FanPost

Your Three Keys to a successful Season?



Please, feel free to skip straight to the comment section. This is really about creating a space for you to list your three keys to a successful season.

For me, I first have to define success. In 2022, a successful season includes winning the division and making it into the second round of the playoffs. The central division is about as week as we have ever seen it. The Pirates are in a never ending "rebuild", the Cubs are in an actual rebuild, the Reds just want to make money and the Cardinals are to busy honoring their former all stars to fully invest in their team's potential. Success for the Brewers means not only winning the division; but also winning enough games to bypass the first round. Or if they can't just bypass the first round, they should at least have the pitching available and lined up well to win that first series.

What are three keys to making this happen:

1. The left side of the infield is for real. A full season of Urias and Adames continuing to play good defense and provide good results at the plate will be a key for the Brewers. For Urias this is the next step in his development. Last year was his first ever with over 250 plate appearances. His OPS was up .150 over any other year in his career. Was it a one year thing, or is he for real? Adames has a bit more of a successful history; but was mired in a terrible slump prior to being traded last year. If these two are for real, this is at least a deep line up, even if it doesn't necessarily have the dominant middle of the order guy.

2. One of the big three doesn't have his arm fall off. There will be some injuries to Woodruff, Burnes and Peralta throughout the season. What the Brewers have to hope for (and protect against) is having one of these pitchers lose most of the season because of injury. When a club loses an ace, it isn't filling that rotation spot with their next best pitcher; but with their sixth or seventh best pitcher. There is a significant difference between #1 starter and #6 pitcher on this staff or #7 if there is another short term injury. Lets hope that that Ashby isn't pitching in place of one of the big three for 20 starts this season. That will cost the Brewers 5 - 7 games and very likely the division.

3. Someone steps up. Ideally, it is Hiura. Someone isn't going to perform or someone is going to get injured. With the DH, the Brewers can replace that offensive punch if they have a productive ninth hitter, no matter what the position they play. Someone originally slated for 200 plate appearances is going to get over to 500. If it is Hiura, then it provides for a deeper outfield rotation to rotate in the outfield. The older players will then last the whole season out there. It also provides an option at first if Tellez doesn't pan out. A thriving Hiura gives the line up more punch and depth.

Those are my three keys to a successful season. What do you think? What are yours? What has to break right for the Brewers to continue last years success?