It's been a crazy season for the Milwaukee Brewersâ€"a crazy and unlucky one.
Alex Gonzalez, Mat Gamel, and Chris Narveson have all been lost to season-ending injuries. Jonathon Lucroy has also missed significant time, as has starter Shaun Marcum.
Milwaukee has been forced to field a team that looks more like a minor league squad than a professional ballclub. This is why the Brewers sit in fourth place in the subpar National League Central, with a 40-45 record.
Positive remarks about their beloved team have been hard to come by for Brewers fans. After such an inspiring season in 2011, Brewers well-wishers were hoping for another dose of postseason successâ€"maybe even a World Series appearance.
But those dreams have begun to fade, just like Milwaukee in the standings.
The All-Star break couldn't have come any faster for the team known for their beer and brats. The first half was a failure and not too many Brewers players can feel satisfied with their statistics or the teams.
There have been a few bright spots, however. Ryan Braun, who just recently said he feels vindicated after his excellent first half, has put up MVP-caliber numbers once again. Doing so without Prince Fielder batting behind him is an even bigger feat.
The reigning MVP has done his thing, but the rest of the Crew have come up short.
Here are my midseason grades for Ryan Braun and every Milwaukee Brewers starting position player.
-Gonzalez, Gamel, and Lucroy will not be graded, as they have missed significant time.
C Martin Maldonado
Bob Levey/Getty Images
Statistics: .245 / 5 / 17
Martin Maldonado has filled the starting catchers role, vacated by Jonathon Lucroy, very nicely. It's surprising how well he is actually playing.
Better known for his defensive ability, Maldonado has miraculously provided manager Ron Roenicke with a solid punch from the bottom of the batting order.
Before being called up by the Brewers, Maldonado was hitting a mere .198 in 138 plate appearances. In 123 plate appearances in the majors, he is batting .245. That's a pretty decent turnaround.
The 25-year-old catcher has come up big for his new teamâ€"four of his five home runs have given Milwaukee the lead.
Maldonado has proved to Milwaukee that he deserves a permanent roster spot. He has thoroughly beaten out George Kottaras for the backup catcher position, which he will assume once Lucroy is activated from the disabled list.
Although we only have a small sample size to grade Maldonado's performance, seeing as he has only played in 34 games for the Crew, his defense has been top-tier and his offensive production is just a bonus.
Midseason Grade: B
1B Corey Hart
Mike McGinnis/Getty Images
Statistics: .254 / 16 / 38
Corey Hart has gracefully transitioned from the outfield to first base this year, a move that will most likely be permanent as long as he's a Brewer. After being skeptical at first, Hart has done a nice job holding down the fort.
In some cases, a defensive switch can mess with a player's mind and cause them to struggle on the offensive side. Hart has managed to separate the two.
Hart has spent time in the leadoff spot and in the five-hole this year. He has said he feels more comfortable as the leadoff hitter, but with limited options, Roenicke is forced to use Hart behind Aramis Ramirez.
Hart is another powerful bat for Roenicke's Crew. He's showing that his power numbers from a year ago were no fluke as he is second on the team in home runs.
His batting average has been a glaring issue, however.
Hart has struck out a total of 93 timesâ€"the seventh-most in the Major Leagues. A .227 hitter with runners in scoring position, Hart has stranded a clubhouse full of base runners.
He's been an upgrade from Casey McGehee, but that's like saying Aaron Rodgers is better than JaMarcus Russell.
Without Corey Hart driving in runs for the Brewers, they will be hard to come by. Hart must come through in the clutch more often if Milwaukee expects to succeed.
Midseason Grade: C+
2B Rickie Weeks
John Gress/Getty Images
Statistics: .199 / 8 / 29
Rickie Weeks has the lowest batting average in Major League Baseball. You read that right. His .199 mark is second lowest to none.
Needless to say, it has been an abysmal season for the Brewers second basemen. After being an All-Star starter in 2011, Weeks' career has took a turn for the worst.
Not only is his batting average in the cellar, he has struck out more times than anyone else in the National League. In 297 at bats, he's whiffed 100 times. Ron Roenicke was forced to move his regular leadoff hitter down in the order.
Weeks is having one of, if not the, worst seasons among major leaguers but there is reason to be optimistic .
After hitting .132 in May, Weeks bumped up his June average to .231. In eight games in July, he has posted a .345 average with two bombs.
Weeks is striking out a ton but he is also drawing his share of walks. He ranks fifth in the National League with 45 walks. While he's having a difficult time connecting for hits, Weeks is still managing to get on base.
The 2012 season has been a bitter disappointment for the former All-Star, but he can only go up from here.
Midseason Grade: F
SS Cody Ransom/Cesar Izturis
John Gress/Getty Images
Cody Ransom's stats are just as a Milwaukee Brewer
Statistics:
Cody Ransom: .186 / 3 / 16
Cesar Izturis: .212 / 1 / 8
Losing Alex Gonzalez to a torn ACL was a big blow not only for Gonzalez's knee, but to the Brewers.
Soon after the Arizona Diamondbacks placed the 36-year-old Cody Ransom on waivers, Milwaukee snatched him up. With Gonzalez gone, the Brewers were in desperate need of infield help.
Ransom was thrust into the every day starting role when Cesar Izturis was placed on the disabled list. Although Ransom has 16 RBI in 37 games played for Milwaukee, his production has been limited.
As a Brewer, Ransom has 102 at-bats. He has stuck 49 of those timesâ€"just under fifty-percent. If I was a betting man, I'd make a wager that Ransom will strike out at least twice a game. If I was a betting man, I'd be rich fast.
