The Barrel Banter - A Milwaukee Brewers Show (David and Peter Go)

S4, E16: Welcome to our biggest episode of the year!

Today we break down:

- The Turang and Varland roster inclusions

- Voit re-signing

- Keston clearance of waivers

- Final spot in the bullpen

- Our bounce back and breakout candidates

- Our bold predictions

- And finally, our win prediction and whether or not the Brewers will win the Central

S3, E21: Today we are honored to be joined by David Gasper, editor-in-chief of Reviewing the Brew, host of Sports On Deck (Saturdays at 10 AM on 1310 WIBA Madison), host of the Cold Brew Podcast, and Brewers correspondent for Prospects1500, but most of all a fan and insider of the Brewers with knowledge of the organization rivaled by few. We spend time discussing:

The Josh Hader trade, its short and long-term impacts on the club, and what we can expect out of Esteury Ruiz and Robert Gasser.

The acquisitions of Matt Bush and Trevor Rosenthal, and the prospects traded in the deals.

The success of the Brewers' 2022 draft; who should we be excited about?

What we can expect long-term out of Brewers' top prospect Jackson Chourio.

The Brewers' upper-level prospect quartet of Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer, and Garrett Mitchell.

This was a fabulous sit-down with David, we hope you enjoy the episode! Follow David on Twitter here, as well as Reviewing the Brew, and the Cold Brew Podcast.

S5, E31: The Brewers begin their Wild Card Series with the Mets today - all you need to know as the Brewers try to break their five-series postseason losing streak.

S3, E12: The Brewers might be the hottest team in baseball, with not only the pitching staff leading the club but the offense chipping in also.

Rowdy Tellez is leading the offense in most categories, is he someone the Brewers can rely on both this year and long term?

And a tweet of the day from... Joey Votto?

S2, E25: Today was probably the most packed episode we've done, barely even getting to the draft but covering the Brewers big 7 game lead in the division, along with a couple trades and some bullpen arms that have arrived, or will arrive. How does Rowdy Tellez fit into the Brewers' plans? Should they still go after another first baseman? We were pretty optimistic about the Brewers going into the season, but did even the two of us see them as 95 game winners? How are we doing on our predictions? MVP Ohtani? All-Star Freddy? Who was the first half MVP for the Brewer, and will they keep the pace up?

S1, E27: In light of the arbitration non-tender deadline, the Brewers had some big decisions to make over the past week. Corey Knebel was traded to the Dodgers, but could another former Dodger be headed to Milwaukee? A pair of lower profile FA signings were brought in, while some role players were retained, and some were non-tendered. We recap a big week of Brewers news, while also looking ahead at this week’s virtual Winter Meetings.

If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/supportto help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content!

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S2, E15: Despite 16 players being on the injured list right now, the Brewers took 3 of 4 from a great Dodger team? If they weren't already the best team in the NL, are they now?

When is Yelich coming back? What about Cain? We have the updates!

And what can we expect from this team going forward? More of the same, better, or worse? Listen to find out!

If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/support  to help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content!

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on TikTok and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S2, E21: Foreign substances have been all the rage lately with all eyes on Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole, but is Corbin Burnes among those using foreign substances, and how could it affect him?

The Brewers have more than taken care of business as of late, will they be able to keep it up?

And how will the Brewers proceed having lost Travis Shaw for most of the remainder of the season?

S3, E19: The Brewers stumbled into the break before bouncing back in the first three games of a set with the Rockies. The holes are clear - bats (CF especially), and relievers. We looked at center fielders last time, so today we look at some of the options they have as relievers.

What would it take to acquire an All-Star like Joe Mantiply with team control, or the emergent Matt Moore down in Texas?

We give our first half awards, with many of them being given to the random guys nobody could have predicted. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

S2, E8: The Brewers brought in Gold Glover Kolten Wong to man second base, but outside of the keystone there are many questions. Will Keston Hiura be able to handle first base? How will Urias fare in his first season at shortstop? Will Travis Shaw get the majority of the at bats at third base, and if so then how will Arcia factor in? You have questions, we have answers on today's episode.

If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/supportto help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content!

Be sure to check out our latest blog post on the impact of the JBJ signing at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S2, E41: The Brewers have a long (if not storied) history filled with twists and turns through various cities, levels and stadiums. We take you through it all in our Brewers' History Lesson series, today being the first part. We go another five players deep into our Brewers' all-time team, selecting five deserving candidates to add to the quality squad. And we give Luke Barker some love because it's about time he gets a chance in the Big Leagues.

S4, E2: David Stearns shocked Brewer fans with the announcement of his resignation from his post as the top executive in the organization. We spend nearly all episode meandering through its consequences.

