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Brewers’ Braun making smooth transition to right

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Now leading off for the Brewers … outfielder Ryan Braun?

It could have happened in spring training. But the Milwaukee slugger’s suggestion to manager Ron Roenicke went nowhere, giving Braun one less adjustment to make after returning from a 65-game drug suspension that ended his 2013 season early.

Two months into 2014 and things are going just fine for the Brewers and their star outfielder. Milwaukee leads the NL Central, while Braun is hitting .315 and making a smooth transition from left to right field. He’s even third in among NL outfielders in All-Star balloting as of Wednesday.

“Most of those things … seem to be a result of team success but I think the better our team does, the higher likelihood we have of having multiple All-Stars. The fact that we’re off to a good start is encouraging in that regard,” Braun said. “But other than, I don’t pay much attention to it.”

Fans are still clearly paying attention to Braun. Just take a take a look around during a typical game at Miller Park at all the fans wearing No. 8 Braun shirts. They offered rousing applause after Braun’s hard bouncer down the right-field line for a double drove in two runs in the second inning of an 8-3 win Wednesday over the Baltimore Orioles.

On the road, Braun gets his share of boos. The 2011 NL MVP expected nothing less upon his return from his suspension from the Biogenesis doping scandal.

Braun had seven homers and 23 RBIs going into Friday’s three-game homestand against the Chicago Cubs despite missing two weeks with a right oblique injury. The lineup has been clicking especially the five games since Braun was moved to the No. 2 hole as manager Ron Roenicke sought to spark the team’s slumbering bats. Braun is hitting .455 (10 for 22) with five runs during that period.

“I think it’s advantageous to get your best hitters as many plate appearances as possible, so if I’m hitting second I get 15 more at-bats or whatever it is over the course of the season than I would if I’m hitting third,” Braun said. “So I think it’s in our best interest as a team. We’ve certainly swung the bats well over the last 6-7 days, so it’s a good thing. So far, so good.”

The move to right has gone well, too. The switch was done in part to give left fielder Khris Davis regular playing time, and he has rewarded the Brewers of late by hitting homers in three straight games.

Braun has looked comfortable tracking down flies on the run and playing angles from his new vantage point in right. He looks right at home in Miller Park, and Braun said it’s a matter of getting used to the position as he goes from stop to stop on the road.

The move, along with the gloves flashed by infield newcomers Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay, has boosted a defense that also includes Gold Glove-winner Carlos Gomez in center and the speedy Jean Segura at short.

“Overall I think we’re playing really good defense,” Roenicke said. “We’ve had sloppy games — I think everybody does — but overall I think we’ve done a great job of picking up the pitching staff.”

Pitching, defense and the emergence of Gomez, Segura and catcher Jonathan Lucroy have helped the offense withstand the losses of third baseman Aramis Ramirez (hamstring) and Braun for spurts due to injuries. Braun in April was also bothered by the lingering effects of a right hand injury from last season.

In one respect, the Brewers are less reliant on Braun — though they’re clearly much better when he’s playing. Milwaukee is 22-14 when Braun is in the lineup, and 10-8 when he’s not.

It might make a fan wonder what would have happened if Roenicke heeded Braun’s suggestion back in spring training to lead off. Braun recalled leading off a couple times in Triple-A.

“I don’t think I’ve ever done it in the big leagues that I can remember,” Braun said. “I want to do it, though. I think I could be a really good leadoff hitter.”

He’ll have to settle for second for now.

___

Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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