PHOENIX (AP) — Those days of playing every day Billy Williams Jersey , they’re done for Ryan Braun. Most important for the longtime Milwaukee Brewers star these days is making the most of the time he’s in the lineup.Now 35, Braun is inching closer to the downside of his career. And while he is still capable of being a game-changing presence, staying healthy and on the field on a regular basis is not nearly as easy as it was when he was 28 and just hitting his prime.Managing Braun’s playing time to keep him fresh has been an annual challenge for Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell. He, Braun and the team’s training staff try to map out a plan each year to build in scheduled rest days along the way — day games after night games, especially ahead of scheduled team off-days — to keep Braun as available as possible.“We’ll continue to do that this year,” Counsell said.“We have to just monitor usage. We have to be careful there. The point is to get the player out there when he’s as close to healthy as we can get him. And we have to do that with Ryan.”The plan worked a year ago. The outfielder missed 16 games with two separate stints on the injured list for back soreness, but appeared in 125 games overall and started all but five of those contests.Most importantly for the Brewers, Braun was at full strength down the stretch. Braun helped power them to the NL Central crown and within one win of the World Series.And such is the goal again in 2019. Braun reported no issues upon arriving to camp over the weekend and doesn’t have a goal for games played in mind. He just wants to be ready if the Brewers find themselves in the thick of another pennant race.“I know, realistically, it’s unlikely I’m going to play in 155 or 160 games anymore Jon Lester Jersey ,” Braun said “But the goal for most of us is to play as many of those games as close to possible at 100 percent.”Braun hit 20 home runs with 64 RBIs last season, but his .256 batting average and .313 on-base percentage marked career lows.Blaming his age would be an easy answer but a closer look at advanced metrics reveal a different story: Braun finished 20th among qualified big leaguers in average exit velocity and posted a 43 percent hard-hit ball rate, the second-highest total of his career. Even so, his batting average on balls put in play plummeted to a career-low .274.He hopes his tweaks will change his launch angles just enough to change his luck.“You’ll probably be able to recognize some subtle differences but nothing too drastic,” Braun said. “But it’s something I hope everybody recognizes at the end of the season the end results.”Unlike last year, Braun won’t have to worry about learning a new position this spring.Looking to solve what was, at the time, a glut of outfielders after acquiring Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain, the Brewers tried out Braun at first base during Cactus League play. The thought was such a move would open up playing time in the outfield for Domingo Santana or Keon Broxton, both of whom have been traded http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-david-ross-jersey , and provide a right-handed backup to Eric Thames while also easing Braun’s workload.That plan was shelved when Santana was demoted to Triple-A and Thames lost his starting job to Jesus Aguilar. Braun won’t see much action outside of left field this spring. CLEVELAND (AP) — Jason Kipnis has been in this position before. That’s the positive.That doesn’t mean he’s happy about it.Kipnis took fly balls in center field on Tuesday as he transitioned from playing second base after the Indians acquired third baseman Josh Donaldson in a trade last week from the Toronto Blue Jays.Donaldson’s arrival — he’s currently on the disabled list with a calf injury — has caused an infield shift. Jose Ramirez is moving from third to second, dispatching Kipnis into the outfield. The former All-Star made a similar move last September, but those were different circumstances as Kipnis was coming off the disabled list and the Indians were thin in the outfield because of injuries.This time, Kipnis is being moved to accommodate a star who may help the Indians reach the World Series. And Kipnis has struggled all season.“I’m not going to make it about me this year,” Kipnis said before starting Tuesday’s game against Kansas City at second. “I understand what he can bring to the table and I’m hoping he does it. I’m excited for this team and this organization. I understand where they’re coming from and I understand that I probably put us in this situation with not having the year I’m capable of having.“It’s a little bit of cause and effect. But I’ve got a job to do. I show up every day and work hard and if that means switching positions, I’m switching positions. I look forward to most challenges. I’m excited to get going.”Donaldson worked out with the Indians after playing one game for Triple-A Columbus. Donaldson was placed on the disabled list Monday so he could rehab in the minors, and he hit a grand slam in the Clippers’ final game.Donaldson will resume his rehab stint with Double-A Akron. The 2015 AL MVP is eligible to be activated on Sept. 11.Kipnis could get some playing time in center before Donaldson is ready. He played 11 of Cleveland’s final 12 regular-season games there last year and started all five playoff games in the outfield.“I actually have some legs under me,” said Kipnis, who is batting .226 with 14 homers and 57 RBIs. “Having some kind of starting point to fall back on now is nice. We’re not just starting from eight years scratch or something like that. Do I love it? No. But I don’t have to love it. That’s the part. I’ve got a job to do. It’s OK as long as all of our goals are the same and that’s to win a World Series for this city and this organization, then you’re not really going to hear too many problems from me.”But unlike last year http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-david-ross-jersey , Kipnis has to earn any playing time. Greg Allen has played in 70 games, and he’s better defensively than Kipnis.Indians manager Terry Francona explained to Kipnis that nothing will be given to him.“We feel like we’re a better team when Kip’s playing well,” Francona said. “I told him, ‘You have to be our best option out there. And I told Greg the same thing.’ It’s a little unsettling. It’s a guy — I’ve known Kip for six years now. He’s been a guy that we’ve depended on. Now, all of a sudden you’re having a conversation with him that’s probably not exactly what he wants to hear, so it’s not the funnest thing in the world.“But I think the best way to start those is by being honest.”