What will change within the organization in its strategy, player acquisitions, and player development?

Will Stearns soon leave for New York?

What were Stearns's best and worst moves?

Where does he rank in terms of best GMs in franchise history? What is his legacy?

Lastly, we spend some time looking at some of the prospects who could be up with the club in 2023!

S2, E3: The Brewers lost two legends over the past week or two, sending the baseball world into mourning for two great players and men, the HR King and one of the top right-handed pitchers of all-time. We take a look back at their storied careers and lives, and what should the Brewers do to honor them? The signage changed at AmFam Field, will there be another name change involving one of their former stars? Arenado the Cards, could the Brewers counter by acquiring a star of their own? And will the season start on time? Spoiler: we're still not sure but there is new information.

If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/supportto help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content!

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S6, E2: The Brewers' 2025 season will hinge on these five players - listen for who they are.

S4, E9: Today we brought on our longtime friend and former editor/producer, Caleb Kassulke, to join us for a draft of Brewer things. We draft anything from the Barrelman to Wei-Chung Wang Wednesdays, and some things Bob Uecker seems to always say on his broadcasts. This was a lot of fun, and we hope you enjoy!

S5, E35: Beat writer Andrew Wagner joined us to preview the Brewers' offseason!

- Why Adames may re-sign

- Whether the Brewers trade Williams

- How much money the team has to spend

Find him on X @byandrewwagner

In episode 3 we talk through some of the rule changes coming for 2020, including the universal DH, expanded rosters, and the COVID-19 list. We also take a dive into whether having regular at-bats for Ryan Braun at DH would help the Crew or not, and how expanded rosters at the outset of the year could benefit the Brewers. Be sure to check out our blog at bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com, and remember to subscribe, rate and review our podcast! Enjoy the second ever episode of the Bleeding Blue and Yellow Podcast.

S1, E29: Peter rejoins us today as we go through a few notable moves the Brewers made over the past week, highlighting some Minor League free agents that could play real roles in the Crew's success this year. More news across the league as MLB righted its wrong by officially "elevating" the Negro Leagues' status to Major League, and some fun talk about Yadiel Rivera. Colin Walsh, like always, is brought up in this episode.

If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/support to help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content!

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S1, E13: The Brewers followed up an okay series against Cincinnati with a series victory vs. the last place Buccos. The Brewers decided against sitting out the deadline, dealing from a place of depth by sending reliever David Phelps to Philadelphia for a trio of young minor league pitchers. Numerous arms were recalled... what exactly should we expect from Trey Supak and Justin Topa? Be sure to check out our blog at bleeingblueandyellow.wordpress.com, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S4, E44: In the third (!) episode of the week, Peter and I unfortunately look at what went wrong for the Brewers.

Among the questions we ask,

What was the biggest issue that led to the losses?

Should the losses be pinned on Counsell?

Is this part of a more concerning trend in the Brewers' recent October runs?

S3, E23: The Brewers have struggled as of late, dropping to 5.5 GB in the division and out of a Wild Card spot all together. Do the Brewers still have what it takes to reach the Postseason or have their October dreams escaped them? How might the September schedule and call-ups impact the club?

Garrett Mitchell was recalled in a surprising move on Saturday. The former UCLA star brings plus speed and solid CF defense, but what else can we expect him to bring to the table? Could we see another prospect move in the next week?

Craig Counsell is the longest tenured manager in the National League but some of his moves have been questionable lately. Bullpen management and pulling Freddy at 82 pitches during a no-hitter are among the complaints fans have had regarding the 8th year Brewers' manager. Is it simply time to move on?

S5, E7: As expected, the Brewers left New York undefeated after sweeping the David Stearns-led Mets.

On today's episode we go through some takeaways from the first series - closer role, stolen bases, Chourio, and the Hoskins-McNeil fracas.

S5, E34: The Brewers' season is over :/ but that doesn't mean we're finished talking about the 2024 Brewers.

In today's episode we hand out...

1. MVP

2. Pitcher of the Year

3. Rookie of the Year

4. Breakout Player of the Year

- Grades on players

- 10 defining stats

S2, E39: The Brewers acquired RHP J.C. Mejia from the Cleveland *Guardians* last week, what role could he play for the Brewers in 2022? Burnes and Hader made it to the All-MLB team, but which Brewer was snubbed?

Should the Brewers consider trading Hader this offseason, or rather extend him?

And what implications does the Jose Berrios extension with the Blue Jays have for the Brewers in their hopes of locking up their star young pitchers long term?

