Tagged: Wily Peralta

February 27, 2015

Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers ’15 – #38 Wily Peralta

As we continue to inch our way toward Opening Day on April 6, we sit 38 days away today on February 27. That’s the bad news. The good news today is that all the players have reported (with one not-quite-official free agent signing as the exception), the first full squad workout has been completed by now, and we’re less than a week away from the Cactus League opener.

As everyone gets better and better each day, shaking the rust off of their throwing shoulders and batting eyes, the anticipation is building toward actual, honest-to-God, on-the-field, competitive baseball where they actually keep score.

But today, we continue my “Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers” series counting down to Opening Day. As such, let’s review and look ahead on the man who switched to number 38 before the 2014 season…

Wily Peralta.

The workhorse right-hander from the Dominican Republic with the heavy fastball, Wily Peralta continued 2014 where he left off 2013. That is to say that he took another step forward in his development.

Peralta had a number of problems as a younger pitcher, both in terms of starting seasons slowly from a production standpoint, as well as letting the mental side of the game overwhelm him at times. 2014 was the first season where we saw almost all of that gone from Peralta. He was much more even in his demeanor and when situations arose where he’d think or emote himself out of his game, he was able to calm himself down quickly and get back to it. Probably the only issue I saw in this realm was in August. That’s when the offense was scuffling and both Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza were on the shelf. It felt to me like Peralta pressed that month. His team needed him and he put too much pressure on himself and suffered for it. Once the rotation got back to full strength, he settled back down and finished the season strong.

Now for statistical backing. Let’s throw Peralta’s month-by-month splits from Baseball-Reference.com. You’ll see April and May were strong, August (and July) were rough, and September was very good.

Ironically, Peralta won just one game in May, won all of his starts in June despite a 4.22 ERA and went 3-1 in five July starts. But as you can clearly see, Peralta got off to a nice start and his finish was even stronger.

Speaking of strong, the 6’1″, 245 pounder certainly has a big fastball that he runs into the high 90s, mixed with a power slider. He generates a ton of ground balls when he’s going right (53.6% in 2014 and a career mark of 52.5%) and mixes in plenty of strikeouts. Peralta can be prone to some BAbip concerns as his worst statistical months carried his highest BAbip figures.

Bottom line for Peralta is how big of a next step he takes. Some decriers will say he’s even due for regression, but conventional thought is that Peralta maintains or improves on most of his overall stats. He may not win 17 games in 2015, but smart fans know that win total isn’t the best way to tell how well a pitcher performs. There’s room for improvement in terms of consistency and within each start. There’s a chance that the nearly 26-year-old hurler will assume the mantle of best pitcher on the staff this year.

He’s capable, but he needs to continue along the same path of improvement he’s been on. He nearly pitched 200 innings, an in-season benchmark of a top-of-the-rotation starter, and with a bit more in the way of positive results, he’ll be right where he and his teammates need him to be.

I’m as interested in watching the continued development of Peralta as I am nearly anything else about this year’s Brewers. I think you should be too.

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Catch up on the countdown!

February 24, 2015

Wily Peralta Bobblehead Revealed

This came out Monday on the Brewers social media channels, but in case you missed it…

January 26, 2015

Brewers On Deck 2015 – The Interviews

Here is a boatload of audio recorded on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at Brewers On Deck in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Enjoy!!

Right fielder Ryan Braun

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Relief pitcher Jim Henderson

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Manager Ron Roenicke

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New Brewers first baseman Adam Lind

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Starting pitcher Wily Peralta

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Newest member of the starting rotation Jimmy Nelson

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All-Star outfielder Carlos Gomez

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Second baseman Scooter Gennett

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All-Star starting catcher Jonathan Lucroy

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General Manager Doug Melvin met with the assembled media

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EXCLUSIVE with 40-man pitcher Michael Blazek

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Prinicpal Owner Mark Attanasio addressed the media

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This is the full audio from one of the Main Stage events, a panel discussion (with fan questions!) featuring Mark Attanasio, Doug Melvin, Gord Ash, Adam Lind, Corey Knebel, and Luis Sardinas

January 16, 2015

Brewers On Deck 2015 – Attendees List, Pricing, Additional Details

BREWERS ON DECK TO INCLUDE OVER 50 PLAYERS, COACHES, BROADCASTERS & ALUMNI
Event to Feature Community Book Drive; Food Donations Accepted through Hunger Task Force

OFFICIAL RELEASE

Nearly 50 Milwaukee Brewers players plus a host of alumni, coaches, front office executives and broadcasters are scheduled to participate in Brewers On Deck, which is set to take place on Sunday, January 25 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Wisconsin Center.

Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $9 for children 14 and under. Tickets on the day of the event are $20 for adults and $15 for children 14 and under. A portion of the proceeds from Brewers On Deck will benefit Brewers Community Foundation. Tickets may be purchased at the Miller Park ticket office, by calling the Brewers ticket office at 414-902-4000, or online at brewers.com/ondeck.

This year the event will feature a community book drive that will help support Next Door’s Books for Kids program. The goal of the Books for Kids campaign is to help all children in Milwaukee’s central city, regardless of their family income or education levels, have books they can call their own. Local author Marla McKenna will help host the event. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used children’s books to donate. In appreciation for their contribution, fans who donate a book will receive a free copy of McKenna’s newest publication, “Mom’s Big Catch,” a story based upon events that took place at Miller Park.

Once again food donations will be accepted through Hunger Task. Donations can be dropped off at two main entrances to the Wisconsin Center, located at 4th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, and 4th Street and Wells Street.

Players, coaches and alumni scheduled to attend include (all subject to change):

PLAYERS

Michael Blazek
Ryan Braun
Juan Centeno
Matt Clark
Clint Coulter
Khris Davis
Mike Fiers
~~Yovani Gallardo~~
Scooter Gennett
David Goforth
Carlos Gomez
Hector Gomez
Brooks Hall
Jim Henderson
Jeremy Jeffress
Taylor Jungmann
Brandon Kintzler
Corey Knebel (just added)
Adam Lind
Jonathan Lucroy
Kyle Lohse
~~Hunter Morris~~
Jimmy Nelson
Gerardo Parra
Wily Peralta
Shane Peterson
Jason Rogers
Luis Sardiñas (just added)
Logan Schafer
Will Smith
Michael Strong
Tyler Thornburg
Rob Wooten

COACHES

Darnell Coles (Hitting Coach)
Joe Crawford (Video/Scouting)
Matt Erickson (Timber Rattlers Mgr.)
Mike Guerrero (1st Base Coach)
Marcus Hanel (Bullpen Catcher)
Rick Kranitz (Pitching Coach)
Jerry Narron (Bench Coach)
Ron Roenicke (Manager)
Ed Sedar (3rd Base Coach)
John Shelby (Outfield Coach)
Lee Tunnell (Bullpen Coach)

ALUMNI

Jerry Augustine
Cecil Cooper
Craig Counsell
Rob Deer
Jim Gantner
Larry Hisle

Brewers On Deck will feature a number of activities for the entire family. Autographs and photos from Brewers players, coaches and alumni; interactive games in the Kids Area; Q&A sessions and game shows with Brewers players, coaches and broadcasters; vendor booths with baseball memorabilia; Brewers Community Foundation’s Treasure Hunt, a 50/50 raffle, live auction and many other activities will all be a part of Brewers On Deck.

Details regarding autographs include the following: Recipients of “PREMIER” autographs (players to be announced next week) will be chosen through a random selection process. Each fan in attendance will receive one Premier Entry sheet which may be redeemed at the Random Selection area outside the Main Exhibit Hall of the Wisconsin Center District. The Premier Entry sheet will be exchanged for a numbered coupon to be entered into the random selection process for any one of the select Brewers players. Coupon distribution will be available at 8 a.m. the day of the event and will continue up to an hour before each designated autograph session. There is no cost for coupons to enter the random selection process; however, those holding winning coupons must pay $10 at the respective autograph stage to collect their player signature. There will be 250 winners for each of the autograph sessions. The winning ticket numbers will be posted at the designated autograph stage no less than 30 minutes prior to each player’s session.

Players and staff not included in the PREMIER autograph list will not use the random selection process. Each of these players will sign 250 autographs at prices ranging from free to $10. A schedule of players, their session times, and distribution info will be posted next week. The autograph opportunities are for signatures on photo cards provided by the team; the Brewers cannot guarantee that any player will sign other memorabilia. For additional information, visit Brewers.com/ondeck.

Autograph proceeds benefit Brewers Community Foundation. Please note that cash is the only acceptable form of payment for autographs. The Brewers cannot guarantee that any player will sign other memorabilia, and personalization of items is solely up to the discretion of each player.

A detailed schedule of all Brewers On Deck events will be released next week.

