A Philadelphia police officer Tasered a 17-year-old fan who ran onto the field at Citizens Bank Park during a Phillies game Monday night. Brewers fans hopeful for a competitive 2010 season know how the kid feels.
As of midweek, 26 games into the season, the Brewers were 11-15. Fans have watched closer Trevor Hoffman blow four saves and give up six home runs -- three times as many as in all of 2009. They've seen off-season acquisition Doug Davis compile an 8.87 earned run average and get through the fifth inning just once in five starts.
They tapped out gleeful text messages when Milwaukee scored 36 runs in three straight wins over Pittsburgh and then resisted throwing their phones through the TV when the Brewers managed only four runs over three straight losses to Chicago at home.
But what might sting most of all is watching All-Star slugger Prince Fielder's batting average slide closer and closer to .200 with each one- or no-hit outing. Fielder has driven in just four runs in the last 10 games, with 11 RBIs all season and only three home runs. If, like me, you closely watch the OPS statistic - on-base percentage combined with slugging percentage - he's the 10th best first baseman in the National League, 19th in the majors.
Fielder had just four homers, 20 RBIs and a .250 batting average on May 6 of last year, at which point his production started picking up. A similar turnaround is necessary if the Brewers hope to be part of this season's playoff discussion.