S2, E23: Foreign substances have been all the rage, how has it affected the Brewers? Is it possible the looming foreign substance threat had something to do with the Willy Adames trade?

And... wait could the Brewers trade for another shortstop even better than Adames? We talk about a possible trade for a star that could ignite the Brewers to a deep playoff run.

S5, E25: Four Brewers starters are nearing career-high inning totals this year, but they shouldn't go to a six-man rotation. Why?

And should the Brewers get a first-round bye? It's a legitimate question.

S1, E20: While the hitting grades may not be as positive as last week's pitching assessments, I think it is equally as interesting to look at what went wrong with the .223 team batting average-Brewers. Also... David is finally stumped on a trivia question? All this and more on this week's podcast episode!

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

The episode we hoped would never come.

S4, E37: Peter joined Eric Agnew on the Miller Park Minute this week to discuss:

- Comparing the '23 Brewers rosters strengths with the 2011 and 2018 teams

- The difference-makers of the '23 team

- The un-sung heroes of the '23 team

And Much More!

This episode originally aired on the Miller Park Minute on August 22nd, 2023.

Follow Eric on YouTube!

Keep up with the Barrel!

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S4, E53: Today we're joined by Derek VanRiper for a fantastic conversation about the Brewers.

Derek is a podcast host, producer and writer for The Athletic, as well as a lifelong Brewer fan and Milwaukee-area native.

We discuss:

- The Rhys Hoskins signing

- Whether the Brewers are headed in the right direction

- Why the Brewers won't (or will) win the NL Central in 2024

S2, E40: What does the lockout mean for baseball fans as it officially went into effect on Wednesday? And the deadline deal made with Boston... was that a good trade? It might be awhile until the lockout is resolved, so we took a look at which rule changes might be good for baseball as David becomes acting commissioner for the day.

S5, E33: Today, we looked at the loss (a few days removed and hopefully more rationally), whether the season was a success and what the offseason and 2025 team may look like.

S2, E35: It's been well-documented that the Brewers' staff was outstanding, but what kind of grades would we give the staff? Who wins Brewers MVP and Rookie of the Year? The Brewers had many outstanding performers on the roster.

Will JBJ and Garcia exercise their options? Decisions are coming soon so we break that down.

S3, E10: The Brewers are sitting at .500 now yet we've seen some rough performances from the Brewers' most reliable guys. Should we be worried about Freddy or Woody, or is it too small of a sample size?

A few players have impressed so far in the young year, we give our good early impressions of some of the more unheralded names.

And lastly, we predict our Brewers' season win total, playoff results, and team awards.

S4, E25: Today we welcome memorabilia collector and Milwaukee resident Troy Kinunen onto the podcast!

Troy tells fabulous stories including:

- How he came to own the original racing sausages

- The Milwaukee Braves vs. the Milwaukee Chiefs?

- A fantastic Robin Yount story

- The inspiration for the modern look of Bernie Brewer (hint: he was a real person (!) )

We enjoyed this interview tremendously; thanks to Troy for coming on the show!

To learn more or participate in his auctions visit mearsonlineauctions.com

To follow us @thebarrelmke on Twitter, YouTube, and Substack!

S2, E10: Heading into Opening Day this week, we take our final look at a Brewers' positional group, the relievers. With Hader, Williams, Suter, Yardley, Topa, and Rasmussen along with a few more young arms, the Brewers are loaded with quality arms in the bullpen. Will it be enough to propel them into the postseason, or even deep into the postseason? What we do know is they have an excellent collection of arms, and we break it down right here. If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/support to help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content! Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on TikTok and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S5, E8: The Brewers are off to the races with a 6-2 record in the young season - what are some takeaways this early? Will they continue the stretch?

Thanks to Peter for keeping the show up and running this week!

S4, E46: The Brewers outrighted Eric Lauer, bringing an unceremonious end to a rollercoaster Brewers' tenure. We break down the move and reignite the never-ending debate of the real winner of that trade.

We spend most of the episode discussing dishing out grades to the hitters. They paint a more negative picture than last week's pitching grades.

S2, E31: The Brewers officially locked up the division on Sunday, a formality that spurred a large-scale celebration in Milwaukee. We debate whether or not Corbin Burnes should win the Cy Young this year, or if Max Scherzer should. And the Cardinals keep winning... should the Brewers be worried about facing them in the Postseason?

S4, E31: Today we're joined by special guest, David Gasper!

Gasper is editor-in-chief of Reviewing the Brew, host of the Cold Brew Podcast, Brewers' expert at Prospects1500, and host of Sports on Deck at iHeartRadio and 1310 WIBA.

