HOW DO YOU SHAKE UP THIS OFFENSE?
 
I have been very critical of the Brewers offense, as everybody has been lately. I've received a few emails asking things along the lines of "Bryan, what would you do?"
 
Well here it is...
 
                     AVG  OBP  SLG  HR
CF Brady Clark      .273 .377 .387   5
SS Craig Counsell   .250 .346 .336   2
RF Ben Grieve       .269 .386 .409   5
1B Lyle Overbay     .335 .401 .532  11
LF Geoff Jenkins    .248 .312 .432  14
2B Keith Ginter     .247 .318 .425  11
3B Helms/Branyan    .255 .324 .324   2 (Helms' numbers only)
C  Chad Moeller     .230 .291 .338   4
P  (Pitcher)
 
 
Some comments...
 
PODSEDNIK VS. BRADY CLARK
I think it's time to pull the plug on SCOTT PODSEDNIK. It's late July and his OBP is getting lower by the day. BRADY CLARK has a stronger arm in CF, and while he doesn't cover as much ground as Pods, he doesn't take as many bad routes so I think at the very worst it's a wash defensively, but you could argue that it's an improvement. Clark's OBP is at .377 right now, and perhaps he's playing over his head right now, but I think that it's a risk the Brewers should be willing to take. He can't do much worse than an OBP of .322.
 
 
KEEPING COUNSELL BATTING SECOND
Much has been made of the struggles CRAIG COUNSELL has had hitting in the 2 spot versus when he bats eighth. It's either that...
1) Taking more pitches than he's used to when Pods gets on base (when that actually happens) messes with his approach or
2) It's just an aberration
...With that said, Clark isn't as much of a threat to run, so Counsell could be more aggressive early in the count if that's what he feels comfortable doing.
 
 
JENKINS TO 5 SPOT
I think what I'm doing with this lineup is pretty obvious. Get the guys that have decent OBPs at the top of the lineup and let the guys with a little pop in their bats drive them in. Moving GEOFF JENKINS down will take a little pressure off of him, and his terrible OBP won't hurt you as much hitting fifth as it does hitting third.
 
 
PLATOONING BRANYAN WITH HELMS
Helms AVG and OBP are not too bad compared to his numbers last year, it's just that he hasn't been hitting for power like he did last year (23 HR). Platooning them would still give WES HELMS some at-bats in the hope that maybe he can find his power-stroke, and while RUSSELL BRANYAN has a low OBP and strikesout like crazy, he can hit the longball which is what this team really needs.
 
 
WHAT TO DO WITH THE BENCH
I would still work BILL HALL in because I think he has the makings of a decent offensive minded middle-infielder. With Podsednik on the bench I would still mix him in the lineup, but probably down in the order.
 
WHEN SPIVEY COMES BACK
I would put Spivey back at second base (assuming he isn't traded) and then put Ginter at third and mix in Branyan. Depending on whether or not Helms remembers how to field and hit for power would determine how much PT he would get.
 
Well I'd like to hear what people think about this proposed Brew Crew lineup. Feel free to sound off on the message board.