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High-Powered Brewers Offense Showcasing Strength And Speed

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The Milwaukee Brewers’ high-powered offensive attack has consistently showcased its strength and speed throughout the first 43 games. Working through a recent grueling stretch of 26 games in 27 days, the team has continued to produce. The National League Central division leaders have made a statement early on, generating an elite-level 55 home runs and 55 stolen bases, becoming one of only two teams in Major League Baseball to achieve the 50/50 mark so far in both categories.

High-Powered Brewers Offense Showcases Balance

Revitalized Hitting Attack Setting The Tone

Twelve different players have hit home runs for Milwaukee. That depth has had a strong impact on the Brewers, who are currently 26-17 overall and riding the momentum of back-to-back division series victories over the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Rhys Hoskins (9), Willy Adames (7), William Contreras (6), Gary Sánchez (6), Jackson Chourio (5), Christian Yelich (5), Jake Bauers (4), Joey Ortiz (4), Blake Perkins (4), Sal Frelick (2), Brice Turang (2) and Oliver Dunn (1), have homered this season. The Brewers are second in the NL in both team batting average (.259) and homers (55). The team hit a season-high five homers in a 10-2 home-field victory over Pittsburgh at American Family Field on Wednesday. Hoskins, currently on the injured list, star catcher Contreras, and Turang, who is currently coming into his own,  have each been early standouts in the lineup.

Adames emphasized that the team remains motivated to prove itself as an offensive powerhouse in the league. “Last year it felt like collectively it wasn’t the best year for us as an offense,” said Adames, in a spring training interview with Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal. “That’s what’s driving us to get better, what’s motivating us to set the bar a little higher because we know we need it this year. We’re capable of doing a lot of damage. We have a lot of power in the lineup, a lot of great hitters. We have a lot of fast guys, too, this year. It’s going to be really interesting to see how we develop during the year and how we become consistent.”

The blue-collar Brewers are the top-hitting team on the road in the NL. That bodes well for the team’s upcoming series versus the Houston Astros.

Speed On Base Paths Proving Valuable

Milwaukee is third in the NL in stolen bases, which has proven to be invaluable to the team’s progression and success. Fourteen players have stolen one base or more this season for the fleet-footed Brewers. The long list includes team leaders Turang (16), Adames (7), Chourio (6), Frelick (5) and Bauers (4). Contreras (3), Perkins (3), Yelich (3), Dunn (2), Tyler Black (2), Hoskins (1), Ortiz (1), Andruw Monasterio (1), and Joey Wiemer (1) have also contributed.

Brewers first-year manager Pat Murphy was quick to point out that his young team needs to be resourceful and relentless on the base paths. “We have to beat people in different ways,” said Murphy, in a spring training interview. “We can’t just beat them one way. It’s not a year that we’re going to be able to not score runs. We have to score runs. We know that with the inexperience we have with our pitching staff, inexperience all around, we’re going to have to try to scrape and claw and beat people in different ways.”

The Brewers’ high-powered offense looks to maintain its memorable, explosive start to the season. With the right balance of strength and speed, the team will continue to gain respectability. Only time will tell if the high-octane effort can sustain it.

 

Photo Credit: © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

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