We discuss:

- Potential impact prospects in the 2nd half (Black, Misiorowski, Chourio)

- What to expect from Abner Uribe

- Grading the Brewers' draft

- Why the Brewers' mid-round picks may have been their best

To listen to last year's conversation with David, click here

S3, E15: The Brewers snapped their losing streak yesterday, but things don't look as promising as they did a few weeks ago. Can the Brewers right their ship before the All-Star break? With the lack of production from Yelich, Cutch, and Cain, it seems they might not have the pieces to make a deep run in October.

Congratulations to Craig Counsell for becoming the Brewers all-time wins leader as a manager, so we look at who the 5 best managers are in franchise history.

S5, E22: Dan Zielinski of Baseball Prospect Journal (baseballprospectjournal.com) joins us today to break down the Brewers' draft!

- Why Braylon Payne was well worth the risk

- Blake Burke as the answer at 1B

- The potential steal(s) of the draft with the arms

- Why the Brewers deviated from their typical strategy

S5, E13: William Contreras is on pace for a 130-RBI, 9-WAR season. Is it one of the best of all-time?

Plus, more about the Brewers adjusting to life without Rhys (temporarily) and revisiting the Adames trade three years later.

S6, E4: We paid tribute to Uecker by giving our favorite quotes.

The crazy impact that Dave Parker had (and didn't have) in his one year in Milwaukee.

Also, will CC make the Hall of Fame? Should he? Who else are we checking on the ballot?

S1, E21: Devin Williams takes home some hardware winning the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year, the third straight year where a Brewer has won. Should Corbin Burnes have also taken home some hardware winning Comeback Player of the Year, or did they get this one right? And a look back at some of the best defensive players in Brewers history.

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S2, E13: The Brewers had a dramatic week against Chicago, primarily with Willson Contreras leaning into hit by pitches. That led us to think... who are our least favorite players across Major League Baseball? Could tension boil over into this weekend's series with the Cubs and a fight break out on the field? Also, a tough series in Pittsburgh didn't help the Brewers, but thankfully it is still early. What do the bullpen roles look like, and are the Brewers a better team now than they were before the season started?

If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/support  to help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content!

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on TikTok and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

In today's bonus episode, we give a final preview of the Brewers as a whole. How exactly does their roster look now that we know who made the team? How do they stack up against the rest of the division? Who will be the most valuable player and pitcher on the team. We also give our picks for NL and AL MVP and Cy Young, as well as who some of the biggest names are to watch for the upcoming season. Brewers' season preview coverage begins at 17:00 Also skip to 30:00 to hear a great story from the Journal Sentinel (it's well worth it) I'm so excited for Opening Day. This Thursday. 1:10 PM at home against the Twins. Let's goooooo. If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/support to help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content! Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on TikTok and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S2, E7: The Brewers brought in the top free agent remaining in Jackie Bradley Jr. Was this a good signing, or should they have saved their money rather than signing the defensive stalwart? How does he factor in with the rest of the outfield? We also take a look at a possible Yelich return to form, Garcia bounce back, and how Cain might do after opting out this year. We break out our brand new projection system to look at how these three, along with Bradley Jr. might do in the Brewers' blue and yellow this season. Be sure to check out our latest article as we dive deeper on the JBJ signing at our blog at bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and find us on Twitter and Instagram @brewerspodcast. 

S5, E11:

- A look at who Tyler Black is and what we can expect from him

- Will the Brewers fall apart with the rotation in its current state?

- Analyzing the Uribe-Siri fight and getting shafted by umpires

S2, E9: The Brewers' rotation may be the strongest aspect of the ballclub, boasting a number of quality arms. Woodruff and Burnes were Cy Young candidates last year, will they be again? Are they the best 1-2 punch at the top of a rotation in all of baseball? We also break down the broadcasting changes, including the return of Vinny Rottino and Tim Dillard. Have they found Uecker's replacement? If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/supportto help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content! Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

Bonus: We brought in our now two-time guest, Michael from @buckshouse on Instagram, the biggest Bucks fan page on the platform.

The Bucks survived a thrilling series against Brooklyn and now have to face a significantly easier Atlanta team, but will the Bucks run out of steam?

Will the Bucks be able to contain Trae Young, and how will Atlanta defend Giannis?

Our terrific guest answers all the biggest questions of the upcoming series.

Follow him here!

S4, E14: The Brewers have a roster crunch with some playing time available in the outfield. How will they use that playing time? Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer could end up taking some of it, as soon as Opening Day.

The WBC has produced endless drama, but how are the Brewers performing in it? We recorded this just before Urias's big HR, but he and Rowdy have helped Team Mexico greatly.

