Will Brewers Rise From The Ashes?

You have to walk before you can run.

And, before you can reach the mountain top, you gotta struggle a few times. Have your heart broken before you achieve that lofty goal.

That sums up the Milwaukee Brewers' 2019 season. Yes, the team flamed out in somewhat spectacular fashion, with their ace reliever getting tossed around with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and an over-aggressive young outfielder misplaying a single. But Brewer fans should focus on the positives.

As outfielder Christian Yelich suggested after the game, "I think when all the dust settles and you really evaluate the year, we can be proud of a lot of things. I really think we'll be better off for a lot of those experiences."

Yelich, who ended up winning his second straight batting title with a .329 average, went to the Injured List with a fractured kneecap with a crucial three weeks left in the season. Despite losing the defending MVP (contending to repeat there as well), the Brewers went 13-5 down the stretch (and 20-7 in September). Milwaukee narrowly missed catching the division-winning St. Louis Cardinals.

There will be changes ahead for the 2020 Brewers ballclub. Both catcher Yasmani Grandal and thirdbaseman Mike Moustakas have mutual contract options and may not return to the club. Grandal could resign with Milwaukee for $16 million, but will probably hit the free agent market for a long-term (say three year) deal that would probably be north of $50 million. "Moose" could decline an $11 million deal and go free agent as well.

I see Grandal walking away from Milwaukee, but think Moustakas will stay. He likes the club. He likes the city. He likes playing with Yelich and Ryan Braun.

What moves will help the Brewers win the Central Division crown and make the playoffs for a third straight season? Resigning Moustakas, adding a good starting pitcher and getting All-Star closer Corey Knebel back healthy. Ditto Yelich. Oh, and Keston Hiura needs to improve defensively!

Granted, manager Craig Counsell (who should get strong consideration for Manager Of The Year!) will have to adjust to a 28-man down the stretch instead of the 40-man (with 20 pitchers) that he's successfully used the last two seasons to pilot Milwaukee into the post-season.

But as the Brewers celebrate their 50th season in Milwaukee next season, I kind like the team's chances of continuing to build on their success.