The Milwaukee Brewers 2008 campaign ended with a thumping at the behest of the eventual World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies.
The news got worse when Brewers GM Doug Melvin lost in the bidding race for C.C. Sabathia and was reluctant to show much interest in the oft-injured Ben Sheets (still a free agent), who reportedly still needs elbow surgery.
The two acquisitions to the pitching staff, Trevor Hoffmann and Braden Looper, have not exactly aroused the fan base, but can be serviceable. Hoffmann, the all-time saves leader in Major League Baseball, is 41 years old and not the pitcher he once was, but nonetheless can be effective. It must also be noted that Hoffmann is sure to be more reliable than Gagne, who did not make the team in spring training. Braden Looper has been okay as a back-end starter since he converted from reliever, posting a career 3.93 era. If Looper can pitch 200 innings and keep his ERA under 4, the Brewers will look at this one-year signing as a success.
Young starter Yovani Gallardo is the unquestioned ace of the Brewers rotation. Gallardo missed most of last season when he tore his ACL in April. He showed a lot of grit and toughness when he returned for one start at the end of the year. Aside from Gallardo, the Brewers will hope that southpaw Manny Parra can regain the form showed showed early in 2008.
Heading into Tuesdays game against the Phillies, relief pitcher Todd Coffey has not allowed a run in 16 of his last 17 appearances. Aside from that the rest of the Brewers pitching staff is really up in the air.
The team will have to lean on its offense for run support if it hopes to be competitive.
The Brewers lineup is almost identical to how it was at the conclusion of the 2008 season. Ryan Braun has solidified himself as the franchise player out in left field. Braun has taken a strong game on the field into the media spotlight as he is enjoying several new endorsement deals.
The other superstar, Prince Fielder, finally got the money he wanted in the offseason and seems to be content at first base.
Look for young players like third baseman Matt Gamel and shortstop Alcides Escobar to see time as the season progresses. Gamel and Escobar are the top two prospects in the Brewers system and they played with the team in spring training but will both start the year in AAA so they can play every day.
If the Brew Crew can build on a more experienced offense and get a few relievers to step up, they stand a good chance to get back to the postseason in 2009.
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