Milwaukee Brewers Microbrew

Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe look at the roster spots still up for grabs as the Brewers get nearer to the start of the 2023 season. Curt gives injury updates on Garrett Mitchell and Tyrone Taylor, relays his experience watching a raucous USA-Mexico tilt in the World Baseball Classic (featuring multiple Brewers) and discusses Corbin Burnes' frustrations with one particular nuance of the new pitch clock rules. Which minor leaguers besides Jackson Chourio have caught Curt's...

It's a unique episode this week with host JR Radcliffe joined by two special guests. Maury Brown of Forbes (4:00) looks at the regional sports network fiasco, with the company that runs Brewers broadcasts on Bally Sports Wisconsin headed toward bankruptcy. What will that mean for the average fan's viewing experience, and how alarmed should fans be about the Brewers being at a financial disadvantage as a result? Then, Jonathan Judge of Baseball Prospectus (18:30) joins to the show to look...

Brewers reporter Todd Rosiak and host JR Radcliffe discuss the early wave of action in Phoenix, where Garrett Mitchell stole the show early. With Tyrone Taylor hurt, he's the opening-day center fielder right? They discuss other young players looking to make a name for themselves, like Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer, even Jeferson Quero. Where does Keston Hiura fit on this team? What about Abraham Toro? Or Owen Miller? And just what have the vibes been like overall after an offseason that...

Brewers reporter Todd Rosiak joins host JR Radcliffe live from spring training to chat about a busy early camp for the Milwaukee Brewers. What does he make of the Corbin Burnes arbitration situation, namely Burnes' obvious frustration with the organization? Is there any remaining tendril of hope that Burnes could stay in Milwaukee long term? What about Craig Counsell, who's not under contract for next season? Is this the swan song for the National League's longest-tenured manager? What's...

Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe look at the 2023 season on the cusp of spring training, offering three predictions apiece about the upcoming campaign and zooming in on the biggest story lines. Plus, they discuss the injury to Aaron Ashby, a new metric that shows Willy Adames might be even better than we realize and the possibility of one last roster move before Opening Day. Curt also discusses his recent series on Brewers prospects for the Milwaukee Journal...

Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss Corbin Burnes and his arbitration case with the Milwaukee Brewers; is it a bad omen for a long-term extension if the two sides go to a hearing? With new third baseman/outfielder Brian Anderson on the squad, how many spots are still available on the Brewers initial roster for 2023? Plus, JR chats with Jason Gurwin of The Streamable (27:00) to get a sense of what it means that the organization in charge of airing Brewers games appears...

Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe dig into the 2023 Brewers season, looking at reasons to be optimistic. Curt selects the player he thinks will be the team's best player next year, and it may surprise you. Is there anyone else on the free-agent market the team might pursue, and will the absence of a big free-agent acquisition hurt them? What's realistic to expect from the team's top prospects next year? Who plays second base? Oh, and look, Wade Miley is back! Music intro:...

The Milwaukee Brewers addressed a major offseason concern with a three-team trade Dec. 12, landing catcher William Contreras. It seems like the perfect fit, and without sacrificing much. So is it? Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe take a look at the exchange that sent minor leaguer Esteury Ruiz to Oakland and brought back the all-star catcher (plus two relievers!) How does it make Milwaukee better in 2023 and beyond? Does it re-frame the Josh Hader trade? Are we underrating...

With the Winter Meetings upon us, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe check in with the Milwaukee Brewers, looking specifically at the moves they've already made. Are they just cutting salary? What's the evaluation on the Kolten Wong/Jesse Winker exchange and the decisions to part with Hunter Renfroe and Brent Suter? Who should the Brewers be specifically targeting in the days ahead? Do we believe that Milwaukee will hold onto their top two pitching...

Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe look at the Brewers offseason, including a couple moves already made (Kolten Wong is coming back, Brad Boxberger is not) and players who'd fit the Milwaukee roster in 2023, some via free agency and some via trade.