The battles in camp are coming to a close soon, so who will emerge as the frontrunners to take those spots? Javy Guerra or Gus Varland? Is Bryse Wilson in danger of not making the team?

And finally, the Brewers finally released a good YouTube video about their prospects. We react to that.

Go read my latest article on why March is the best baseball month, and check out our latest videos on YouTube!

Today marks the fourth and final episode of our four part series analyzing the Brewers' roster on a positional basis. Could Yelich be MVP once again? Will Cain bounce back? Braun is going to DH full time now? Story lines abound for the Brewers' outfielders, their strongest positional group. We also discuss some news on the injury front, and former Brewer Tyler Cravy's piece on the Players' Tribune. Be sure to check out our blog at bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Enjoy the fourth episode of this four-part series! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

Today is the second installment of a four-part series previewing each aspect of the Brewers' roster. The bullpen doesn't get much love from national pundits analyzing the Crew's roster, however they have collected a solid crop of arms to fill out the relief corps. Hader and Knebel will lock down the back end roles, with Suter, Phelps, and Claudio holding down the fort as middle relievers. Beyond that, there is lots of intrigue among the arms, including... Eric Yardley? Stay tuned for part three of this series previewing the catchers and infielders, releasing in the coming days. Be sure to check out our blog at bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com, and remember to subscribe, rate and review our podcast! Enjoy episode two of this four part series!

S4, E3: The Brewers decided to retain Wong while declining Boxberger's option... why? Did they make the right moves? They acquired some depth in Tyson Miller and Payton Henry. What will they bring to the team? How did the starting pitching fall short this year? We grade the starting pitchers.

S3, E29: We have a big announcement to make... this is the last week of the Bleeding Blue & Yellow Podcast :/... because we're changing our name to The Barrel Banter! We have some big changes ahead, so we thank you for listening and are excited to make even better episodes!

We take a look at what went right and what went wrong this season, from Corbin Burnes to the late season collapse.

We have a new segment called "Fact or Fiction" where we decided whether something is fact or fiction, such as "Is Christian Yelich an average player" or "Should Luis Urias play every day"

S3, E14: The Brewers suffered a number of major injuries including Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta on the pitching staff, along with Renfroe in the offense. The Brewers may or may not have enough depth to cover for this, so we discuss whether or not we think they will.

Ethan Small debuted on Monday, the top pitching prospect in the organization. Will he make an immediate impact on the club?

Finally, the Brewers keep bringing up arms that seemingly come out of nowhere so we get you up to speed on these players. Peter Strzelecki, Luke Barker, Jason Alexander, Trevor Kelley, and others.

S4, E50: Vinny Rottino joined us for a fantastic interview about...

- Pharmacy school

- His Brewers' career

- Time in Japan and Korea

- Experience representing Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic

- The shift to scouting and broadcasting after his playing career!

S4, E41: The Brewers are officially back in the Postseason! With a magic number of just one to clinch the division, the Brewers appear to be headed to a first round Wild Card Series matchup at American Family Field. How does this team look heading into the Playoffs? Is it better than the 2018 team? 2021?

S4, E39: The Brewers maintain ground with another 3-3 week. Today we break down:

- Brewers lose an historic battle

- Burnes, Woodruff, and Willy extensions coming?

- Brewers vs. Rays pitching lab

- Growing the international game

Follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, and read us at Substack, all @ thebarrelmke!

S2, E11: Today we looked at what went right and wrong for the ballclub in their opening series against Minnesota. What can we take away in such a small sample size? Also, is Ohtani the best two-way guy since Babe Ruth or are we forgetting someone in the middle? With Braun potentially headed toward retirement, should they retire his number, or the number of another Brewers' icon? We just turned our mics on today and had a conversation. It was great; we wandered from topic to topic and covered a lot.

If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/support to help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content! Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on TikTok and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S2, E37: In light of his late season retirement, we finally take a deep dive into the illustrious career of Ryan Braun. Braun won many awards, who could be next in line taking home some hardware this year? Josh Hader already did last week, we look into that. Who might the Brewers protect from the Rule V draft coming up?

Bonus: In today's bonus episode we take a look at the Brewers' mediocre series in Cincinnati and ahead at the biggest series of the year. Thanks for joining us on this short bonus episode. Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S6, E8: Peter & David share a big announcement about the future of The Barrel Banter.

Also, they rank the 20 best Brewers of their lifetimes.

S5, E37: With Devin Williams and Willy Adames darting for (or being darted to) opposite coasts, what's next for the Brewers?

We break down some of the big questions:

- What do the Brewers have in Nestor Cortes?

- Will Caleb Durbin start in the infield?

