Disaster Relief 8/4

By now the story has been beaten to the ground. Prince Fielder's altercation with Manny Parra in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Reds has turned many heads towards a team trying to break out of a losing slump. So far, everybody in the organization is confident that the scuffle is nothing but a poorly timed altercation during the heat of competition. Teammates have already brushed off the incident as nothing more than Monday's loss as they prepare for Tuesday.

The real problem with this situation is all the optimisim that has risen after the scuffle. Have the Brewers forgotten that they face Edinson Volquez tonight? Last time he faced the Brewers he struck out 10 batters. If anbody in the National League has a suggestion for solving Volquez it usually involves taking opportunity of his mistakes, something the Brewers have had immense trouble with over the past 10 games. If their struggles continue and Volquez is on form, the drama in the Brewers clubhouse could continue to boil beyond repair. 

While the rest of the Brewers schedule has been touted by many analysts as very favorable, the team still needs to win the games. While more than 20 games are against teams with a record below .500, the matchups do not necessarily favor the Brewers. Many of these teams are divison foes with extensive scouting reports on a team with many holes. August 12-17 will also be a tough stretch as the Brewers face teams with talented pitching, a common weapon often used to shut down the Brewers offense this season.

Miller Park crowds will continue to grow as the season ends, while the team nudges closer to contention for a coveted playoff spot. The talent on the field doesn't necessarily guarantee the Brewers the playoffs, and if the last 10 games have said anything to Brewer fans, it's that the team is still young and a bit inexperienced. There is a lot of motivation coming from many sources on and off the field. If the recent slump has anything to say about the team, it's that they need all the motivation they can get.