The Barrel Banter - A Milwaukee Brewers Show

S5, E24: Former producer Caleb Kassulke joins us to discuss the Brewers' shaky yet talented pitching staff and why they may be primed for a 2018-esque postseason run.

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?

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, E21: Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic joins us today to preview the Brewers' second half. We cover: - Brice Turang's breakout and whether he'll continue in the second half - How the Brewers should manage the crowded outfield - Trade deadline acquisitions in the bullpen vs. rotation - How he would line up a postseason rotation

S5, E20: The Brewers are officially at the All-Star break - we hand out grades to players and the team. What grade does Pat Murphy get in his first half as Brewers manager?

S5, E19: The Brewers got two All-Stars, but four candidates were left off the roster. What's up with that? Can the Brewers count on Aaron Civale and Dallas Keuchel for the rest of the season or are they merely band-aids to patch a much bigger problem? And lastly, how should the Brewers divide playing time with Garrett Mitchell's return?

S5, E18: CBS 58 Sports Director joins the show to discuss this current Brewers' team, his background falling in love with the game and later covering it, and what the future of baseball broadcasts may look like in the ever-shifting world of sports media. I really enjoyed this conversation, and hope you all do too!

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!

S5, E16: Snoop Dogg came to visit and ignited the Brewers' offense, taking two of three from the Reds amidst a 4-of-6 homestand. The bullpen has been picking up the slack for an injury-depleted rotation... is it sustainable?

S5, E15: The Brewers capped off a 6-1 homestand on Sunday with a series sweep of the White Sox - we break down the remarkable run and look at how the Brewers got here and where they could still upgrade.

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, 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.

S5, E12: Robert Gasser made a splash in his Big League debut, tossing six shutout innings. The team is still rolling in spite of their injuries. 9:00 - Introducing Mitch White, the newest Brewer 16:30 - Breaking down Robert Gasser's debut 20:45 - Ortiz or Dunn at 3B 25:15 - The surprising breakout of Jake Bauers

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

S5, E10: The Brewers' already-thin rotation is going through it, with multiple members landing on the IL. Can the Brewers withstand the injuries? And what's the latest with the top prospects? Mike Boeve appears to be confirmed good.

S5, E9: The Brewers rode a hot offense to win 4 of 6 on their road trip - how real is the offense? They currently rank second in runs/game, HR, BA, OBP and SLG. And should we root for former Brewers? Corbin Burnes beat the Brewers on Sunday - is it more painful, less or does it not really matter as fans? We banter...

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!

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, 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, 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? Thi...

S5, E4: The Brewers have a plethora of rotation innings available, so who might fill them? We look at the candidates. What are the expectations for newly-appointed ace Freddy Peralta? Can Wade Miley repeat his 2023 success? Are Robert Gasser and DL Hall legit rotation options?

S5, E3: Brewers' broadcaster and former pitcher Tim Dillard joined us to discuss his old post - the bullpen. 13:00 - Previewing the Brewers' bullpen 13:00 - Williams 18:30 - Uribe 23:00 - Payamps 26:00 - Peguero 28:00 - Hoby 38:30 - Hall and Gasser 43:30 - Breakout pick (big surprise) 51:00 - What pitchers do in the bullpen

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...

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.

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 re...