Comments on: Hot Offseason Action: Milwaukee Brewers

By: melissa

melissa — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:56:23 +0000

I certainly don’t dismiss the Brewers by any stretch. They should definitely contend for the division title this season. I do think the Cubs hold an edge due to having veteran players that have performed more consistently. Right now, for this season I will take Lee and Ramirez over Fielder and Braun but that may soon change. I also think the Cubs defense and pitching is stronger overall. The main reason it was close last season was because the Cubs struggled the first two months with new players that were out of position and Piniella had to learn his roster and how it fit together. I certainly wouldn’t be shocked if the Brewers took it this year but I think they are going to be stronger in 1 or 2 seasons from now when some of their young pitching matures. I still don’t think they can count on Sheets, he hasn’t pitched over 200 innings since 2004. He has been to the Brewers what Prior and Wood have been to the Cubs. I can also say that after watching Kendall play last season that I’m glad he’s playing for them.

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By: Nick Kapur

Nick Kapur — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:03:16 +0000

Yeah, I agree with Paul that the Cubs are probably the favorite in that division. But Melissa, as a Cubs fan, you would be foolish to discount the Brewers’ chances completely. Remember that they actually led that division for the vast majority of last season, before the Cubs finally caught them, and this year all of their young players have another year’s worth of experience under their belts. I think it will be a much closer race than Cubs fans would ideally want to have.

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By: Paul Moro

Paul Moro — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:09:08 +0000

IF Ben Sheets can make 30 starts and IF Rickie Weeks finally lives up to expectations, and IF Yovani Gallardo is the real deal, then I can see the Brewers taking the division. But I still think that the Cubs are two or three games better than Milwaukee. It’ll be a close race, I think, though.

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By: Sarah Green

Sarah Green — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:08:57 +0000

Sheets has thrown at least 200 innings three times. He had many quality starts during that span that didn’t get converted into wins, thanks to a shitty team behind him. With this offense, that won’t be problem.

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By: melissa

melissa — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:40:50 +0000

Sheets has never won over 12 games in a season, ever. It’s wishful thinking for him to be able to complete a full season healthy. Kendall only threw out 4% of base runners last year so he probably can’t be any worse, right? Fielder and Braun are legit stars on the rise but Weeks and Hall? I fail to see where they have shown star potential. The Brew Crew may still be a year or two away.

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By: Nick Kapur

Nick Kapur — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:34:19 +0000

I have to say that despite the Kendall and Gagne signings, which I have to question, this is the most exciting Brewers team in years. Actually, I’m pretty sure this is the most exciting Brewers team ever.

Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder get most of the publicity, but JJ Hardy, Corey Hart, and Yovani “Lamborghini” Gallardo also quietly had breakout years last season, and Bill Hall and Richie Weeks also appear to be legitimate major league stars. And we already know how good Ben Sheets can be, if he is actually healthy. All that and a full season of Ryan Braun’s batting should have Brewers fans positively giddy with excitement, if they have any giddiness left to gid with after all those years of bedragglement.

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By: Nick Kapur

Nick Kapur — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:14:19 +0000

Yeah, metts, that’s why he’s listed under “losses.”

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By: metts

metts — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:21:13 +0000

mets got wise not brews

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