FOX Sports Wisconsin Midweek Stock Report for Sept. 9
Every Wednesday, FOX Sports Wisconsin takes a look at which athletes' stock is trending up and whose is trending down.
In other words, who is making a meteoric rise, and who is quickly plummeting.
With that in mind, let's "take stock" of the current sports scene in Wisconsin, shall we?
Ryan Braun
Despite the Brewers' disappointing season overall, the franchise's 31-year-old slugger looks as though he'll end up putting together a nice bounceback season after last year's forgettable .266 showing at the plate. Braun has already surpassed last season's home run total by hitting 25 homers, and looks like he might come close to a 100 RBI campaign. In the past week, the National League's 2011 MVP has hit .462 (12 for 26), to go along with three stolen bases. In a lost season, Braun's solid showing is something to build on, perhaps.
UW-Platteville's offense
The Platteville Pioneers ran roughshod over Buena Vista of the Iowa Conference in their season-opening football game last Saturday, in a 49-13 victory. The Pioneers were up 42-6 by halftime. The Pioneers had 491 yards of total offense, completed 25 of 30 pass attempts and averaged 7.1 yards gained per play. Six different Platteville players scored touchdowns, led by Patrick Sheehan's two trips to the end zone.
Domingo Santana
The prospect acquired from Houston demonstrated why he might be a future fixture in Milwaukee's outfield. This past week he batted .500 (10 for 20) with two home runs and seven RBI. He also walked six times and, perhaps most impressively for him, struck out only twice.
The Badgers' defense
It was an unfortunate Saturday night all around for Wisconsin's football squad in its 35-17 loss to No. 3 Alabama. But the Badgers' defense had an especially rough evening. UW was overwhelmed by the Crimson Tide, yielding 27 first downs and 502 total yards. Wisconsin's defense has now surrendered 400-plus yards in four of its last five contests dating back to last season.
Matt Garza
A frustrating season took a turn for the worse for Garza on Saturday. After a poor start that day in Game 1 of a doubleheader in Cincinnati -- in which Garza surrendered four earned runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings -- the Brewers' powers that be decided to shelve the 31-year-old starting pitcher for the rest of the season, in an effort to look at younger hurlers. The veteran will end the season with a 6-14 record and 5.63 ERA. Garza, who has 81 major-league wins over 10 seasons, has seen opponents hit .294 against him in 2015.
Logan Schafer
The 29-year-old center fielder never has had a reputation as a strong hitter, but he continues to trend in the wrong direction at the plate. Schafer has just one hit since Aug. 19 and his hit .083 (1 for 12) during that time, in limited action. Overall, Schafer is hitting .179 with four RBI in 50 games with Milwaukee this season.
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