UPDATE! Here is the schedule…

Recipients of “PREMIER” autographs Ryan Braun, Carlos Gomez, Jonathan Lucroy and Bob Uecker will be chosen through a random selection process. Each fan in attendance will receive one Premier Entry card which may be redeemed at the Random Selection area outside the Main Exhibit Hall of the Wisconsin Center. The Premier Entry card will be exchanged for a numbered coupon and entered into the random selection process for any one of the select Brewers players. Coupon distribution will be available at 8 a.m. the day of the event and will continue up to an hour before each designated autograph session.

There is no cost for coupons to enter the random selection process; however, those holding winning coupons must pay $10 at the respective autograph stage to collect their player signature. There will be 250 winners for each of the autograph sessions. The winning ticket numbers will be posted at the designated autograph stage no less than 30 minutes prior to each player’s session. A schedule is listed below:

PREMIER AUTOGRAPH SCHEDULE

Player Signing Time Stage

Bob Uecker 12:30 – 1:15 5

Ryan Braun 1:00 – 1:45 6

Jonathan Lucroy 2:30 – 3:15 3

Carlos Gomez 3:00 – 3:45 1

Players and staff not included in the above autograph list will not use the random selection process. Each of those players will sign 250 autographs at prices ranging from free to $10.

The autograph opportunities are for signatures on photo cards provided by the team; the Brewers cannot guarantee that any player will sign other memorabilia, and personalization of items is solely up to the discretion of each player (BOLD ITALICS – Premier Autograph).

Autograph Schedule – MAIN STAGES

Stage 1

10:30 – 11:15 Scooter Gennett ($10)

12:00 – 12:45 Logan Schafer ($10)

1:30 – 2:15 Mike Fiers ($10)

3:00 – 3:45 Carlos Gomez ($10)

Stage 2

12:30 – 1:15 Jim Henderson ($10)

2:00 – 2:45 Gerardo Parra ($10)

3:30 – 4:15 Will Smith ($10)

Stage 3

11:30 – 12:15 Adam Lind ($10)

2:30 – 3:15 Jonathan Lucroy ($10)

3:45 – 4:30 Wily Peralta ($10)

Stage 4

10:30 – 11:15 Brandon Kintzler ($10)

12:00 – 12:45 Rob Wooten ($10)

1:30 – 2:15 Khris Davis ($10)

Stage 5

11:00 – 11:45 Jimmy Nelson ($10)

12:30 – 1:15 Bob Uecker ($10)/Mark Attanasio ($0)

3:30 – 4:15 Jeremy Jeffress ($10)

Stage 6

11:30 – 12:15 Tyler Thornburg ($10)

1:00 – 1:45 Ryan Braun ($10)

3:45 – 4:30 Kyle Lohse ($10)

Players who are not listed above will sign free autographs on the Bonus Stage all day long.

Please note that cash is the only acceptable form of payment for autographs.

The 620 WTMJ Stage will broadcast live from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will include interviews with Brewers players and coaches.

New this year, fans are invited to stop by the Social Media Stage for fun and games. Fans can also post their photos from the event to Twitter and/or Instagram using the hashtag #BrewersOnDeck for a chance to win prizes such as a trip down Bernie Brewer’s slide, game tickets and more. For contest rules, visit brewers.com/onDeck.

Children are invited to visit the Farm Teams Infield for free batting and hitting clinics scheduled throughout the day. Brewers alumni and players will be on hand for the instructional sessions. Kids can run around the field or try a quick game of ping pong with Brewers players.

Klement’s Main Stage Schedule

10:15 a.m. – Welcome – Brewers television broadcaster Craig Coshun will welcome fans to Brewers On Deck. The winners of the seven T-Shirt Friday designs will be introduced to fans.

11:15 a.m. – Meet the Coaches – Third base coach Ed Sedar will host a Q&A session with Brewers manager Ron Roenicke and his coaching staff.

12:30 p.m. – The Brewlywed Game – Brewers players, coaches, prospects and alumni will participate in a game show to see which pair really knows each other the best. Joe Block will host the show.

2:00 p.m. – Meet the Management and Newest Players – Brewers Chairman and Principal Owner Mark Attanasio, President of Baseball Operations – General Manager Doug Melvin, Vice President – Assistant General Manager Gord Ash will join the newest Brewers acquisitions – Corey Knebel, Adam Lind and Luis Sardinas – in a question and answer session with Brewers fans. The session will be hosted by Brian Anderson.

3:15 p.m. – Call to the Pen – Brewers players, coaches, prospects and alumni will participate in a game show, similar to Pictionary. Joe Block will host the show.

December 29, 2014

Don’t Call It a Comeback

My annual countdown to Opening Day will return for another season!

