Brewers likely won't tinker with top of lineup upon Ramirez's return
MILWAUKEE -- It's a problem Ron Roenicke doesn't mind having to deal with. Aramis Ramirez is coming back and the rest of the lineup is making it hard to slot the veteran third baseman and usual cleanup hitter in the order.
Ramirez is scheduled to be activated Wednesday and will likely serve as Milwaukee's designated hitter in Minnesota that night. Usually, Roenicke would write Ramirez back in the No. 4 spot, but that probably won't be the case.
Jean Segura, Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez have thrived as the top four in Milwaukee's lineup, as the Brewers have taken off offensively in the last two weeks.
For now, Roenicke doesn't want to mess with success, especially after how much of a struggle it was to score runs in mid-May.
"That's the thing," Roenicke said. "As long as we're swinging like we are, we'll just let it ride out. I'm hoping things don't quiet down, but if they do then we'll start to slot people where we think they should be."
That means Ramirez likely won't be hitting cleanup when he returns, something that will be new to him. Ramirez hasn't hit lower than the No. 4 spot since hitting in the No. 5 slot in the lineup for five games in 2011. With the Brewers, Ramirez has only started three games somewhere other than cleanup.
He's hit No. 4 in 1,153 of his 1,898 starts, but Ramirez is open to hitting down in the lineup if it means helping the team.
Since Roenicke tweaked the lineup and moved Segura to the leadoff spot, Braun to the No. 2 spot, Lucroy to third and Gomez to cleanup, the Brewers have averaged 6.2 runs over 11 games -- including getting shutout last Saturday.
Segura is hitting .320 in the leadoff spot, including getting first-inning hits in six of 11 games. Braun is hitting .417 when batting second, while Lucroy has performed well offensively no matter where in the lineup he is.
After thriving at the top of the order early, Gomez is hitting .378 with nine RBI in the 10 games he's hit cleanup. Also helping the offensive surge is Khris Davis, as the young left fielder has a .378 batting average with five home runs and 10 RBI since May 19.
"I don't think you change anything now, we're swinging the bats so well," Braun said. "Since we've gone with this alignment in the lineup, we've been really successful and there's no reason to change anything."
Braun and Roenicke both acknowledged there have been discussions about hitting the pitcher eighth, which would likely return Gomez to the top spot. Braun would keep hitting second, Lucroy third and Ramirez fourth.
Davis would then hit fifth with first basemen Mark Reynolds or Lyle Overbay seventh. The most likely candidates to hit ninth and after the pitcher would be who is starting at second base that day between Scooter Gennett and Rickie Weeks.
The idea behind the shift would be to give Gomez and Braun more opportunities to drive in runs hitting in non-traditional RBI spots in the order.
"It has been discussed for the past four or five days (and) there is merit to it," Roenicke said. "It depends on your personnel, really on who is hitting first and second for you, and who is going to hit ninth, and it's important who is hitting seventh.
"If you have all the right pieces, it makes a ton of sense. If you have an on-base guy (seventh) so you can get through the pitcher eighth, and you have a ninth hitter who is an on-base guy to get on base for what would have to be strong 1-2-3 hitters, it makes a ton of sense. That's kind of what we have."
This plan would require Braun staying in the No. 2 spot, something he says wouldn't be an issue for him.
"It's the same thing," Braun said of hitting second rather than third. "Obviously, I have a few less RBI opportunities unless we eventually go to the pitcher eight and somebody else ninth, which we've discussed, too.
"We'll see. The more at-bats you get for your best hitters, the better off you'll be over the course of a season. For me, it's just about creating runs, whether I'm on base to score the runs or able to drive guys in."
Unlike at points last season, the Brewers don't have to rely on Ramirez to catch fire offensively right away. But Milwaukee is going to need its third baseman to stay healthy and eventually hit like a middle of the lineup bat no matter where he hits.
The Brewers are going through a hot stretch at the plate, but the nature of their personnel indicates there will be cold spells somewhere down the road.
"Yes, but I also know how fast that can change," Roenicke said as far as having breathing room in easing Ramirez back in. "And I also know when you have a good pitcher out there, when they make some pitches they can shut down your guys that are hot, but the really good hitters, they're still going to have problems with them. I think Rami's is in a different class, and if he's facing a good pitcher and Rami's on his game, Rami's still going to get hits."
Follow Andrew Gruman on Twitter
