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Milwaukee Brewers: Like it or love it, Ryan Braun is a part of rebuild

By Ben Hertel

Jun 10, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) reacts after lining out in the sixth inning during the game against the New York Mets at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 10, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) reacts after lining out in the sixth inning during the game against the New York Mets at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ryan Braun’s career with the Milwaukee Brewers has been up and down one. Despite facing his past head on, and becoming the cornerstone of a franchise, Braun still can’t win in Milwaukee. Whether fans like it or not, Braun is a part of the current and future playoff chase. 

Ryan Braun hit his ten-year anniversary with the Milwaukee Brewers a few days ago. Prince Fielder, Ben Sheets, Rickie Weeks, JJ Hardy, and almost now 50-year-old Brian Shouse were on the team when 23-year-old Ryan Braun made his debut.

In that ten year span, lots of things happened. Prince retired, JJ Hardy, Yovani Gallardo, and Rickie Weeks (somehow) have stuck around and have had some success. The Brewers also only have made the playoffs twice over that stretch.

The one constant with the Brewers over that ten-year stretch has been Ryan Braun in the outfield, and sure, there have been many up and downs in that stretch. Braun’s go-ahead homer on the final day in ’08 will live in Brewers history forever.

The downs have been more scrutinized. The PED fallout and the injuries have been magnified by Braun critics everywhere.

So, the Brewers now sit atop the NL Central without Ryan Braun. There’s the majority  “he should be traded” or “Ryan Braun is hurting the team” crowd, and the minority “I love Braun crowd.”

I am a part of the “I love Braun” crowd, and whether Brewers fans like it or not, Braun is here to stay, and he’s as big as anyone else in this rebuild.

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He’s a veteran with playoff experience and a leader in the clubhouse. Ryan Braun also happens to be a star or at worst an above average player. Just a season ago, Braun hit .305 with 30 home runs in 135 games!!!!

Sure, his stats are down this year, but he’s been brought down by nagging injuries. Braun should have gone to the DL right away this season with his arm injury. He didn’t and happened to get hurt again.

He will be back soon enough and hitting between all-star candidates Eric Thames and Travis Shaw. That 2,3,4 punch could be the most deadly in baseball for the next couple years to come. Give Braun time to come back and get healthy in June before calling this a “down” year. Braun can get hot quick, and his bat alone can take this team to the next level.

None of the Brewers prospects are for sure things. Brett Phillips, Lewis Brinson, Ryan Cordell, Trent Clark and Corey Ray, if they all even make it, could get to Milwaukee and just be average or below average players. They are not proven MLB commodities like Braun.

Ryan Braun is a 30 home run player, who has played in the playoffs. How does he supposedly hurt this rebuild? How does he hurt the rebuild any more than Nick Franklin, Hernan Perez, Keon Broxton or Domingo Santana?

Nick Frankin is taking a roster spot away from a prospect. Santana and Broxton, solid but yet unspectacular players, are taking roster spots and playing time from the top guys.

Also, when does the rebuild end? The Brewers are in an excellent position to make the playoffs for only the 5th stinking time since 1981. I’m 21, and I’ve only seen playoff baseball twice in my lifetime.

The Rebuild is almost over. No other major pieces are getting shipped out. The Minor Leagues won’t be getting infused with a ton of talent anymore. That talent will be getting shipped out for Major Leaguers who can help get to the playoffs.

The Brewers have an elite offense without Braun, so imagine where an offense with Braun can take them.

When Braun gets back, Counsell will have to be smart about his playing time.

He’s not a spring chicken anymore. He needs to sit down and rest. Hernan Perez is a great “rest platoon” option for Braun.

Braun’s deserved off days are my least favorite games to watch or keep up on. He’s a soft player to everyone because he needs to sit down, and every injury he’s ever had, and every game he’s ever missed comes into play.

When you look back at Braun’s injury history, it’s unreal he didn’t miss more games than he did. Ryan played with a bulging disc in his back and nerve damage in his thumb. He was swinging at the ball one-handed.

In his nine previous seasons, Braun has only played in under 130 games one time. To put that into context, all-star Troy Tulowitzki has played in under 130 games in 6 of his ten non-rookie seasons. Ryan Braun has been a durable player.

The Milwaukee Brewers need Ryan Braun. He’s as big to the rebuild as Josh Hader, Junior Guerra, Eric Thames, Travis Shaw, or Orlando Arcia. It’s time to forget about his PED suspension that happened years ago. He’s confronted that and put it behind him.

It’s time for everyone to look at Braun for what he is. He’s a Brewers legend, a capable major league player, and the Milwaukee Brewers best shot at the playoffs. The rebuild is over, and it’s time for the Brewers to get serious about the playoffs.

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