Notes: Hitting ball hard is one thing, but results at the plate would feel a lot better

There’s only so many times a player can be told “hang with it” when he continues to hit into hard outs.

Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun has heard that phrase far too often this season as he continues to strike the ball hard with little luck. That trend continued Friday night in the series opener against Philadelphia as Braun went 0 for 4 despite hitting a rocket-like grounder to second, liner to right field and liner to center.

After his lineout to center in the fourth, Braun peeled off toward the Brewers dugout and threw his hands toward the sky and tossed his helmet in the same direction in disbelief.

“He’s got a lot of perspective, having played the game a long time but it’s frustrating for any player,” manager Craig Counsell said Saturday. “At some point, you want some success. Patting him on the back and saying, ‘You hit it hard,’ it gets hollow. You want some results.

“There’s really nothing you can say at some point. But I think hitting the ball hard, ultimately, is going to produce some results.”

THE GAME:5 Takeaways | Box score

ANALYSIS:From start to finish, it was an ugly afternoon for Brewers

HAUDRICOURT:What to do with Orlando Arcia?

MLB:Live scoreboard, box scores, standings, statistics

Braun certainly hopes that holds true because thus far it hasn’t worked in his favor. He has talked often this season about hitting the ball hard with little luck and the numbers back him up in that regard.

Entering Saturday, Braun’s line-drive percentage was 24.3%, according to Fangraphs, easily the highest of his career. His hard-hit rate was 36.4%, falling in line with his career norm. Yet, on balls put in play, Braun was batting only .265, far below his career rate of .329.

Overall, Braun was batting .239, which easily would be a career low over a full season, with eight home runs, 31 RBI, .296 OBP and .740 OPS. By comparison, Braun entered 2018 with these career norms: .302 batting average, .364 OBP and .904 OPS.

Braun talks often about “trusting the process,” and Counsell said you can’t veer from that path no matter how poor the results.

“If you hit three balls hard a game, you’ve got to have trust that the process you’re using is going to produce results,” Counsell said. “It doesn’t always do it; that’s part of sports. But I do think he’s equipped to handle that.

“No matter who you are, you’re going to be frustrated going through that.”

Braun finally got a couple of balls to drop in Saturday, going 2 for 4 in the 4-1 loss to Philadelphia.

The bottom feeders: One of the keys to the Brewers’ offensive output in the 13-2 series-opening victory was the bottom of the batting order carrying some of the load. Three previously struggling hitters – Hernán Pérez, Manny Piña and Orlando Arcia – combined to go 7 for 15 (.467) with two RBI and five runs scored.

It didn’t hurt that pitcher Brent Suter also contributed a hit, two RBI and two runs scored, but Counsell said having production throughout the lineup was important for long-term success.

“A big number offensively has to have a lot of people involved,” he said. “It can’t just be half the lineup or two guys, if you want a really big number offensively. It’s the key to being a consistent run-scoring team.

“On nights when we score six, seven, eight runs, the whole lineup is going to be involved. That was the case (Friday); it was the case two of the days in Philadelphia (when the Brewers scored 12 runs in consecutive games). You have to have sequential guys doing the job and keeping the line moving.

“Last year, you could say that was a pretty productive part of the order, if you look at the seasons those guys had.”

Davies, Miley progressing: Right-hander Zach Davies, on the DL a second time with rotator cuff inflammation, threw a bullpen session before the game. If he has no ill effects, Davies said he will leave Tuesday to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Class AAA Colorado Springs.

Because the injury recurred after his first DL stint, Davies will pitch at least three times in the minors before being activated.

Lefty Wade Miley is on the 60-day DL with an oblique strain and can’t be activated until July 9. He is making progress, however, and is slated to throw a simulated game Sunday. If that goes well, he expects to head out later in the week for a minor-league rehab with an affiliate to be determined.