Ransom is no Alex Gonzalez but he has done an honorable job filling in at shortstop. He has yet to make an error for the Crew.
Milwaukee signed Cesar Izturis to back up A-Gon, but things just didn't work out that way.
Izturis has only played in 43 games for the Brewers, spending most of his time on the disabled list. There is no nice way to say this. He has been just as productive as he was when he was injured. He is more or less a waste of a roster spot.
Milwaukee's shortstops are more suited for an old-timers minor league team, but Milwaukee seems to be out of options.
Midseason Grades:
Cody Ransom: D
Cesar Izturis: F
3B Aramis Ramirez
Bob Levey/Getty Images
Statistics: .272 / 10 / 52
Since the Casey McGehee experiment was unsuccessful, the Brewers were in need of a new third basemen and someone to replace the clean-up spot vacated by Prince Fielder.
They signed Aramis Ramirez to a 3-year deal worth $36 million last offseason.
Ramirez started out suspiciously slow for his new team but has overcome the obstacles and has been a consistent producer.
Though Ryan Braun has driven in more runs, one could argue that Ramirez has been the best clutch performer for the Crew. With two outs and runners in scoring position, the former Cub is batting .306.
Hitting .272 at the All-Star break should be viewed as an accomplishment for the Silver Slugger award-winner. He began the season by hitting .214 in the month of April, but has improved every month since.
Ramirez's value to Milwaukee is indescribable. Without Ramirez, the Brewers would be lucky to win 25 games.
No player can replace Fielder and Ramirez is the first to acknowledge it, but he has definitely softened the loss of Fielder.
Midseason Grade: B
LF Ryan Braun
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Statistics: .306 / 24 / 61
Ryan Braun is cooking up a strong case to be the first back-to-back MVP since Barry Bonds. And he's doing it without Prince Fielder.
If Shyam Das didn't do enough to exonerate Braun, his first half stats definitely did, leaving Braun feeling vindicated.
The reigning MVP leads the National league in home runs and is second on the RBI leaderboard. Critics of Braun after his stormy offseason have hidden away among the Roger Clemens doubters.
As of July 6th, Braun is on pace to hit 47 home runs and drive in 117, both career-highs.
Yes, Braun is having another noteworthy season. And yes, he will be up there in MVP votes. But there is one area where Braun has been unBraun-lilkeâ€"hitting with runners in scoring position.
In 2011, Braun hit a remarkable .351 with runners in scoring position. This year, he is only batting .314. Still respectable, but not the clutch Ryan Braun we are used to seeing. The separation of Prince has a lot to do with that.
Opposing pitchers are more willing to face Aramis Ramirez, meaning pitching around Braun isn't as terrifying as it was with Fielder looming on deck.
Ryan Braun is well on his way toward another MVP, but the likelihood of winning one dwindles every time Milwaukee loses a game. MVP's are usually handed out to players on winning ball clubs, which is why Matt Kemp failed to win last year.
Braun has been one of the few bright spots for a struggling Milwaukee bunch.
Midseason Grade: A+
CF Nyjer Morgan/Carlos Gomez
Tom Lynn/Getty Images
Statistics:
Nyjer Morgan: .230/ 2 / 5
Carlos Gomez: .233 / 5 / 18
The center field position for the Milwaukee Brewers has been lackluster.
Carlos Gomez and Nyjer Morgan have been platooning but neither one of them has been producing. Gomez usually starts against left-handed pitchers while Morgan gets the call versus righties.
As of late, Gomez has been starting on a more regular basis, though his offensive production doesn't have a thing to do with it. His superior defensive ability is why he's receiving the nod.
Nyjer Morgan is not the Tony Plush Brewer fans remember from the magical 2011 season. His bat has been missing as has his alter ego.
The former National is hitting a mere .133 with runners in scoring position. He's not the Tony Clutch that delivered the most memorable hit in Brewers franchise history.
It's starting to look like Morgan was a one-hit wonder, but still a good one at that.
Carlos Gomez was on a tear before he hustled his way into a hamstring pull. His bat seems to still be on the disabled list.
AÂ more powerful hitter than Morgan, Gomez is also more of a free-swinger. It seems he tries to crush the ball out of Miller Park during every swing.
The former Twin is said to feast off left-handed pitching, yet he is only batting .238 against southpaws.
It's safe to say that the center field position is one of the more weaker positions for the Brewers. It wouldn't be surprising if Gomez and Morgan were to find different homes in the offseason.
Midseason Grades:
Nyjer Morgan: D
Carlos Gomez: C-
RF Norichika Aoki
Bob Levey/Getty Images
Statistics: .301 / 5 / 20
Norichika Aoki should be considered for National League Rookie of the Year. But he's not and he won't be. Nobody outside of Milwaukee knows who this guy is. Plus, his name isn't Bryce Harper.
Aoki has been an unexpected star for the city of Milwaukee. His signing didn't create a buzz like Yoenis Cespedes' did. It went under the radar like most things in a small-market town.
Aoki started his tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers as a bench player, getting a few spot starts. He soon proved to Ron Roenicke that he deserves to be an every day guy.
For a left-handed hitter, Aoki hits southpaws exceedingly well. He actually has a better batting average against lefties (.306) than he does against right-handed hurlers (.299). It's rare to see a complete hitter like this.
More of a contact hitter, the former Japan batting champion rarely strikes out. In 229 at bats, he has whiffed only 27 times. Maybe he should teach a thing or two to Rickie Weeks.
Milwaukee seems to have struck gold with this investment. It would be no surprise if Milwaukee re-signs the Japanese-born Aoki to an extension before his contract expires at the end of the 2013 season.
He has been that impressive.
Midseason Grade: A-
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