The Milwaukee Brewers’ best offensive weapon believes his team is well constructed in roster, chemistry and strategy to contend for a franchise-record third straight playoff berth in a very different 2020 MLB season.
“You could probably call us unconventional in the way we use our players, find ways to win games,” outfielder and 2018 National League MVP Christian Yelich told WTMJ’s Gene Mueller on Wisconsin’s Morning News ahead of their season opener against the Chicago Cubs (5:35 p.m. Friday on WTMJ).
“That’s a credit to (manager Craig) Counsell, David (Stearns, Brewers general manager), the way they construct their rosters and the talent we have on the team. I think we have a great chance to have a successful season. It comes down to staying healthy.”
The 60-game season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of fans, the geographic travel limitations, the use of face masks and so many other aspects of this season are definitely abnormal. But Yelich says the relationships with teammates in the more spaced-out clubhouse are just the same.
“We’re all getting along pretty well. We’ve been around each other a long time,” said Yelich. “We haven’t really had problems getting along, developing chemistry. We spend so much time together anyway.”
Yelich understands the philosophy of every game counting more when there are 60 regular season contests instead of 162, but he also doesn’t believe there is extra stress in each contest.
“I don’t think you can put any more pressure on yourself because it’s a short year. You have to play it out, prepare the same way. We’ll see where we stand in a few months.”
However, Yelich says he misses the fans coming to the park every night.
“The biggest difference for us is the crowd, not having the fans, the atmosphere in the stadium. That makes it fun for us as players, something that we really enjoy. We’ll get through these next two months without it, or however long it might be,” said Yelich.
“When there’s finally people back in the stands, it will be a great day.”