- Who takes over for Willy Adames at SS? Williams at closer?

- Is the bullpen still a strength of this team?

S5, E14: Craig Counsell returned to American Family Field with his Cubs' team for a four-game set in Milwaukee, his first time back in his hometown... the game and the reaction did not disappoint.

Also, a number of the young guys are outpacing expectations. Who might represent the Brewers in this year's All-Star Game?

S5, E23: The Brewers had a clear need for pitching, specifically of the starting variety entering the deadline. They added reliever Nick Mears and starter Frankie Montas - was that enough to keep them atop the NL Central? And are they the right guys?

S2, E27: The Brewers' offense has picked it up lately. What and who is primarily behind the cause?

The Brewers did well at the trade deadline, so how do they stack up with the other NL Postseason teams? 4th? 1st?

Rowdy Tellez is good.

S5, E5: The Brewers were dealt the devastating blow of a Devin Williams-less first half after the star closer was diagnosed with a pair of back fractures. How will the Brewers proceed without their star closer?

We preview the Brewers' outfield today, their most interesting position. Will Chourio start on Opening Day? What kind of season will Yelich have? Frelick in the infield or outfield? This and much more on today's episode.

S5, E6: Opening Day is here - the Brewers enter with less certainty on the roster than they've had in a long time.

How will their rookies fare?

What can we expect from a team without Burnes, Woodruff, and half a season of Devin Williams?

Is the offense good enough to carry the team this year?

This and many more questions answered in the episode!

S5, E28: The Brewers clinched the NL Central, their first time repeating as division champions in their 55-year history. What now - we preview their potential postseason opponents and break down how they got there.

And Eric Agnew joins for some talk about Chourio, Murphy and how this team has surprised.

S4, E52: On today's episode we break down and grade the Brewers' recent moves:

- Trading Adrian Houser & Tyrone Taylor to New York for RHP Coleman Crow

- Acquiring RHP Taylor Clarke from Kansas City for IF Cam Devanney & RHP Ryan Brady

- Signing Eric Haase to a one-year deal

We also rank the bests in franchise history:

- Best mascots

- Best pitchers

- Best uniforms

- Best #7s

S2, E19: The Brewers had a great week and have an easy June, presumably setting them up to make a run at one of the better records in the National League. They took care of the Nationals and split with the Padres, what are some takeaways.

How many All-Stars will the Brewers have this year? Will Freddy make it? We break it own.

We talked about the rebuild last year, but how have the Brewers fared at drafting and developing talent? We answer that today.

If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/support  to help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content!

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on TikTok and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S4, E7: MLB is set to make more rule changes this coming season than ever before, implementing a pitch clock with limited pickoffs, limits on defensive shifts, bigger bases, and a more balanced schedule. Among the storylines we'll be analyzing and following:

- Garrett Mitchell stealing 50+ bags

- A Christian Yelich resurgence

- A Rowdy offensive breakout

- Only 1 NL Central Postseason team because of the more balanced schedule

Also, Lorenzo Cain and Jonathan Lucroy each announced their retirements from the game in the past year, so we take a look at what the two meant to Milwaukee, and how we should remember their illustrious careers.

Bonus: The Brewers began Spring Training play on Saturday, defeating the Padres before dropping to the Rockies on Sunday. With the whole roster in camp, we give our biggest takeaways and storylines of Spring Training 2024.

S4, E23: The Brewers bounced back from their rough NL West stretch with a series sweep. Today, David discusses: - Eric Lauer's move to the bullpen - What version of Christian Yelich the Brewers can expect going forward - An update on Jackson Chourio, Tyler Black, Jeferson Quero, and the Brewers' other top prospects Go watch the latest video on Bob "Hurricane" Hazle on our YouTube channel Follow our writing on Substack

S2, E30: Like usual, the Cardinals are surging after taking G1 of the series against the Brewers. They have "the look" like no one can beat them. Should we be worried about our foes from St. Louis?

The Brewers have more than 26 guys that should make the Postseason roster but not everyone can make it. Who should? And should Lauer or Houser get the start?

Also, Bubber Jonnard.

S1, E19: With the Brewers' season concluding last week, we take an episode to analyze the pitching staff that kept the Crew in Postseason contention all year long. We also each give our picks for Brewers' awards with some being more obvious than others. Spoiler alert: we gave Devin Williams an A+ and Team Rookie of the Year. Oh yeah, and Wes Helms.

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S2, E14: Successful week to say the least. Save for a 15-2 blowout loss against Chicago, the Brewers swept San Diego and took 2 of 3 from the Cubs in their weeklong road trip.

