvy reports that Stearns will retain Counsell as the team manager and Melvin in his advisory role.
• While Counsell is sticking around, he knows that the upcoming rebuilding process will be challenging. Mike Bauman of MLB.com spoke with Counsell as well, who has the work ethic it takes to make the rebuild a success.
• Stearns is coming into a situation in Milwaukee that is better than the record from this season would suggest. J.P. Breen of BP Milwaukee looks at what Stearns will be stepping into as the new GM of the team.
• Enrique Bakemeyer of The Brewers Bar took a story from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and went through it line-by-line, posting his thoughts on the hiring of Stearns as he read through it.
• Over on MLB Trade Rumors, Jeff Todd has some additional reactions from around the web in regards to the Brewers hiring of David Stearns.
• Yesterday, the Brewers did a live webcast with a Q&A for new GM David Stearns. Cait Covers the Bases has the full video of the Q&A from yesterday.

Biloxi Callups

• The Brewers had made plans to call-up players following the end of Biloxi's season, but we weren't prepared for the number of players they decided to call up. On Tuesday morning, they officially added six Shuckers to the roster: pitchers Yhonathan Barrios, Adrian Houser, Jorge Lopez, and Tyler Wagner, as well as outfielder Michael Reed and infielder Yadiel Rivera.
• The Shuckers season came to a disappointing end as they lost in five games in the Southern League Championship Series to Chattanooga. Jeff Levering writes about the end of the Shuckers season on his Minor Details blog, as well as the call-ups and the start of the Instruction League season.
• The original plan for the call-ups was going to be much smaller, but that changed after a series of injuries over the weekend. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes about how the list of call-ups grew from two to six.
• Over on Minor League Ball, John Sickels has a profile of pitcher Jorge Lopez.
• Meanwhile, over on Miller Park Prospects, Brad Krause has profiles of infielder Yadiel Rivera and outfielder Michael Reed.
• One player that is easy to overlook in these call-ups is Michael Reed, as he doesn't look as impressive as the others. However, Derek Harvey of BP Milwaukee says that you shouldn't overlook Reed.

Other News & Notes

• Ryan Braun is heading for surgery this offseason. Adam McCalvy reports that Braun will need surgery in the offseason to correct the back issue. However, he is not being shut down and is currently day-to-day with the injury.
• Meanwhile, in other injury news, Jimmy Nelson's season is done. The decision was made to shut down Nelson for the rest of the season in the wake of the head injury. While Nelson is feeling great and could have pitched through it, the risk of a repeat injury was too great to take. McCalvy reports that Nelson is understandably disappointed, but understands why the decision was made.
• Meanwhile, Jonathan Lucroy is making progress in his recovery from a concussion. There is still a good chance he will play again this season, but Counsell has confirmed that he will not catch again this season.
• It's been tough to find reasons to be happy about the 2015 Brewers. Over on BP Milwaukee, Colin Anderle takes that challenge and gives six reasons why you should be optimistic about this team and the future.
• Over on Disciples of Uecker, Nicholas Zettel took some time recently to write about Khris Davis. First, he wrote about the interesting connection that Davis has with Scooter Gennett in games where they both play. Then, he wrote about the comparisons between Davis and former Brewer Rickie Weeks. Finally, he looked at where Davis lands in comparison to some of the other great power hitters in Brewers history.

Today's Action

Once again hoping to avoid a sweep, the Brewers face the Cubs in the finale of this three-game series. Tonight's game features Zach Davies facing off against Kyle Hendricks. First pitch is at 7:05 pm.