How the Brewers' Manufacturing Offense Outperformed the White Sox's Power Approach

Milwaukee wins the World Series without a single home run in Game 5

“We’re choosing hard,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy told MLB.com in September, a philosophy that culminated in a championship-clinching 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. In the decisive Game 5, 22-year-old rookie Cooper Pratt delivered two runs via an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, proving that the Brewers could secure a title without the long ball. In fact, as sporternews.com reported, Milwaukee did not hit a single home run during their championship-clinching win last week.

The Brewers’ postseason run serves as a stark contrast to the Chicago White Sox’s recent campaign. While Chicago relied heavily on power, Milwaukee prioritized manufacturing runs through aggressive baserunning and situational hitting. This distinction is visible in the raw data: Milwaukee hit only 13 home runs throughout the entire postseason, including just three during the five-game World Series. Despite this lack of traditional power, they managed to secure their first World Series championship.

The discrepancy between these two midwestern rivals highlights a fundamental divide in offensive philosophy. For the White Sox, the goal was often the home run; for the Brewers, it was the run itself, regardless of how it crossed the plate.

The statistical gap between power and production

The regular season numbers reveal how differently these two clubs operated. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Milwaukee scored just 32.1% of its regular-season runs on home runs, the lowest percentage in Major League Baseball. This “relentless” approach allowed them to finish with 103 victories and a World Series title, even though they hit only 154 home runs—ranking 28th in the league.

Chicago, conversely, leaned into a high-power model. The White Sox finished fifth in Major League Baseball with 211 home runs, yet they managed fewer total runs than Milwaukee. The following table compares the offensive output of both teams during the regular season:

Statistic	Milwaukee Brewers	Chicago White Sox
Total Runs Scored	832	776
Home Runs	154	211
Batting Average	.258	.236
Stolen Bases	162	93
Total Wins	103	84

While Chicago boasted three players with more than 30 home runs—Munetaka Murakami (35), Miguel Vargas (33), and Colson Montgomery (31)—their efficiency was hampered by high strikeout rates. Montgomery hit just .197 and struck out 227 times, while Murakami batted .207 with 196 strikeouts. Together, the duo accounted for 423 strikeouts. Montgomery admitted to his struggles with situational hitting in an August interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, noting he should have been driving in more runs.

Versatility versus reliance on the long ball

Milwaukee’s success was built on a diverse array of skills. While Jake Bauers led the team with 26 home runs and a .266 average, other contributors like Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio added both power and speed. Turang, who added 21 home runs and 90 walks, emphasized the importance of a multi-faceted approach when speaking to The Associated Press.

What the white sox can learn from milwaukees title run — Photo: sporternews.com

“Home runs come, and they’ll help you win games,” Turang said. “And so do stolen bases. So do walks, playing defense. All that matters as well.”

The Brewers also benefited from a more disciplined pitching staff, allowing 618 runs during the regular season compared to Chicago’s 720. This defensive stability, paired with a .258 team batting average and 140 more hits than the White Sox, created a consistent scoring environment. Milwaukee’s ability to avoid the strikeout was also a factor, as they struck out 111 fewer times than Chicago.

The White Sox’s postseason struggles further illustrated the danger of home run dependence. During seven postseason games, Chicago batted just .211 and struck out 96 times, managing only four home runs. Milwaukee, meanwhile, maintained a .272 average through 11 postseason games, scoring 52 runs despite hitting only three home runs in the World Series.

Building a championship offense for 2027

As the White Sox look toward the 2027 season, the path to improvement may not lie in adding more sluggers. The core of their power—Murakami, Vargas, and Montgomery—is already established. The challenge, as the Brewers’ championship suggests, is developing an offense that can sustain rallies when the home run isn’t an option.

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The data suggests that Chicago needs to bridge the gap in contact and on-base proficiency. Players like Sam Antonacci, who hit .277 with a .370 on-base percentage and only 82 strikeouts, represent the type of contact-oriented profile the White Sox currently lack. Without the ability to get runners on base through walks and hits, even elite power hitters can find themselves neutralized by pitching that prevents the long ball.

Pat Murphy’s philosophy centered on a commitment to scoring by any means necessary. As he noted during an October news conference, the Brewers were simply built to win games through a relentless offensive style.

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