When is Yelich coming back? We answer when that answer might be, but a few guys were put on the injured list. And a new Major League debut from a former top prospect? How much of an impact will Corey Ray have on the team?

If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/support  to help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content!

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on TikTok and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S2, E18: The Brewers spent a few years building for the future acquiring the likes of Lewis Brinson, Corey Ray, and Luis Ortiz, but has the rebuild been successful? Maybe it has been, but in a different way than anticipated.

How will the Adames/Richards trade affect the infield and bullpen roles? We break that down, and how it could spell the end of Big Dan's time in Milwaukee. The Brewers look ahead to a difficult week against San Diego and Washington, but hope to turn things around sitting at .500 right now.

If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/support  to help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content!

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on TikTok and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

The Brewers made the biggest trade of the season so far, dealing quality young relievers JP Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen in exchange for shortstop Willy Adames and pitcher Trevor Richards. What should we make of the trade for the Brewers? And how do they each fit into the Brewers’ plans? How does it affect the way they might use Urías or Shaw? It’s a big trade that sparks a lot of questions, but could be good for the Brewers in the long run.

S4, E15: Some pretty big news came out of Brewers' camp yesterday when Keston Hiura was informed he will not make the Brewers' Opening Day roster. Where do the Brewers go from here? Did they make a mistake in letting him go?

Along with Hiura, Tyler Naquin was informed he will not make the roster, leaving room for either Sal Frelick or Joey Wiemer. Which one will make the Opening Day roster as the everyday right fielder?

What is the latest on Luke Voit? There has not been any news over the past day, so it's possible they could be working out a trade involving him.

And finally, we give our final Opening Day roster prediction.

S1, E25: Does Eric Lauer have the makings of a key contributor for the local nine in 2021? David breaks down what went wrong and how he could reverse his fortunes next year. What does the promotion of Matt Arnold mean and is it a good move? Mario Feliciano was protected from the Rule V Draft, along with Dylan File and Alec Bettinger, we break down what their roles could be. And lastly, the Brewers’ ball-in-glove logo made a triumphant return in 2020, sparking debate over whether they should have ever veered off of it. All this on today’s episode!

If you’d like to support our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate! Head over to https://anchor.fm/bleedingblueandyellow/supportto help us keep our podcast up and running and providing you with better content!

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S4, E13: Peter returns on this episode, leading us into further and more updated discussion about the position battles in camp. Could the Brewers cut ties with Keston Hiura before Spring Training ends? Will Owen Miller find his way onto the Opening Day roster?

Then, we hold our 2nd annual Non-Roster Invitee Draft. We selected 6 players each in our quest to find the non-roster players who will play the most on the 2023 Brewers.

Go check out our YouTube channel here and our most recent Substack articles below, as well as a new one coming up in the next day on March being the biggest baseball month of the year, at thebarrelmke.substack.com. 

On Corbin Burnes, Sustained Winning, and a Franchise's Identity

Are the Brewers Better Going into '23 than '22?

S5, E32: The Brewers won a thriller at American Family Field on Wednesday, defeating the Mets 5-3 on the heels of two homers from Jackson Chourio and a go-ahead two-run homer from Garrett Mitchell.

We preview the decisive third game and look at what has gone right, and what has gone wrong for the Brewers thus far.

S1, E23: How do the Brewers fix Adrian Houser? Is it too risky for them to rely on him this year in the rotation? Who do the Brewers need to protect in the Rule V Draft and how does that work? Does it affect the catching situation? And Brent Suter for president 2024!

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S5, E2: Today, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel joined the show to look at the Brewers' competition in the crowded NL Central!

The episode:

- Day in the life of a baseball writer (1:00-4:00)

- Cardinals (4:00-18:00)

- Cubs (18:00-29:00)

- Reds (29:00-41:30)

- Pirates (41:30-46:30

- Best case on why the Brewers will win the Central, why they won't (46:30-51:00)

Plus, stay for the end to hear the player Curt likes most for 2024.

Follow Curt on Twitter @cyrthogg

S3, E6: The owners ended their lockout of the players this past week after 99 days, bringing players to Spring Training to prepare for the 2022 season. Their new agreement includes things such as changes in the playoff structure, universal DH, pitch clock, among others, so we break down the CBA agreement so you don't have to read the 180 page document.

We also look at how these rule changes could impact the Brewers, and what their strategy might be in these last few weeks of the offseason.

S3, E27: The Brewers dropped an important series from the Mets before salvaging the week with a series win in Cincinnati. They're now just 1.5 GB of the Phillies, but running out of time with just 10 games left in the regular season. Do they have another Postseason berth in store?

