Midweek Stock Report: Brewers' Perez lighting it up, bullpen lights out
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?
David Stearns, Brewers general manager
It isn't easy trading away popular players, but Stearns did just that as he unloaded Jonathan Lucroy, Will Smith and Jeremy Jeffress at the trading deadline. The result? Milwaukee now has the top farm system in the major leagues, according to MLB.com's Jim Callis. Eight of the top-10 prospects, as ranked by MLB.com, have come to Milwaukee via trade -- five of those were acquired in deals made by Stearns. And another of the top 10 is Corey Ray, who was taken in the first round of this year's MLB Draft. Stearns has quickly helped turn around the minor-league system and he was widely praised for his trade deadline deals. Of course, there's a reason they call them prospects, and if they don't turn out well, Stearns' arrow easily could be pointing in another direction. But right now, that arrow is up, way up.
Hernan Perez, Brewers utility player
No player has been hitting the ball better than Perez, who has a slash line of 387/412/645 in 17 games since the All-Star break. Manager Craig Counsell continues to find a spot for Perez in the lineup -- this past week he played shortstop, third base and right field. And for good reason. In seven games this past week, Perez hit .462 (12 for 26) with three home runs (.848 slugging percentage), eight runs and eight RBI. On top of that, the Brewers didn't get Joey Gallo, a third baseman, in their trade with the Rangers, clearing even more playing time for Perez in the future.
Brewers bullpen
It was quite a week for Milwaukee's relief crew. The group of Michael Blazek, Blaine Boyer, David Goforth, Jeremy Jeffress, Corey Knebel, Jhan Martinez, Will Smith, Tyler Thornburg and Carlos Torres combined to pitch 22 2/3 innings, allowing just four runs -- three earned -- on 13 hits with six walks and 25 strikeouts. Not too shabby. (And the now-departed Jeffress and Smith were two of the three to allow an earned run.)
Jimmy Nelson, Brewers starting pitcher
Nelson has hit a bit of a rough patch. In two starts last week he couldn't make it out of the fifth inning either time. Nelson allowed eight runs (two earned) in 4 2/3 innings at home against Arizona and then six runs in four innings at San Diego. In those two starts combined, Nelson has allowed 23 baserunners (16 hits, six walks, one hit batter) in 8 2/3 innings. And in Nelson's previous start before those two, he gave up four runs (two earned) in five innings.
Jeff Janis and Ty Montgomery, Packers wide receivers
Green Bay opens preseason play Sunday in the Hall of Fame game against Indianapolis and the Packers put out their first unofficial depth chart. Janis, a seventh-round pick in 2014 and a fan favorite due to his speed, and Montgomery, a third-round pick in 2015, are both listed among the third-string receivers. The pair are behind such second-stringers as veteran Davante Adams, Jared Abbrederis, like Janis a 2014 draft pick, rookie fifth-round pick Trevor Davis . . . and Ed Williams, an undrafted player from Fort Hays State who spent last season on the practice squad. Consider this an early wake-up call for Janis and Montgomery.
Cleveland Indians fans
Hey, Jonathan Lucroy had a no-trade clause in his contract for a reason. Get over it.
Dave Heller is the author of the upcoming book Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow as well as Facing Ted Williams Players From the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived and As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns
