Thursday, February 05, 2015

25 Brewers in 25 Days - 2014 Recap - Leftfield

Khris Davis was the Brewers primary left fielder in 2014 and he represented Sombrero Nation well despite not being a Mexican. But that's okay because I'm not a Mexican either. I'm simply a born again Mexican. I don't know if Khris Davis has taken the solemn oath to become a born again Mexican and wearer of the Sombrero. But I always knew that I was going to love the guy because he shares a name with my mother, although he spells his a little differently (adding an unnecessary H). I have already identified that they are in fact 2 different people despite having a lot of things in common. Maybe he added the H so that people could tell them apart. Christ, I don't fucking know. I just root for the guy. After so many years of Shadows being cast in left field, it was nice to have a guy to root for who didn't have any character issues. I don't claim to know the truth the whole truth or nothing but the truth. I can't handle the truth. and I don't know a goddamn thing, but I do know when there's a guy that we all got to get behind because he thrives on confidence and people being in his corner. So it's up to us to help Khris Davis be the player that he's supposed to be and a player that we all know that he can be. We've got to get all up in his head and help the guy out.

And then there's Sage. I've got to get all up in those guts to help that girl out. Even though she is always smiling, I know that's all for show. She's empty, almost like she's missing a piece. And I got just the piece to fill that hole. I would rock her World. But I really shouldn't talk that dirty about Fox Sports Wisconsin girl Sage. She's the Mother of my future children. She's a goddess. She is incredible in every single way. I've never met her, but I dream about her every night. Although I'd like to make like Mario and Luigi and lay some pipe in her basement (if you know what I mean), I promise to love and respect her and give her the life that she deserves. Every single time I see her, her smile is so bright and so radiant. It could wipe the depressing frown off of every single impoverished and starving man, woman and child in every third world country. Her voice is like that of an Angel it's not even fair how heavenly it is. Like when I hear it, I feel bad because it wasn't meant for me. It was only meant for Jesus's ears. But by some act of God I get to hear it. I don't take this privilege lightly. I respect this opportunity as much as I respect this amazing woman. Even if I want to stick it in every hole of her body. And I mean every hole. Even in her ear.

Wait... wasn't this supposed to be about Khris Davis? Christ how did I get sidetracked yet again? I guess that's just what I do. They were very opposing views on Khris Davis' 2014 season. There are a lot of people who criticized his plate discipline, lack of walks and his below average defense. But on the flip side there were people who praised his power numbers and his ability to hit in the klutch (and clutch is intentionally spelled with a K, just like Khris is spelled with a K). He seemed to come up big when the Brewers needed him, which is rare for a young player to do. And even though there was a lot of pressure put on him to basically be the next Ryan Braun, he didn't really crumble under the pressure. Was he the next Ryan Braun? Of course not. Braun is a once in a generation type of player. But I think he was good enough that you can legitimately say he should be playing in left field everyday and the Brewers did the right thing by moving Braun to right field. It may just be my personal opinion, but I don't think we saw the real Khris Davis in 2014. He's only going to get better.

Sometime in July before the trade deadline, the Brewers acquired Gerardo Parra from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was the fourth outfielder but he ended up seeing a good amount of playing time filling in for Braun (who was facing injuries) and Khris Davis (who was struggling at the plate in the field). The fact that he is a switch hitter and plays Gold Glove defense helped to get his name written in the lineup seemingly every day. By the end of the year it was almost like he transitioned to the everyday starter. But let's face it and I mean this in no offense to Mr. Parra, but we are a worse team if he is starting every day. He's solid. Going to give you a decent average, little bit of pop in his bat and excellent defense. But he doesn't have the wild card factor. He isn't a game changer. Khris Davis has the ability to be the deciding factor in a win or a loss with one swing of the bat. Some people might talk about runs saved through defense as opposed to runs created by offense. I will take a bat over a glove any day of the week. Even though the defense has been, is and will always be a problem for this team, what sunk this ship last year was the lack of offense. So we need to make sure that offense is the main priority when choosing which player takes the field.

Check out my 7th video, which recaps Leftfield for the 2014 Milwaukee Brewers, recorded on the bridge crossing Indian Creek in Fox Point, WI:


I was trying to make a connection between the video I filmed last March and the one that I filmed this March. I'm pretty sure that I failed. Or I succeeded. You know that the coin has two sides and the odds are 50/50 that it will end up on one of those sides. That is of course, unless it ends up not on a side but on the edge instead. Although that is highly unlikely, it still could happen and ruin my entire plan. Oh bother...

Khris Davis #18 - .265 batting AVG, 22 HRs, 65 RBIs, an above average defender in spite of the critics and the coolest guy in the World with my Mom's name.

.244 batting AVG, 22 HRs, 69 RBIs an average man with an average life. He works from 9 to 5, oh hell he pays the price. All he wants is to be left alone, in his average home. But why does he always feel like he's in the twilight zone?

  Logan Schafer #1 - .245 batting AVG, 6 HRs, 41 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and the best defender on the team not names Carlos Gomez. But he might change his name to Carlos Gomez so that people recognize him and give credit where it is due. This kid can play the shit out of the outfield.

.181 batting AVG, 0 HRs, 8 RBIs, 2 stolen bases, 65 games played and basically a non factor in the 2014 season. It doesn't matter how good his glove is if his bat can't keep him on the field/on the major league team.

Gerardo Parra #28 - .268 batting AVG, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs, 46 games played and would have been a really good acquisition had they made the playoffs. Pitching and defense wins in October, but you can't win in October if you don't get there.

I would take Sage's field no matter what the conditions were. I wouldn't even think twice before playing ball when there is grass on that field. If there was a rain delay and there was a risk of an injury that would sideline me for the rest of the season, I would still go out and play on that field. Even if there wasn't a game that day I would still go out and practice on that field. I'd go out there and tag all the bases. I'd practice my base running drills going from first to third when the guy behind you in the lineup hit a single. I'd lay down a bunt and hustle my way to first base and leg out an infield single. And then when she wasn't looking, I'd steal second. If she really wasn't paying attention, I'd also steal third. I hope that I get so adept at stealing bases that I can pull off the mother of all conquests and swipe home. And good lord, if I ever hit an in the park homerun, I'd be the luckiest guy alive. But I'd settle with a casual trot around the bases as I watched the ball sail into the leftfield seats. I don't care how it happens, but I just want to touch home plate. In case you were wondering what was going on right now, you don't get it. But that's okay. All you need to know is that Khris Davis is going to be alright. And the other thing you need to know is that I'm never going to be alright unless I get Sage. In my bed, on the field and in my life.

- pookon -

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