The bullpen has been nothing short of a liability, blowing late leads in a manner Brewer fans are not used to. Devin Williams has continued to be himself, but which other late-inning relievers can the Brewers trust? Matt Bush? Taylor Rogers? Peter Strzelecki??

If the Brewers do make it to the Postseason, will it be because of the offense or the pitching? Believe it or not, the hitting has performed better this year than the pitching.

And as always, a Colin Walsh name drop.

S1, E17: The Brewers somehow did it, finishing at 29-31 yet sneaking into the Postseason as the 8th seed. It's been a wild ride but also an exciting one especially down the stretch. In this episode we recap what went right in order for the Brewers to make the Postseason, provide injury updates (or lackthereof) on Corbin Burnes and Daniel Vogelbach, and preview the three game Dodgers' Playoff series.

Note: Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series between the Brewers and Dodgers will begin at 9:05 PM CDT on ESPN on Wednesday night. 

Be sure to check out our blog at https://bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com/blog-2/, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S6, E7: The second part of our conversation with author and historian Lee Kluck on legendary Brewers GM Lee Kluck.

Click here to buy his book!

S4, E43: Today we bring on Derek Montilla to preview the Brewers-Diamondbacks series. Montilla covers the D-Backs for PHNX Sports. We discuss:

- How the Woodruff loss may impact the series

- His best case for the D-Backs to win (and lose) the series

- Final predictions for the series

S4, E34: Peter and David combine for a detailed breakdown of all the Brewers' trade moves, including where the pieces fit and final grades. The moves they made:

Acquired 1B Carlos Santana from Pittsburgh for SS Jhonny Severino

Acquired LF Mark Canha from NY Mets for RHP Justin Jarvis

Acquired LHRP Andrew Chafin from Arizona for RHRP Peter Strzelecki

Acquired RHP Brayden Blalock from Boston for IF Luis Urias

Acquired RHP Evan McKendrey from Tampa Bay for C Alex Jackson

S4, E28: The Brewers' offense continues to struggle, so we devote most of the episode to that.

We discuss:

- Whether the Brewers would benefit from sliding Christian Yelich to the middle of the order

- Why they can't afford to miss on another round of hitting prospects

- Assessing the Reds as a legitimate contender

S5, E1: The Brewers made the surprising but exciting move to bring injured ace Brandon Woodruff back on a two-year deal. We break it down.

We devote most of the episode to talk about Sal Frelick's potential move (part-time) to the infield, and preview the position as a whole.

What can we expect from Adames and Hoskins? Where do Joey Ortiz, Brice Turang and Tyler Black fit? Could Sal Frelick really take some playing time from the others? This and much more on today's episode.

S4, E54: Peter and David return for their first episode in over a month, recapping all the craziness that's gone down during their hiatus.

Among our many topics today...

5:40 - a longer look at the Burnes trade

17:20 - contender, rebuilder, other?

29:30 - do Jakob Junis and Gary Sanchez move the needle?

Next week we start our positional previews as the Brewers open up Spring Training. Stay tuned!

S1, E12: A tough week in Minnesota and Pittsburgh exposed the lack of consistency in the offense, dropping 5 of 6 to the two opponents. They return home this week to face Cincinnati and Pittsuburgh, hoping to get things back on track in advance of the 8/31 trade deadline. We discuss Brock Holt's questionable DFA and the debuts of Angel Perdomo and Drew Rasmussen, also. Many of the Brewers' key performers from last year took their talents elsewhere, so we check up on how each member of the 2019 Crew is doing in new threads, with the best all as members of the San Diego Padres. At 28:30 in the podcast, I give the backstory on how I got to participate in one of former Brewer Tim Dillard's comedic videos, an awesome experience. Be sure to check out our blog at bleedingblueandyellow.wordpress.com, and remember to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast! Find us on Instagram and Twitter @brewerspodcast.

S5, E30: CBS 58 Sports Director Kevin Holden joins us again to talk Brewers' postseason!

Among our topics:

- How this clinch compared to previous years

- Why their inexperience could give them an advantage

- Lining up the rotation

- Which bullpen arms to trust/not trust

- Which team the Brewers want to face to open the playoffs

S5, E17: Tobias Myers has been one of the big surprises for the 2024 Brewers' team, especially this month. What's fueling it?

Should Tyler Black be taking Jake Bauers' at-bats at 1B? Or is Black developing more at AAA-Nashville?

This and more on this week's episode!

S2, E42: In the final episode before 2022, we take a look at the past by analyzing the new Hall of Famers entering Cooperstown, and giving part two of the history lesson of the Brewers. Also, a few worthy honors for some recently retired Brewers?