MLB Team by Team: 2008 Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers brought powerhouse baseball and excitement back to Beer City in the form of their first winning season since 1992, when Phil Garner managed them, they were in the American League East, won 92 games and were scarcely heard from since. Unless, of course, a running sausage got attacked by Randall Simon.

But there's no ignoring the Brew Crew anymore. There's dynamic young talent all over the field, solid starting pitchers of the veteran and young variety, and big splashes in the free agent market. Miller Park is sure to be hopping this year, but will the Brewers be hopping over the Cubs to take the National League Central this season?

OFFENSE: A

The fact that the discussion only starts with first baseman Prince Fielder (50 homeruns and 119 RBI last season) is a good indicator of just how good this offense is. Ryan Braun, the National League Rookie of the Year for 2007, put up a .324 average and 34 homers, J.J. Hardy drove out 26 at shortstop, and Bill Hall was seen to have had a disappointing season, though most would probably take 14 homers and 63 RBI from their center fielders. Hall may bounce back now that he's back in his comfort zone at third base, Braun will have to adjust to left field, but there's still more than enough firepower to cover for them if they don't.

PROJECTED LINEUP: 1 Weeks 2B 2 Hall 3B 3 Fielder 1B 4 Braun LF 5 Hart RF 6 Hardy SS 7 Gwynn (until Mike Cameron's return from 25-game suspension) CF 8 Pitcher's spot 9 Kendall C

STARTING PITCHING: C-

The success of the Brewers may come from how well their pitching staff holds down the other team's offense, and they did a fairly good job last season excepting Chris Capuano (5-12, 5.10 ERA). A big question facing Milwaukee is if Ben Sheets, the undisputed ace, can make it through a whole year without getting hurt, as he was magnificent when healthy (12-5, 3.82). Jeff Suppan did decent work last year, and the rest of the rotation had nothing to hang their heads about, either. But this is a tough division all the way through, so here's where the Brew Crew will sink or swim, so the young hands better be seaworthy.

PROJECTED ROTATION: Sheets, Suppan, Gallardo, Villanueva, Bush

BULLPEN: C+

Here's another area where success could hinge on one player's effectiveness and/or health. The Brewers went out and threw big money at former uber-closer Eric Gagne for one year. So, for that investment, is Milwaukee getting the Gagne of Dodger blue (152 saves in 158 opportunities over three years) or the whiplash Gagne from Boston last year? Either way, Derrick Turnbow may want to be ready to step back in for the ninth at any time. The bullpen is improved just by adding David Riske from Kansas City, and, if healthy, Randy Choate, one-half of the Sidearm Funk Duet with lefty Brian Shouse. Any way you look at it, it will be most fascinating to see the 'pen in action for the Brewers this season.

CONCLUSION

The Brewers are going to light it up on offense this year, of that there can be no doubt. Fielder has motivation galore (contract issues with the front office, past issues with dad Cecil), the rest of the lineup could exceed last year's production with another season's experience, if Sheets stays healthy, he's a Cy Young contender, and Gagne could surprise everyone. However, there's still the matter of the Cubs, who have improved and are battle-tested, plus other wild-card contenders (New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, just to name three) that will more than likely leach off just enough wins to keep the Brew Crew just outside the playoffs yet again.

PREDICTION: 86-76, second in National League Central