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2008 Milwaukee Brewers Predictions & Season Preview

It looked like the Milwaukee Brewers would end a 24-year playoff drought last season, but this young and talented team was not consistent enough to get the job done. Jimmy Boyd examines Milwaukee’s chances of ending a, now, 25-year playoff drought in his 2008 Milwaukee Brewers predictions.

Starting Rotation/Bullpen

No Brewers starter won more than 12 games last season and no starters were added in the offseason. This either tells us that management is a little dim or they feel their current rotation guys under achieved. I’ll buy the latter. Ace Ben Sheets is clearly one of the NL’s best, but he must stay away from injury to prove it. Sheets went 12-5 last season with a 3.82 ERA in 141.1 innings. He needs to be a 200-plus innings guy for this rotation to reach its full potential. Phenom Yovani Gallardo looks to be the Brewers ace of the future. This kid has Cy Young caliber stuff and went 9-5 with a 3.67 ERA after being called up from Triple-A Nashville. Jeff Suppan gives the Brew Crew a veteran presence in the middle of this rotation. Suppan went 12-12 last season and could have easily been a 15-game winner if he hadn’t slumped in the middle of the year. Carlos Villanueva figures to break into the rotation after a strong September. The youngster went 8-5 with a 3.94 ERA in last year’s short stint in the bigs. Chris Capuano gives the Brewers a southpaw look in this righty dominant rotation as well as the presence of a former All-Star. Cap went just 5-12 last season with an ERA over 5.00, but he had the talent to make a comeback.

The Brewers’ pen was largely responsible for its collapse last season. Milwaukee blew 16 games after leading by three runs or more last season, which was the worst in the bigs. Getting rid of Francisco Cordero, who saved a franchise record 44 games last season, could come back to bite the Brewers in the butt as Eric Gagne’s best days are clearly behind him.

Batting Order

Second baseman Rickie Weeks can provide speed and power in the leadoff slot if his wrist problems are behind him. He totaled 16 homeruns and 25 stolen bases in just 118 games last season. Shortstop J.J. Hardy busted out for 26 round trippers and 80 RBIs last season, but I’m still not convinced that those totals weren’t a bit of a fluke. Leftfielder Ryan Braun will hit in the three slot ahead of big bopper Prince Fielder. Braun belted 34 homeruns and added 97 RBIs while batting .324. Oh yeah, and he did all that in just 113 games. Prince Fielder could destroy his father’s numbers if he keeps doing what he did in 2007. The first baseman bombed 50 homeruns and tallied 119 RBIs. Rightfielder Corey Hart can do it all. When teams put Fielder on to get to him, he makes them pay. Hart totaled 24 homeruns, 81 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, and nine triples in 2007. Centerfielder Mike Cameron gives the Brew Crew another 20-plus homerun, 80-RBI guy in the sixth spot and third baseman Bill Hall has the same numbers potential hitting behind him. Catcher Jason Kendall will likely hit eighth.

The Brewers have the potential to score a lot of runs. They set a franchise record with 231 round trippers last season and could eclipse that number again this year. Milwaukee’s defense and bullpen cost them a chance to get to the postseason last year. I think their defense can improve, but without Francisco Cordero, I don’t see the pen getting any better. The Reds, who landed Cordero, could leapfrog the Brew Crew for second place in the Central. It looks like Brewers fans might have to go another year without postseason play, but this young team will still be one of the most exciting to watch.

2007 MLB World Handicapping Champion, Jimmy Boyd, is ready to deliver another year of unrivaled profits on the bases. Sign up for a season pass and win enough money with baseball betting over the summer months to be playing exclusively with the house’s money next football season.

Odds to win NL Central: 9/5
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant: 9/1
Odds to win 2008 World Series: 30/1

Other Predictions for the 2008 Season:

Updated February 18th, 2008