2011 Milwaukee Brewers Predictions
It’s now been two seasons since the Milwaukee Brewers won 90 games and ended a 26-year postseason drought. They haven’t won more than 80 games or finished better than third since, but the 2011 season holds the promise of being one to remember. With St. Louis losing ace Adam Wainwright for the season, coupled with Milwaukee gaining ace Zack Greinke, the Brewers just might be able to steal the division. Baseball odds makers have listed the Brewers at +2500 to win the 2011 World Series.
Pitching: While Milwaukee has been one of the better power teams in the NL in recent years, its pitching has kept it from breaking through as a contender. That could all change this season. Greinke, the 2009 AL Cy Young winner, now heads up the starting rotation. His numbers were down in 2010, but I expect him to be energized by the opportunity to hurl for a contender.
He’ll be joined in the rotation by Toronto’s 2010 Opening Day starter Shaun Marcum. This guy doesn’t make a lot of headlines, but he has been incredibly steady while pitching in the tough AL East. He went 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA last season. He has a career ERA of 3.85 through his first five seasons.
These two will join former staff ace Yovani Gallardo, who went 14-7 with a 3.84 ERA in 2010. Southpaws Randy Wolf and Chris Narveson are the early favorites to round out the rotation.
While the starting rotation has been greatly improved, the pen is still very much a question mark. The Brewers, however, have a lot of faith in second-year relievers John Axford and Zach Braddock. Axford set a Brewer rookie record with 24 saves, and Braddock didn’t allow a run in 40 of 46 appearances last season.
Lineup: The Brewers have one of the deadliest lineups in baseball one through six. Second baseman Ricky Weeks is perhaps the most dangerous leadoff hittern in the major leagues. He showed what he is capable of in his first full season with a clear bill of health, hitting 29 home runs and 83 RBIs.
Right fielder Corey Hart is coming off a season in which he set career highs with 31 round trippers and 102 RBIs. Ryan Braun holds down the other corner outfield spot. He hit .304 with 25 jacks and 103 RBIs a season ago.
Big first baseman Prince Fielder is one of the game’s premier cleanup hitters. His numbers were down in 2010 (32 home runs, 83 RBIs), but I expect a resurgence in what is a contract year. Casey McGehee has earned a starting spot across the diamond at the hot corner. He led all Brewers with 104 RBIs last season. Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt joins Fielder and McGehee on the infield. His defense has been called into question, but his bat will fit right in at Miller Park. He hit 16 home runs and added 78 RBIs for Kansas City a season ago.
Center fielder Carlos Gomez and catcher Jonathan Lucroy should round out the order. Gomez must do a better job of getting on base this season (career .293 on-base percentage). Lucroy is considered the Brewers’ backstop of the future.
Prediction – 1st Place NL Central: The Brewers finally have some high-quality pitching to go with their powerful lineup, and that means trouble for the rest of the Central. Plus, the Brew Crew catch a break with Wainwright on the shelf for the season. The Brewers are listed at +225 to win the NL Central.
