TEAM PREVIEW - 2010 Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers
Mgr. Ken Macha #40
2009 record, 80-82
Second Place, NL Central

After another surprising second place finish in 2008 marked Milwaukee’s first post season appearance in 26 years, but like Bernie the Brewer sliding down into a foamy mug of beer the Brewers fell back to earth last year. There was no mid-season acquisition of a staff ace ala C.C. Sabathia (Roy Halladay would have been nice) wanting to use a half-season in Milwaukee as an audition for impending free-agent negotiations.

The Brewers pitching staff struggled to a second worst in the NL 4.83 ERA. Yovani Gallardo was the most consistent starter going 13-12 with a 3.73 ERA while Braden Looper was 14-7 with a 5.22 ERA and leading the staff with 194 innings pitched. Jeff Suppan was 7-12 with a 5.29 ERA while Manny Parra somehow managed and 11-11 record with a 6.36 ERA, (he must have been pitching when Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun were hitting all those home runs) David Bush rounded out the back end of the rotation going 5-9 with a 6.38 in 22 starts.

Carlos Villanueva (4-10, 5.34) Seth McClurg (3-3, 4.94), Mike Burns (3-5, 5.75) and Chris Narveson (2-0, 3.83) all made spot starts.

Journeyman middle reliever David Riske pitched was paid $4.25 million in the second year of a three-year $13 million contract and pitched one inning before being diagnosed with a looseness of the ulnar collateral ligament required season ending Tommy John surgery. It’s no knock against Riske who has proven to be a highly effective middle reliever but meant to be an example of both how significant the value of middle relief has become and the economic structure of the game. Riske has been called a clubhouse leader by teammates and credited with helping to get 2009 Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke’s career back on track. In his 17th season all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman, 41, showed no signs of slowing, recording 37 saves with a 1.83 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 54 innings.

The Brewers aggressively addressed the pitching situation signing free agent Randy Wolf to a three-year $29 million contract. Wolf was 11-7 with a 3.23 ERA in 214 innings for the L.A. Dodgers last year and sports a 101-85 career record in 11 big league seasons. Milwaukee also brought back Doug Davis who was a .500 workhorse pitcher for the Brewers for three-and-half years from 2003-2007 and pitched much the same for two and half years in Arizona where he also battled back from thyroid cancer surgery in 2008. The Brewers also signed middle-reliever Latroy Hawkins (2.13 in 63 innings with Houston last year)

First baseman Prince Fielder had one of the best seasons by a player who did not win the MVP award blasting 46 home runs with 141 RBI and a .299 average. Fielder is signed with the Brewers through 2011. Outfielder Ryan Braun hit 32 home runs with 114 RBI and a .320 providing the Brewers with perhaps the best 3-4 punch in the majors. In his first three big league seasons Braun, who signed an eight-year $45 contract extension in 2008, has hit 103 home runs with 317 RBI and a .308 average. Center fielder Mike Cameron hit 24 home runs with 70 RBI and a .250 average but was released as a free agent at the end of the season to free up some payroll space. Catcher Jason Kendall continued to me mired in a two-season long slump and was also let go.Second baseman Rickie Weeks was off to a good start (9 HR, 24 RBI and a .272 average) when his season came to an abrupt halt with a hand injury on May 20th. Rookie third baseman Casey McGehee hit 16 home runs with 66 RBI at a .301 clip in 116 games.

Shortstop J.J. Hardy sputtered to a .229 average diminished power production (11 HR, 47 RBI) and was traded to Minnesota for outfielder Carlos Gomez. Right fielder Corey Hart’s numbers were also down (11 HR, 46 RBI, .260) from the previous two years when he hit 24 and 20 home runs respectively with 91 and 81RBI. Second baseman Felipe Lopez was acquired in a trade from the Diamondbacks and hit .320 in 66 games. Veteran infielder Craig Counsell hit .285 in 130 games and can be called on to fill in at second, third and short.

Although the Brewers fell back last year, the nucleus of a tough and competitive team remains and a shored up pitching staff should have the team back in the hunt.

Arrivals: LHP, Randy Wolf, LHP Doug Davis
Departures: CF Mike Cameron, C Jason Kendall