It's an emergency podcast! Host JR Radcliffe and Journal Sentinel reporter Curt Hogg discuss the shocking news that David Stearns was stepping down as the Milwaukee Brewers president of baseball operations. He'll stay with the team through 2023, leaving the keys to general manager Matt Arnold going forward. What's behind the announcement, what does it mean for the way the Brewers conduct business, and does this mean Stearns is definitely on his way to the Mets? And what do we know about Matt...

Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe dig into the things that will stand out about the 2022 season; namely, the things that went wrong. How did a 95-win team with many of the same contributors shrink to an 86-win team one year later? How big does the Josh Hader trade loom? What happened to the bullpen? What about the offense? Christian Yelich? The team's offseason approach? Then, JR chats with Daulton Varsho, a Marshfield and UW-Milwaukee product who finished his strong 2022...

A nightmare week for the Milwaukee Brewers, specifically three gut-wrenching losses in four games against the Marlins, has all but ended the disappointing 2022 season. Journal Sentinel reporter Curt Hogg and podcast host JR Radcliffe again take stock of what went wrong and how they can ultimately explain a 95-win team bringing back many of the same players and performing so much more poorly. How does Milwaukee fix this going forward, both on the field and in the stands, where the team drew...

An above-average week is still not enough as the Brewers head into the final nine games of the season facing, essentially, a 2 1/2-game deficit against the Philadelphia Phillies. There's hope, but it's fleeting. Ill-timed home runs have cost the team's deadline bullpen acquisitions and further cemented the Josh Hader trade as the turning point of the season. Corbin Burnes hasn't been his usual self. The Brewers are healthy in their rotation finally, but how will they be used in crunch time?...

The Brewers had a good week but still only gained modest ground in the wild card chase. Some exciting moments in a 3-2 week against the Cardinals and Yankees, including a Garrett Mitchell walk-off, Willy Adames making history and Aaron Judge authoring some of his own. Which team is the likelier for Milwaukee to catch -- the Padres or the Phillies? Jason Alexander continues to struggle, but is there anyone to take his place? Where does Luis Urias fit in the long-term picture? How can...

The Brewers had a good week, but they're still facing an uphill battle to a playoff spot. Brewers reporter Todd Rosiak and podcast host JR Radcliffe take a look at the challenge ahead, and who's going to make the starts with two rotation members landing on the injured list? Can Milwaukee really catch San Diego? Plus, what's the future of Rowdy Tellez, author of 30 home runs this season? Is the Adrian Houser renaissance for real? What's up with Devin Williams? Garrett Mitchell makes more...

Another subpar week has the Brewers up against the wall in the battle for a playoff spot, and they simply haven't shown that they can get on a hot streak. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe wade through the frustrations, from the decline of the starting pitching to the lack of a clear-cut object of interest for 2023 and beyond. It's too early to write the season obituary, but hope is running out. JR also chats with Jason Gurwin of The Streamable (50:00) to look at the issues...

A grisly loss to the Cubs on Friday may sting, but the Brewers continued to tread water, buoyed by two wins to close the week. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe try to make sense of an uneven week with some bright spots (Beating the Dodgers again, Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich, Freddy Peralta) and some lowlights (Adrian Houser, Trevor Rosenthal, everything about that Friday game). Josh Hader continued to struggle for the Padres, the team that looks like...

The Brewers lost two heartbreakers in Chicago in the latest chapter of frustration for a team whose playoff fortunes have gone south. Brewers reporter Todd Rosiak and host JR Radcliffe search around for any signs of hope, and there are some. But what about Eric Lauer's comments about communication from the front office, Christian Yelich's struggles in the field, and the white-hot St. Louis Cardinals? Is it surprising the club hasn't brought up Sal Frelick to man center field? Is Keston Hiura...

Thanks to some high-wire acts, the Brewers were able to win half their games last week, but Milwaukee also couldn't pick up ground in the National League Central. Host JR Radcliffe and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Curt Hogg look at what, if anything, can be done to jumpstart the offense after a rough week. A check-in with a struggling Christian Yelich and a lightly-used Keston Hiura. Another glance at the infamous Josh Hader trade, including the revelation that Taylor Rogers came to...