MLB Predictions: 10 Keys for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010

Last season fell short of the Milwaukee Brewers' goals, but thanks to added pitching depth and veteran hitting, the Brewers are poised for a great 2010.

As with any season, the Brewers face many questions in 2010. Will Yovani Gallardo prove worthy of being a staff ace? Will Corey Hart break out like in 2007, and end his three-year decline? Will Braun and Fielder reign again as the top one-two punch in baseball?

For the Brewers to get to the playoffs again and make a deep run, 10 keys come into play.

1. Ken Macha

Ken Macha, manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, has a lot to prove.

Not to you. Not to me. To the Brewers' general manager, Doug Melvin, and owner, Mark Attanasio.

Prior to Macha's time in Milwaukee, the team made its first playoff appearance in 26 years, since the 1982 World Series loss to the Cardinals. But with the good comes the bad as well. The Brewers were a stagnant team which overperformed in 2008 under then-manager Ned Yost. Upon his departure, the Brewers inked Macha to a two year deal, and later added a option for 2011.

Macha is known to be conservative with his runners on base ahead of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, which limits the potential of a deadly lineup at times. With the addition of speedy Carlos Gomez and rookie Alcides Escobar, he's likely to give the green light more frequently in 2010.

Macha's ability to manage and develop the talent he has in Milwaukee as the season progresses will be a large factor in the team's success or failure in 2010.

2. Yovani Gallardo

Yovani Gallardo has been one of the best young pitchers in the game for a while now, so it's time for him to step up to the next level. Gallardo is a second-tier pitcher with the likes of a Chris Young (SD) at this point in his young career, but has all the potential in the world.

If he can control his walks, stay consistently down in the strike zone, and change up his pitches to keep hitters off his fastball, look for a strong 2010 from Gallardo.

Projection:
W/L: 16-5 ERA: 3.35 K's: 220

3. Rickie Weeks

When his season was cut short again by a wrist injury...let's just say there were two schools of thought on Weeks' 2009, and his overall potential.

Some would point to the perception that he's injury prone and unlikely to pan out to his full potential because of said injuries.

Another camp of Brewers fans felt (or feel) that Weeks' injuries should now be in his past. He's coming back refreshed, and ready to start anew and reach his expectations. They may point to his power numbers at the time of his injury.

In what was roughly one-fourth of a season, (37 games) Weeks' numbers were: .272 BA, 9 HRs, 24 RBI, 28 R, and a .857 OPS, a career high. As a stats junkie, these numbers tell me Weeks' may finally be putting it all together. If we were to prorate his numbers to a full season, his numbers from 2009 project to .272 BA, 36 HRs, 96 RBI, and 112 R.

Those are Chase Utley-esque and above. Not that prorating numbers is a perfect science, with slumps and hot streaks being unpredictable, but that's a scary "could be" mark for Weeks in 2010. I'll put on my best Ken Macha hat and make my prediction a little more conservative:

.285 BA, 25 HRs, 82 RBI, 100 R.

4. Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder was 2009's Iron Man for the Milwaukee Brewers, starting and playing all 162 games last season. He paced the team with a .299 BA, 46 HRs, and a career-high 141 RBI, finding himself fourth in the NL MVP voting. To put it simply, he's a masher. See ball, hit ball.

However, Fielder's most important number from 2009 is .299. It's his career high for batting average. The one key to his game in particular is patience at the plate. Anyone can tell you he's a slugger, but could they tell you he drew 20 more walks (110 total) than any of his previous seasons at the big league level? I wouldn't have guessed. His weakest point as a batter is becoming an asset, and that's dangerous for the opposing pitcher.

Look for Fielder to continue his power numbers, with a few surprises here and there.

Projection:
.310 BA, 44 HR, 138 RBI, 125 BB, .620 SLG, .432 OBP

5. Ryan Braun

2007 NL Rookie of the Year, All Star Left Fielder and a clothing label? What can't Ryan Braun do? Well, to be safe, we can assume bringing a World Series to Milwaukee is atop his list of to-dos.

Braun's 2009 was a solid year, with a .320 BA, 32 HR (career low, even with a career high at-bat total), 114 RBI, and 20 SB.

What Braun needs to improve in 2010, if anything, is his patience at the plate. He needs to try to not do too much and allow the game to come to him. Pressing at times, Braun struggled to fight back in 0-2 counts, at times falling short with runners in scoring position.

For Ryan Braun, success needs to include the following: patience at the plate, directional hitting (rather than pulling balls for home runs), and protecting the most important part of the Brewers' heart of the order, Prince Fielder.

Braun's 2010 has one goal: Set the table for Prince. Good things happen when Fielder has men on base ahead of him; he hit 24 home runs last season with at least one man on base.

Braun will have a large role in the Brewers' season, and assuring Fielder sees a fastball or two per at-bat might be his most important duty, and will protect the back end of his portion of the lineup.

Projection: BA .305 35 HR 118 RBI 110 R .392 OBP

6. Trevor Hoffman

The all-time saves leader doesn't need much of an introduction, but as a first impression on fans or players, his signature "Hells Bells" walk-up music as he approaches the mound should do the trick.

The Brewers have taken a slow and steady approach with Hoffman; but make no mistake about it, Hoffman is as prepared as any player come opening day, should his name be called.

Expecting another great season from Hoffman wouldn't be illogical, since over a four-year spread ('06, '07, '08, and '09) he has the following averages: 38 SV, 2.69 ERA, and 1.00 WHIP.

I would expect much of the same from Hoffman this year, with perhaps a slightly higher WHIP and ERA. Given that in 2009 with Milwaukee, his ERA of 1.83 was the second lowest of his entire career (1.48 in 1998), a rise would be most probable in 2010.

Projection: 42 SV, 2.89 ERA, 1.25 WHIP

7. Corey Hart

What started out as a promising career has taken a pretty steep nosedive in recent years for Corey Hart.

The former All Star has seen a drop in homers (24 in 2007, 20 in 2008, 12 in 2009) as well as a drop in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging.

He now faces pressure from the bench in Jim Edmonds, who will make a push for starting time in center and right field if Carlos Gomez should falter or if Hart's disturbing downward trend continues into 2010.

Projections:
.265 BA, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 70 R

8. Jim Edmonds

After a year away from baseball, a rejuvenated and eager Jim Edmonds entered spring training as a non-roster invitee for the Milwaukee Brewers. No guarantees were made to him by manager Ken Macha or the Brewer organization, but Edmonds fought his way onto the 40 man roster, and made the 25-man cut near the end of spring.

His veteran experience should be the key factor in Edmond's success, given that with age his talents at the plate have diminished a bit over the years.

Still nimble in the outfield, however, Edmonds will push both Carlos Gomez and Corey Hart for playing time in center and right field.

Edmonds' arrival in Milwaukee might be a surprising one for close followers of the Brewers or Edmonds, considering his Brewer-killer past as a St. Louis Cardinal.

Batting .292/.382/.500 this spring, Edmonds was an easy selection for the Brewers to keep on their bench, especially when factoring in Hart's unspectacular .142/.182/.357 spring campaign.

For Edmonds, expectations should be tampered for two reasons: 1) He hasn't seen MLB action for over a year, and with starters Gomez and Hart to surely get a fair shot to stay in the outfield, Edmonds will certainly be on a short leash if given spot starts throughout the season. 2) He's 40 years old, and while baseball is "a game for the ages", lets not misunderstand that for "a game for the aged" as one can tell if a player has lost his bat speed or productivity.

Judging by his spring, Edmonds' only real concern is playing time at this point.

Projections:
.281 BA, 10 HRs, 39 RBI

It's tough to make predictions given that the unpredictability of an injury to either Gomez or Hart, which could open the door for a more prominent role for Edmonds.

But as Manager Ken Macha says, "This is about production. We expect to win games. I, as a manager, will be evaluated on us winning games, and I'm certainly going to put guys out there in a position where they can be successful." Macha expects Edmonds to reach roughly 250 at-bats.

9. Alcides Escobar

Venezuela has had its fair share of shortstop talent, and among its brightest prospects was Alcides Escobar. The Brewers, who hadn't had much of a South American scouting presence until recent years, signed a then-17-year-old Escobar to a free agent deal, and he has since long been considered a top prospect in all of baseball.

This move allowed for former starting shortstop JJ Hardy to be expendable, and the Brewers ushered in the Escobar era with the Hardy-Gomez deal, sending Hardy to the Twins.

Escobar is known more for his glove than his bat, but his high batting average and his speed make him a lethal threat if he can be consistent.

For Escobar, a few wild cards come into play. For one, he's young and thus inexperienced at the big league level, so his average, as well as his overall numbers, may be a bit short of his potential. Also, his speed numbers may be cut back to a degree because of conservative approaches on the bases by Manager Ken Macha.

Projections:
.284 BA, 3 HR, 61 RBI, 32 SB

10. Casey McGehee

In his bid for Rookie of the Year in 2009, Casey McGehee led NL rookies with 16 home runs, and produced nicely behind Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder with a .301 BA, 66 RBI, and 58 R.

However, some analysts and baseball personnel think McGehee is a player who hit a hot streak and will come down a bit once he's figured out. With only 390 career big league at-bats, its safe to say that speculative window is still open.

McGehee has a lot to prove in 2010, with prospect Mat Gamel waiting in the wings if he can figure himself out and stick with the big league team.
For McGehee to have a successful season, I would project the following:

.289 BA, 17 HRS, 81 RBI, 75 R