The Brewers began the 2011 season with sky-high hopes after acquiring former Cy Young-winning pitcher Zack Greinke from the Kansas City Royals, and Shawn Marcum from the Toronto Blue Jays.
This gave the Brewers three 2010 opening-day starters, including their own Yovani Gallardo. Speculation abounded that the Brewers had assembled the best pitching staff in the history of the club.
Then came the first bad news of the season. On March 8, it was reported that Zack Greinke had suffered a cracked rib in a pickup basketball game and would miss at least four starts. Former All-Star outfielder Corey Hart was sidelined until mid-April with an oblique strain and starting catcher Jonathan Lucroy underwent pinkie surgery.
Brewer Nation began to panic.
The Brewers’ opening day was a heartbreaker as the crew gave up four runs in the bottom of the ninth to the Cincinnati Reds, culminating in a walk-off home run by Ramon Hernandez.
This was followed by three straight losses, including two more to the Reds and one to the Braves. The groans could be heard throughout Wisconsin as fans bemoaned the horrible start to the season.
However, it should be remembered that a four-game losing streak is typical in a 162-game season. The benchmark season of the modern-day Brewers, 2008 when they reached the playoffs, included numerous losing streaks.
That season included a six-game losing streak, three more five-game losing streaks and a four-game skid. Brewer fans need to realize this, not be so reactionary and let the team settle in.
True to form, the Brewers bounced back and settled in with a resounding two-hit complete game shutout by Yovani Gallardo in their fifth game of the season. This allowed fans to start focusing on the positives and the potential of this team, and away from the losing streak.
The Brewers have already showed its offensive firepower, with leadoff man Rickie Weeks banging in three home runs in his first five games. Ryan Braun also is batting over .400 in his first five games.
Prince Fielder and Casey McGhee will undoubtedly improve on their play so far. The imminent return of Corey Hart will also provide a boost. Not to mention a certain Cy young winner named Zack Greinke that will soon resume his position at the top of the rotation.
Brewer fans as a group seem to be conditioned to expect losing after years of futility. Fans need to realize that this isn’t the Brewers of old, as the team is loaded with talent and depth. This year began with sky-high hopes, and it will take more than a four game losing streak to crash those expectations.
