Josh Hader and Corbin Burnes are All Stars again, Brewers limp out of last homestand of the first half.

Live look at the Brewers final homestand of the first half:

6 games against a rebuilding Cubs team and a rebuilding Pirates team at home and you go 2-4. Suboptimal! The situational hitting was bad, the defense was bad, the middle relief was bad, and honestly, Craig Counsell was pretty bad. And I love Craig Counsell. I’m not advocating for any kind of a change, I honest to God believe that Craig Counsell will win a World Series with his hometown team one day, but what was that move to Chi Chi Gonzalez with two on and two outs in the 9th inning yesterday? Devin Williams has pitched ONE time in the last week, Hader didn’t pitch Saturday and you have an off day today, it’s a one run game that you can still win, and we go with a guy who owns a career ERA of around 8 to get that final out? Daniel Vogelbach, the picture of peak male performance, instantly crushes a 3-run bomb and the game is essentially over. I don’t get it. Explain it to me like I’m 5.

I guess the good news is that the Cardinals have been losing for the most part too, so you still have a 2.5 game lead in the division, but weeks like last week will HAUNT you if you don’t secure an NL Central title in September. Golden chance to open up a 5 or 6 game lead with the Cardinal schedule getting harder and the Brewer schedule getting softer than 10-ply. But they couldn’t cash in at all. A 2.5 game lead is still decent, but when you factor in the way the Brewers have been playing, and then add in the fact that Cardinal Late Season Dark Magic probably starts in 6-ish weeks, it feels more like we’re 2.5 games back, not up.

All of this to say: The Brewers need to make a move. Multiple moves, actually. I had a texter this morning say that it feels like this is a team that can win the division and nothing else, and I hate to admit it but that felt pretty accurate. When you look at potential playoff matchups with the Mets or Dodgers or Padres or Braves, it’s hard to see the Brewers winning a 3 or 7 game series. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but if they just stand pat at the deadline you’re basically PRAYING that a few guys get red hot at the right time and carry you offensively. A difficult scenario to envision given the way this offense has looked since 2020.

I still say the most logical place to add a bat is in centerfield, there aren’t a lot of names out there but Bryan Reynolds who just left town with the Pirates would be one to target. Josh Bell in Washington is another big bat that will be available, he’s a first baseman but maybe would be the kind of guy who could rotate with Rowdy at that spot and rotate with McCutchen at DH with Cutch seeing some outfield time. The Brewers still haven’t seen their ‘ideal lineup’ on the field for more than 4 games this season (Renfroe went down the day Wong came back), but even at full strength they’ve got to add a contact hitter.

And anyone who watches baseball knows that you can’t have enough middle relief on a title contending team. We all love the Boxberger/Williams/Hader 7-8-9 when you have a lead, but picking up an arm that can pitch in the 6th and 7th inning with some reliability would be nice. Think of the Joakim Soria move in 2018. Hoby Milner has been surprisingly good, Trevor Gott has had his moments, but I don’t know that trust either of those guys if you’re down 5-4 in the 6th inning of a playoff game. Same with Gustave or Suter.

And even though starting pitching is a strength for this team for the most part, I wouldn’t rule out a move for a starting pitcher. Woodruff (with the exception of the 7th inning on Saturday) has been locked in since he returned, Corbin is a Cy Young contender again, and Lauer has stabilized after a horrific month of June. But Houser is still sidelined as is Peralta. The problem here is the timing of the deadline as it relates to Peralta’s return. It feels likely we see Peralta by mid-August (trust me, I’m an internet sports doctor), but the deadline is well before that. If you had a crystal ball and knew that Peralta would be back and pitching like peak Peralta, you probably don’t need to make a move. But the team probably needs one reliable starter just in case he has a setback or isn’t himself when he returns. Luis Castillo of the Reds will be the most coveted starter on the market and would cost a boatload, but a guy like Jose Quintana or even Noah Syndergaard could be available for low level prospect or two. Plus, if you get Quintana, you don’t have to worry about facing him anymore, which is a plus.

So that’s it! Add an impact bat, and impact middle reliever, and a starting pitcher, and this team might be set! It’s easier than we’re making it!

In all seriousness, I love this team, and they’re going to make the playoffs (no mush) but to stand pat would be criminal. Stearns has been mostly brilliant at the deadline adding pieces, let’s hope it continues in a few weeks.

PS: Funniest sports picture of the weekend came from the WNBA All Star Game at the size of their MVP trophy:

What is this a trophy for ants?? I’ve seen Pinewood Derby trophies bigger than that. Sad/hilarious.