There has been some decent 40-man roster turnover since Spring Training. I mark the passage of time from (roughly) the turn of the calendar until Brewers Opening Day by previewing players who wear a certain uniform number on the corresponding day.

We’re 98 days away from Opening Day, so we won’t get underway on this thing quite yet, but once the countdown coincides with a jersey, you’ll see the first column go up.

I call the series “Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers” and it works a little something like this:

Opening Day is April 6, 2015.
March 29th is eight days before April 6th.
Ryan Braun wears number 8 on his jersey.
I’ll write an article reviewing Ryan Braun’s 2014 and looking ahead to his 2015 and post it on March 29, 2015.

Make sense? Here’s another example:

Jonathan Broxton wears number 51.
51 days before April 6th is February 14th.
I’ll post my Broxton column on February 14th.

I do a column on every player who is on the Brewers 40-man roster along with most Spring Training non-roster invitees. I’ll update this space with a full schedule once the uniform numbers for the newest 40-man additions are announced. I’ll update it again as non-roster invitees are revealed.

Thanks for reading and sticking with me this winter. BBtJN is a very popular series and I thank you for that. Stay tuned!

October 6, 2014

Milwaukee BBWAA Chapter Team Awards

PRESS RELEASE

The Milwaukee Brewers announced their postseason award winners today as voted by members of the Milwaukee Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). A total of seven ballots were cast for each award, assigning five points for first place, three for second and one for third.

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy earned Brewers Most Valuable Player with all seven first-place votes (35 points). Lucroy was followed by center fielder Carlos Gomez, who received all of the second-place votes (21 points). Also receiving consideration was pitcher Francisco Rodriguez (3 points), pitcher Wily Peralta (2 points), right fielder Ryan Braun (1 point) and third baseman Aramis Ramirez (1 point).

Lucroy, a first-time All-Star selection this season, batted .301 with 13 HR and 69 RBI in 153 games. He led the team in games played (153), at-bats (585), batting average (.301), hits (176), extra-base hits (68), doubles (53), walks (66), on-base percentage (.373) and OPS (.837). With his franchise-record-tying 53 doubles, he became the first primary catcher to lead his league in that category. His 46 doubles as a catcher set a Major League record.

Jonathan Lucroy (28 points) also earned the Good Guy Award for the second straight season. He received five first-place votes. The other first-place votes went to pitcher Kyle Lohse (13 points). A total of seven players received votes.

Wily Peralta was voted Brewers Most Valuable Pitcher as he received six first-place votes (33 points). He was followed by Francisco Rodriguez (17 points). The other first-place vote went to Mike Fiers (5 points). Also receiving votes were Kyle Lohse (7 points), Will Smith (2 points) and Zach Duke (1 point).

Peralta went 17-11 with a 3.53 ERA in 32 starts. He led the team in wins (17), innings pitched (198.2), quality starts (22) and strikeouts (154). His 17 wins tied for fifth in the National League. Peralta had a pair of career-high five-game winning streaks this season, coming from June 5-26 and July 13 to August 7.

Pitcher Zach Duke (17 points) earned Brewers Top Newcomer ahead of Francisco Rodriguez (15 points). Duke received just one first-place vote, but was named on every ballot. Rodriguez received three first-place votes. The remaining first-place votes went to pitchers Matt Garza (14 points), Will Smith (9 points) and Jeremy Jeffress (6 points).

Duke went 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 74 relief appearances. He recorded 74 strikeouts in just 58.2 innings pitched. Duke was the only non-roster pitcher to make the Opening Day roster. From April 12 to May 10, he made 14 consecutive scoreless appearances (13.1ip). From June 22 to July 30, he had 16 consecutive scoreless appearances (14.2ip).

Zach Duke also earned Brewers Unsung Hero honors with four first-place votes (25 points). Also receiving first-place votes were pitchers Mike Fiers (17 points) and Will Smith (11 points) and second baseman Scooter Gennett (6 points). Also named on ballots were pitchers Jeremy Jeffress (3 points) and Yovani Gallardo (1 point).

August 7, 2014

Legends of the Field Giveaway

From my partner Legends of the Field (look to the right for their logo which links to their website), here are the autographed photos I’m giving away.

Stay tuned to both Twitter (@BrewerNation) & Facebook (facebook.com/BrewerNation) for instructions on how to qualify to win one.

I have two prints of each player to give away, so there will be four winners on each platform (and no, I won’t let you win twice but you can certainly enter on both), so your odds of winning are pretty good.

