The “middle relief” has a combined 14 loses up to this point in 2011.  That is just too many times and I understand that you might have a game where you are only in front by one run, but the “hold” is even more important then.  Right now, Kameron Loe is the one name that creates a special silence over the crowd when he is called in.  He has a 2-6 record and of the 32 innings pitched,  he has given up 19 ER, 4 HR’s, walked 10 and hit 2 batters.  He does have 27 strikeouts which is nice, but that one stat doesn’t really silence the groans.

I am not going to go off and compare Loe to Suppan, but that ERA of 5.23 has got to start coming down.  At least for right now, I am not sure why Loe is the go to 6th/7th inning guy?  Hawkins has pitched well, why not give him a couple more innings per week?  Mitre and Estrade have also held their own when the team needed them, when compared to Loe anyways.

What do you think about the Brewers activity after the starting pitching takes a seat?

You can find John Axford on Twitter and Facebook.  You can also find fans of John Axford’s Mustache on Facebook as well.  John Axford seems like a colorful character, if his many looks have anything to do with it.

This year will be Axfords third season, after only 7 games in 2009 and 50 in 2010, we should be able to get a great look at what Axford can do when given the time of an entire season.  With 76 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched and saving 24 games in 2010, let’s hope that Axford can keep up on the pace for 2011.

So, if you use Twitter, or Facebook and want to connect with John Axford the links are listed below.

John Axford on Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/johnaxford
John Axford on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/JohnAxford
John Axford’s Mustache on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Axfords-Mustache/107687845944531

Trevor got his first save back in 1993 and even he knows that he is lucky to get this far in his career.  Coming in the last month of the 2010 regular baseball season, his 600th save comes 18 seasons after he got his first save in Florida.

Trevor had a rough start to his 2010 season giving up almost every save chance that he was given.  Many fans will remember all those home runs given up in the 9th inning to bring a loss to a well played game for the Brewers.  I remember a Tuesday night against the Pirates where Trevor gave up a home run in the 9th and then a grand slam only a couple of batters later.

But nonetheless, Trevor has fought back over the last 3 months to get his “closer” roll back from newcomer, John Axford.  To see him start out so badly and earn his way back onto the field after many months of sitting on a bench in the bullpen, it sure is easy to say that he earned every single bit of that 600th save!

Axford got his second save the other day, barely making it out of the bottom of the ninth only giving up ONE run.  In 6 innings pitched he has 10 strikeouts.  Having more than 2 pitches is adding up for these guys. 

Zach Braddock is on the same page.  At only 22 years old, Zach is pretty young and it would be nice to see him on the mound a bit more this year.  He made his first appearance the other day and got through 2 innings only giving up one hit and striking out 2.  Hopefully doesn’t get all Bush-like on his next appearance.

With these two guys in the mix, maybe only playing an inning at a time, the Brewers will at least get a look at what they have in store for the future.  BUT, I hope to see one, or both, of these guys in for 4-5 innings sometime to check out their stamina.

Let’s face it, the Brewers need a guy that can hit 6-7 innings each time his is on the mound, period.

Don’t forget to check out the Unofficial Zach Braddock Fan Page and our Facebook Page if you have some free time!