MLB preview: Milwaukee Brewers
Starting pitching was reasons 1, 1a and 1b that the Brewers disappointed in 2009. While they didn't necessarily make any huge splashes, the Brewers did make some nice moves to shore up that need. I still think they're well short of the Cardinals in the battle for NL Central supremacy, though I've got them ahead of everyone else.
2009 record: 80-82 (11 games back in NL Central)
2010 projected record: 86-76 (12 GB)
Probable starters:
C — Gregg Zaun
1B — Prince Fielder
2B — Rickie Weeks
SS — Alcides Escobar
3B — Casey McGehee
LF — Ryan Braun
CF — Carlos Gomez
RF — Corey Hart
SP — Yovani Gallardo, Randy Wolf, Doug Davis, Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan
CL — Trevor Hoffman
RP — LaTroy Hawkins, Mitch Stetter
Strengths: Braun and Fielder share a division with Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday ... and I still might take them as the best 3-4 batting combination in the Central and in MLB altogether. They certainly give the Brewers one of the top three slugging duos in baseball. Gallardo certainly has the talent to be a true ace, and Wolf and Davis should significantly shore up what was the team's biggest weakness. Hoffman was quietly great again in 2009 at the age of 83, and between Hawkins, Stetter and Todd Coffey, manager Ken Macha has a few very solid options to set him up.
Weaknesses: Even with Braun and Fielder, this lineup might have trouble scoring runs. Hart must rebound from a terrible season, and McGehee must sustain his excellent 2009. The other four spots in the lineup are big question marks. Mat Gamel might steal some starts at third base and force McGehee to second base, which could send Weeks — who's one of the best bets to lead off — to the bench. Bush, Suppan, Manny Parra and Chris Narveson are not enticing candidates to round out the rotation. An injury suffered by any of the top three starters could be devastating.
