After two years of playing winning baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers took a step back last year, finishing the season two games under .500. With a few changes to the lineup and the continued development of the best batting duo in baseball, Milwaukee is looking to make some noise in the NL Central in 2010.
Offense
Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, as a unit, represent the best offensive duo in baseball. As the third and fourth batters in the lineup, no two players compliment each other like these two. If given a choice between the combination of A-Rod and Mark Teixeira, and Braun and Fielder, I would take the latter every time.
(Editor’s Note: Michael is from Los Angeles, so this is not just some Brewers fan praising Braun and Fielder)
Ryan Braun is one of the two best young outfielders in baseball (the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp will be making lots of noise this year). He has shown steady improvement in almost every category in each of his three seasons, and is only getting better.
He hit 32 home runs last season, five off his 2008 total, but totaled an additional 8 RBIs. He also increased his average from .285 to .320 while stealing six more bases. Braun is a beast, and this year he very well could challenge Albert Pujols in the NL MVP race.
Prince Fielder, at 268 lbs., is a textbook power hitter.
His 46 home runs last year were second only to Pujols, and he led the majors in RBIs with 141, all while hitting .299. Fielder may strike out more than his manager would like, and may not have the charisma of ‘The Hebrew Hammer,’ but he is, without a doubt, the best power hitter in all of baseball.
Casey McGehee (3B) is coming off a strong 2009 season when he hit 16 home runs and batted .301 for the year. This year will be just his second full season in the majors, and at 27 years old, he should be able to build upon the progress he made last year.
Carlos Gomez will start in center after coming over from Minnesota, second baseman Rickie Weeks will look to bounce back from an injury plagued season that saw him play in only 37 games (but still hit 9 homeruns), and Alcides Escobar, a 23-year-old defensive phenom who hits for average, will start at short.
Corey Hart, who played well below his potential last year, will look to return strong in right field, and 38-year-old Gregg Zaun will start behind home plate for as long as manager Ken Macha will allow.
Pitching
Yovani Gallardo broke out last year as the Brewers’ best pitcher, winning 12 games and striking out 204 batters. At 24 years old, he seems poised to continue improving over the next couple seasons. If he works on reducing his ERA (from a respectable 3.57) then he will make the next step and become one of baseball’s best pitchers.
The Brewers signed free agent Randy Wolf, who had a strong season for the Dodgers last year, winning 11 games, striking out 160, and posting a 3.23 ERA. While he has been hit with injuries in his career, over the past few seasons he has proved his durability and should provide a much-needed veteran presence at the beginning of the rotation.
Doug Davis, who comes over from Arizona, will pitch in the third spot, 35-year-old Jeff Suppan looks to improve his 2009 numbers pitching fourth, and Manny Parra, who won 11 games last year but posted a 6.36 ERA, will be the fifth starter for the Brewers.
Trevor Hoffman, who at 41 years old saved 37 games last year, will continue as the Brewer’s closer.
Prediction
In order for the Brewers to have a shot at the playoffs, one of the trio of Davis, Suppan, or Parra will have to step up and become a strong presence in the rotation.
If Braun or Fielder takes a step backward this year there will be a serious problem, but a little run support from their offensive teammates will go a long way. And of course, a little anti-Cub luck will always help.
Like the Cubs, though, the Brewers do not have what it takes to keep up with the Cardinals, but a wild card berth is absolutely a possibility, and anything can happen in the playoffs.
Depending on whether they deliver or not, the Brewers will finish second or third in the NL Central.