For an extra entry, leave a comment on the blog with your social media username. You need a free account to do that, but taking the time shows you care.

Good luck!

Oh, and if you don’t win, go to their website, find something you want to buy, use my code at checkout and save 15%! The code: BREWERNATION15

March 21, 2014

2014 Milwaukee Brewers 25-Man Roster Projection

We’re on the precipice of Opening Day, but there are still some decisions awaiting the front office staff of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Most pressing, if not most important, is how they will construct the 25-man roster to begin the 2014 regular season. In this, they’ve got some options.

Let’s assume a couple of things off the top here. First, a standard 13 hitter, 12 pitcher roster split. Second, that we’re all aware that things will change throughout the season and plenty of the players who don’t make the Opening Day roster will don a Brewers uniform at some point in 2014.

I’ll lay out the different roster groupings and then explain what went into my decisions thereafter. Cool?

With that, to the list!

Starting Pitchers (5)

Yovani Gallardo
Kyle Lohse
Marco Estrada
Matt Garza
Wily Peralta

I did my best educated guess at the order here too. It was announced that Gallardo has Opening Day honors and that Lohse will follow in Game 2. It was also hinted that Garza could pitch the opener in Boston, but that isn’t for sure yet…at least not publicly. Couple that with how well Estrada has pitched and he’s the superior choice against Atlanta in Game 3 than is Peralta.

The wrinkle here is that the Brewers have the opportunity to start the season with four starters because of the off-days scheduled. They don’t need a fifth starting pitcher until mid-April. If they do that, Peralta would start with Nashville to stay on rotation.

Relief Pitchers (7)

(with one more starting on DL)

Jim Henderson
Francisco Rodriguez
Will Smith*
Brandon Kintzler
Wei-Chung Wang*
Rob Wooten
Alfredo Figaro (Alternative: Tyler Thornburg)
Tom Gorzelanny* (DL)

Henderson is the incumbent closer. Rodriguez was brought in on a MLB deal and has the longest track record out of any of the options. Smith has been great this spring after being acquired in trade. Kintzler was very good last year and has a spot locked up. Wang makes it in part because of how well he’s thrown but also because of the Rule V circumstances. Wooten pitched well enough in his time last year that he gets one of my “open” jobs. He’s certainly in a fungible position, though, as he’s got minor league options remaining.

For the final active spot, I’m going with Alfredo Figaro. I know that Tyler Thornburg is under consideration for that job, but I think that they’ll realize that he’s more valuable staying stretched out at Nashville in order to cover the inevitable first injury to the starting rotation than he is in pitching at best every other day in Milwaukee as the long man. Figaro filled the long relief role admirably last year as his stuff played up out of the bullpen.

Wooten, Figaro, and Thornburg all have at least one minor league option remaining so there’s no real consideration of roster depth when making any decisions concering the three. And I think we’ll be seeing all of them pitch at Miller Park in 2014 at one point or another.

As for non-roster invitee Zach Duke, I think that the Brewers have liked what they’ve seen but with Wang making good (so far), there really isn’t room for Duke to begin the season. The veteran lefty is on a minor-league deal, so most likely he’ll simply be assigned to Nashville to start.

Catchers (2)

Jonathan Lucroy
Martin Maldonado

They’re the only two on the 40-man and that’s because they’re the two best in the organization. Nothing more needs to be said here.

Infielders (7)

Mark Reynolds
Rickie Weeks
Jean Segura
Aramis Ramirez
Juan Francisco** (Alternative: Lyle Overbay)
Scooter Gennett**
Jeff Bianchi (Alternative: Elian Herrera)

Reynolds was signed to a minor-league deal for roster considerations at the time. He’s got a job. Weeks is the longest-tenured player in the organization right now and isn’t moveable (yet). Segura and Ramirez are obvious inclusions. Gennett comes along if they go with two second basemen, which has been the hottest talk of late.

Despite all the talk to the contrary lately, I still think that if they must choose between them, Francisco’s potential, relative youth, power, and increased patience this spring outweight Overbay’s veteran savvy, locker room presence, and far superior defense. That said, I can absolutely see a scenario in which they trade Francisco for an asset and keep Overbay. Maybe I’m projecting Francisco simply out of hope.

