Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
PHOENIX — Much of spring training is designed for players to get back into a groove; pitchers use their work to build up arm strength and tinker with mechanics while hitters use their at-bats to refine their swing and timing.
But there comes a point where results begin to matter and for Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke, that time has come.
“It starts to get alarming this late in camp,” Roenicke said. “Before this, it didn’t bother me. But from here on out, yeah.
“It’s hard to go into a season when any of the guys, whether it’s a regular or not, if (a hitter) is not swinging the bat or a pitcher’s not throwing the ball well, it’s hard to go into a season figuring that when the lights go on that all of a sudden they’re going to completely turn this around. Usually it doesn’t happen that way.”
Roenicke’s biggest concern at this point has been a lack of production from those fighting for the few remaining spots in Milwaukee’s bullpen as well as those looking for a job coming off the Brewers’ bench.
Right-hander Brandon Kintzler was looking to bounce back after a an up-and-down 2014 season (3-3, 3.24 ERA) but has a 7.11 ERA in six Cactus League appearances. Lefty Neal Cotts, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract over the winter has appeared in seven exhibition contests and has allowed six earned runs on 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.
Infielder Luis Jimenez is a leading candidate to make the team and would see significant action spelling veteran Aramis Ramirez at third base. But Jimenez, who began Thursday with a team-high 39 at-bats this spring, is batting just .179 with five strikeouts.
“If he’s going to be the guy at third base to pick up Aramis, there’s going to be at-bats there,” Roenicke said. “So whoever that person is needs to swing the bat well.”
