2009 MLB season in review: Milwaukee Brewers
After making the playoffs in 2008, for the first time since 1982, it seemed the bar had finally been raised for the Milwaukee Brewers. It seems that simply finishing .500 was no longer the goal, and that this was a team headed to the playoffs or bust. While sluggers Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder had exceptional, special seasons, everything else about the Brewers was a big disappointment. In late July they had a two game lead in the National League Central, their pitching woes finally caught up to them. The Brewers obviously needed CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets down the stretch, letting those two players go really cost this team.
Their final record was 80-82, and that was good enough for third in the National League Central. Through the first half of the season this team spent 45 days in first place, and had built a three game lead as late as May 19th. During this time the team built was able to win seven games in row, which was three games better than their season long losing streak of four. At that point there were seven games over .500, but finished the season one game shy of that mark.
This was a very good offensive team, they scored 785 runs while their team batting average was .263. That number was the fourth highest in the NL. Fielder alone was able to hit 46 home runs and as a team they hit 182, good enough for third in the senior league. In all four of their starting nine hit better or just at .300, and they only struck out 1,231 times, the third fewest in the National League. Their pitching staff struggled a bit they gave up 818 runs, and it did feature three pitchers with double digit victories. Their staff ERA was 4.84, and they struck out 1,104 batters while walking 607.
In all 3,037,451 fans came out to Miler Park to see Brewers home games. For their 81 home games they averaged 37,499 fans and that was good enough for 9th among the MLB teams, and they were able to sell 88.4% of their 2009 ticket inventory.
