With six weeks left, it was obvious the Brewers' new regime would trade Vina and install the younger, cheaper Belliard as the starter at second. At times this year, he has been the best player on the field. Other times, he's been invisible. Day in and day out, he knows he's going to be in the lineup. You wonder if that knowledge, coupled with persistent losing, has created bad habits.
Conditioning is a legitimate concern.
Belliard's sluggish second half was overlooked last year amid all the turmoil in the front office. His batting average before the all-star break, a robust .321, dropped to .278 in the second half and he went unmentioned in Rookie of the Year balloting. Although he showed toughness while absorbing his share of bumps and bruises, the dropoff in performance last year made some wonder whether Belliard's soft body could withstand the rigors of a full season. The questions resurfaced in spring training, when Belliard reported to Arizona about 15 pounds heavy despite playing a full season of winter ball in the Dominican Republic. He slimmed down before opening day but seems to have put on weight steadily throughout the summer.