The other hotly contested job has been the utility infielder role. Jeff Bianchi filled the role last year with middling success. The biggest challenger to Bianchi’s incumbency has been the 40-man rostered Elian Herrera, who was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers over the winter. They’ve both hit, they both have defensive versatility. The differences that matter: Bianchi is a better defender at shortstop. Herrera is a much more natural outfielder (which is big when you’ve only got four rostered). Herrera is a switch hitter. Bianchi is out of options; Herrera has one remaining. It is that last point that I think will be the deciding factor. Herrera will start at Nashville and would absolutley be the first man called upon should an injury befall any infielder on the big league roster.

For the record: Should they decide that they can forego two second basemen to start the year to even the roster out a bit a more, I think Herrera would make the club over a fifth true outfielder.

Outfielders (4)

Khris Davis
Carlos Gomez
Ryan Braun
Logan Schafer**

Another easy prediction. Schafer could see some time starting in left field, but as the only man on the projected roster that can backup centerfield, he’ll likely be providing coverage from the bench more often than not.

* - Throws left-handed
** - Bats left-handed
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So there you have it.

I welcome feedback and want to hear your opinions. Do you agree? Disagree? Think I’m overlooking an important detail or better player? Look down there…a “Comments” section.

February 21, 2014

Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers ’14 – #38 Wily Peralta

It’s late on February 21st, but it’s still February 21st. That puts us exactly 38 days away from Opening Day.

No time for fluff tonight. Let’s get going on the profiling of…

Wily Peralta.

After wearing #60 in his limited engagement in 2012 and throughout the much fuller MLB season in 2013, Peralta was among the Brewers players to switch things up heading into 2014. Coming up on the countdown still are both Tyler Thornburg (who switched from 63 to 30) and Logan Schafer (who took number 1 after Matt Garza rode his horse into town).

But I digress.

We’re here now, so let’s discuss the former top prospect of the Milwaukee Brewers and what his full-season debut was like.

Across 32 starts, the 6’1″, 245 pound, 24-year-old would pitch 183.1 innings, striking out 129 and walked 73. He allowed a total of 19 home runs among 187 hits.

Final season line: 11-15, 4.37 ERA.

On their own, some of his full-season numbers may not look all that spectacular, but among them were flashes of brilliance. Peralta completed two games (which is an enormous feat in recent Milwaukeean history), and really posted solid numbers through the latter two-thirds of the year.

Here are some of his splits by month:

March/April – 5.02 ERA, 1.465 WHIP, 4.7 K/9, 1.25 K/BB
May – 7.71 ERA, 2.000 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 1.58 K/BB
June – 4.33 ERA, 1.415 WHIP, 4.3 K/9, 1.31 K/BB
July – 2.13 ERA, 1.105 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 2.20 K/BB
August – 4.25 ERA, 1.247 WHIP, 6.7 K/9, 2.44 K/BB
September 3.42 ERA, 1.394 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 1.92 K/BB

July was by far Peralta’s best month in many respects, and like much of the rest of the team, May was easily his worst. But the bottom line for Peralta was that he struggled to get going early.

Without too much extra bluster, it’s important to mention that the workhorse Dominican needs to figure out a way to get going early in the year. After all, this isn’t an isolated incident. In 2012, as I mentioned last year (along with his history, and pitch breakdown), Peralta got off to a slow start as well.

The Brewers start off with a tough schedule on paper in the month of April this year, so Peralta will need to get things going early…

And it’s not just so that he can pitch effectively. It’s also so that he has a job in the rotation. Don’t misunderstand, I think he’s virtually a lock for the big league rotation, but if he struggles in Arizona and someone like Tyler Thornburg dominates there, the Brewers could do something radical like give the ball to Thornburg while he’s hot and Peralta is “ramping up”, so to speak.

Again, though, I think Peralta has his job lined up and will head north in either the fourth or fifth spot in Ron Roenicke’s rotation.

What he does with it after that is up to him — his off-season efforts, preparations, and training.

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Miss anyone along the way? Catch up on the Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers profiles to this point:

January 30, 2014

Brewers Reveal Options For Fans’ Choice Bobblehead

Eight All-Fan Bobblehead Giveaway dates are scheduled at Miller Park this season, and fans will get to choose which player will be immortalized in Bobblehead form on Sunday, July 27 when the Brewers take on the New York Mets. Beginning today at 10 a.m. CT and continuing through Friday, February 7 at noon CT, fans can visit Brewers.com to cast their vote for one of three Brewers players to be selected: pitchers Matt Garza, Jim Henderson or Wily Peralta.

In addition, fans can cast an extra vote via Twitter (using the hashtag of their choice shown in the graphic above) or text message. For complete details, visit Brewers.com/bobblevote. The winner will be announced on Monday, February 10 at 11am.