Schafer returns to Crew with clear mind

CINCINNATI -- When Logan Schafer was optioned to Triple-A on June 13, he was angry, confused, shocked -- pick your adjective. Then he looked at the numbers.

"I didn't really pay attention to my numbers this year, because you know when you're on the bench that you can't really look at numbers because you're not getting at-bats every day," Schafer said. "I was a little confused at first, but they told me, 'Look, we just want you to get some at-bats. We know we haven't been able to get you at-bats lately. Just go down there and try to get your rhythm and your swing back.'"

Schafer says he fulfilled those goals before being promoted back to the Brewers on Friday, arriving at Great American Ball Park just in time for a spot start against the Reds. He was back on the bench Saturday, looking to build on a 1-for-7 start to the season as a pinch-hitter and a .183/.272/.280 slash line overall in occasional play.

Statistically, he fared only marginally better at Nashville, but Schafer argued the numbers don't tell the full story.

"I was hitting a lot of balls hard down there," Schafer said. "I saw a lot of pitches. I think I was close to averaging five pitches an at-bat down there. A lot of it was just trying to see pitches. I auto-took a lot of pitches down there, just to get my rhythm and timing down. So I think I accomplished what I wanted to." Now he must adjust back to inconsistent playing time. "It's the hardest thing I've ever done," Schafer said, "but it's fun because it's a challenge."