Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 27, 2008 18:07:04 GMT -5
Last season: 83-79
2nd in N.L. Central
2nd in N.L. Central
Manager: Ned Yost, 6th season, 374-435 (.462) career record
New faces: IF Russell Branyan, CF Mike Cameron, RHP Eric Gagne, C Jason Kendall, RHP Guillermo Mota, IF Abraham Nunez, RHP David Riske, RHP Salomon Torres
Left town: RHP Francisco Cordero (CIN), OF Geoff Jenkins (PHI), LHP Ray King (WSH), 3B Corey Koskie (released), RHP Scott Linebrink (CWS), OF Kevin Mench (TEX), RHP Matt Wise (NYM)
Overview: It was a tale of two seasons last year for Commissioner Bud Selig's favourite team. They had the National League's best record on June 27th, thanks to 46 wins in their first 78 games. Years of shrewd drafting seemed to be bringing this team together at the right time. And then, suddenly, their fortunes reversed. They went 37-47 the rest of the way and finished two games behind the Cubs. What did them in was an inability to win on the road, where they finished 17 games under .500. Manager Ned Yost took a lot of heat for his handling of the pitching staff, especially in the second half, and might be in trouble if the same script is followed this season. What they do have are some of the finest young hitters in the game, with five members of their everyday line-up all under the age of 25.
Stat to ponder: By slamming 50 home runs last season, man-child Prince Fielder became the youngest player in Major League history to reach that plateau at the tender age of 23. Top prospect: 1B/OF Matt LaPorta. Their first pick from last June is on a fast track to the Majors after 12 HR in 30 games at Low-A and then another six in 30 Arizona Fall League games.
Hitting
2007 AVG (RANK): .262 (21st), RUNS/GAME: 4.94 (11th), HR: 231 (17th)
With youth comes inexperience and their offense was exposed as the season went along. Their three/four hitters - Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder - combined to hit 84 home runs and drive in 216 runs and reminded people of a young, less expensive and less eccentric version of the Red Sox duo of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. The youngsters around them in the line-up also put up some crooked numbers. But their lack of consistency led to the acquiring of wily veterans Mike Cameron and Jason Kendall, if not for their skills, but also a calming influence. There's no doubt that this line-up will hit, but the question is whether they will field the ball well enough to help out an average pitching staff.
Pitching
2007 ERA (RANK): 4.41 (15th), OPP AVG: .269 (18th)
No Brewers starting pitcher won more than 12 games last season and, as a group, their .278 opponents averaged ranked in the lower third in the Majors. Those numbers will have to improve of they are to tale it to the next level and be legitimate contenders. Ben Sheets remains the ace of the rotation, but his inability to stay healthy - he's missed 34 starts over the last three seasons - has kept him from becoming one of the top starters in the game. And after seven years of great promise, Sheets is just 73-74 on his career. If he falters again this season, 22-year old right-hander Yovani Gallardo appears ready to step into the breach after he threw 21-straight scoreless innings last September. New closer Eric Gagne will have to put his sour Boston experience behind him and hope that a return to the National League will lead to a return of his effectiveness.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: 3rd for now, but this team has the talent to challenge if the top two falter. Their key will be the depth of a deep minor league system.
New faces: IF Russell Branyan, CF Mike Cameron, RHP Eric Gagne, C Jason Kendall, RHP Guillermo Mota, IF Abraham Nunez, RHP David Riske, RHP Salomon Torres
Left town: RHP Francisco Cordero (CIN), OF Geoff Jenkins (PHI), LHP Ray King (WSH), 3B Corey Koskie (released), RHP Scott Linebrink (CWS), OF Kevin Mench (TEX), RHP Matt Wise (NYM)
Overview: It was a tale of two seasons last year for Commissioner Bud Selig's favourite team. They had the National League's best record on June 27th, thanks to 46 wins in their first 78 games. Years of shrewd drafting seemed to be bringing this team together at the right time. And then, suddenly, their fortunes reversed. They went 37-47 the rest of the way and finished two games behind the Cubs. What did them in was an inability to win on the road, where they finished 17 games under .500. Manager Ned Yost took a lot of heat for his handling of the pitching staff, especially in the second half, and might be in trouble if the same script is followed this season. What they do have are some of the finest young hitters in the game, with five members of their everyday line-up all under the age of 25.
Stat to ponder: By slamming 50 home runs last season, man-child Prince Fielder became the youngest player in Major League history to reach that plateau at the tender age of 23. Top prospect: 1B/OF Matt LaPorta. Their first pick from last June is on a fast track to the Majors after 12 HR in 30 games at Low-A and then another six in 30 Arizona Fall League games.
Hitting
2007 AVG (RANK): .262 (21st), RUNS/GAME: 4.94 (11th), HR: 231 (17th)
With youth comes inexperience and their offense was exposed as the season went along. Their three/four hitters - Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder - combined to hit 84 home runs and drive in 216 runs and reminded people of a young, less expensive and less eccentric version of the Red Sox duo of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. The youngsters around them in the line-up also put up some crooked numbers. But their lack of consistency led to the acquiring of wily veterans Mike Cameron and Jason Kendall, if not for their skills, but also a calming influence. There's no doubt that this line-up will hit, but the question is whether they will field the ball well enough to help out an average pitching staff.
Pitching
2007 ERA (RANK): 4.41 (15th), OPP AVG: .269 (18th)
No Brewers starting pitcher won more than 12 games last season and, as a group, their .278 opponents averaged ranked in the lower third in the Majors. Those numbers will have to improve of they are to tale it to the next level and be legitimate contenders. Ben Sheets remains the ace of the rotation, but his inability to stay healthy - he's missed 34 starts over the last three seasons - has kept him from becoming one of the top starters in the game. And after seven years of great promise, Sheets is just 73-74 on his career. If he falters again this season, 22-year old right-hander Yovani Gallardo appears ready to step into the breach after he threw 21-straight scoreless innings last September. New closer Eric Gagne will have to put his sour Boston experience behind him and hope that a return to the National League will lead to a return of his effectiveness.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: 3rd for now, but this team has the talent to challenge if the top two falter. Their key will be the depth of a deep minor league system.
