Despite the first place standing of the Milwaukee Brewers, it’s been a rollercoaster ride all season long. The glaring factor is the Brewers’ inability to win on the road, most notably against the top teams across the league. The disparity between the success of the Crew at their home stomping grounds of Miller Park and their record away from Milwaukee is enormous; larger than any team in baseball. But why is this the case?

Milwaukee has arguably been the best home team in baseball, sporting a 29-11 record at Miller Park. The Brewers have yet to lose back-to-back games at home. Whenever the Brewers generate a winning home stand and get on a run (which is almost every time), the positive buzz among fans returns and it’s easy to forget about their road woes. Unfortunately, the Brewers continue to follow up successful home stand after successful home stand with poor play on the road. It allows the Cardinals, the Reds and the Pirates to creep back into the thick of things. This was the case yet again as the Brew Crew was embarrassed in a three game series in New York. Granted, Milwaukee wasn’t blessed with the easiest interleague schedule, but great teams have to overcome such obstacles. They have to get over the mental hump standing in their way. The Cardinals, who have whittled the Brewers’ division lead down to a half game as I speak, didn’t have to travel to Boston; they didn’t have to travel to New York. They got off rather easy…but that isn’t really the issue at hand.

Milwaukee is one of the worst road teams in baseball, sporting a 15-27 record away from Miller Park. What are some of the positives that Milwaukee can take from this? For one, they no longer have to play the AL East, although a trip to Minnesota still lies ahead. The road schedule isn’t necessarily easy the rest of the way, but it’s more manageable than in the first half of the season. However, when comparing the quality of teams the Brewers have played in road games against at home, there isn’t much difference. On the road, 25 of the 42 games the Brewers have played (59.5%) have been against teams with a winning record; at home, it’s 22 of their 40 games (55%). Therefore, this can’t be used as an alibi…not even a little bit. What really kills the Brewers when they go on the road is how it’s never only the hitting (or only the pitching) that struggles. It’s both at the same time. The home and away splits are staggering and the Brewers just can’t seem to find the same comfort level on the road as they do in Miller Park.

This isn’t acceptable for a team of the Brewers’ caliber. Sure, the Brewers might be able to salvage the series in the Twin Cities and remain at the top of the NL Central, head back home, and regain their swagger. Hell, this strategy might even be enough to get them into the postseason…but I wouldn’t put my money on it. The St. Louis Cardinals have a much better home and away split, which concerns me because it means they are underachieving at home and could get on a run, especially once Pujols returns and gives them a shot in the arm. Even if they do manage to make the playoffs with such a massive difference between their home and away record, the Brewers stand no chance of advancing late into October. They must overcome the doubt that lingers in their heads whenever they hit the road. They have to gather the entire team and figure out what the deal is. Braun, Fielder, Gallardo…they’re still young, but they’ve been around the block. They need to take a stand. Don’t hold people hostage after a solid stretch at home knowing what comes next in the back of their minds. Opportunities like this for teams like Milwaukee only come around so often.