Milwaukee Brewers' 2009 Preview

Let’s take a look at this year’s Milwaukee Brewers team and the top five questions that need to be dealt with if they are going to play in October once again:

1)  Where is Vuke?

Starting pitching: We could’ve started with closer, middle…oh it does not matter; not since the Jim Slaton and Bill Parsons days ("Do you remember President Nixon and the bills you had to pay"?) have there been so many questions as to the pitching staff. Maybe that is why Doug Melvin was so excited to trade highly touted Eric Fryer for equally highly touted pitcher Chase Wright (who gave up the infamous four-spot last year to the BoSox).

Anyways, without Ben Sheets and C.C Sabathia we are looking at some long afternoons at Miller Park. The potential is there with a full year from Yovani Gallardo and a healthy Manny Parra, throw in a David Bush and the disappointing Jeff Suppan--none who won more than ten games last year--and you have at best a respectable squad. Look for Seth McClung, Carlos Villanueva, and Wright to get a long look for the fifth spot.

2)  And Rollie?

Since Doug Melvin has taken as over GM he has had an obsessive desire to acquire quality middle-relief pitchers and closers. Last winter ago he spent the equivalent of 7,000,000 barrels of Milwaukee’s finest (that is an inebriated estimate) on David Riske, Guillermo Mota, Salomon Torres and Eric Gagne.

This year, after heartily licking his wounds on the steroid-induced goggle-eyed Gagne, he went for Jorge Julio, minor-leaguer R.J. Swindle (14:1 K ratio) and closer Trevor Hoffman. Look for Hoffman to be the key to success if his 40-year body can keep stay healthy. Julio, Mitch Stetter, Swindle and Carlos Villanueva will see a lot of work for Ken Macha at homer-happy Miller Park.

3) Roll out the barrels…

This is one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball and there are many scouts out there who don’t believe it has reached its potential. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun are the meat but they need to make sure Weeks and Hardy get on base in front of them.

Hardy may bet gently pushed by minor-league phenom Alcides Escobar, who though will end up at triple-A, will definitely see some time in Milwaukee. This is a very lethal lineup that may get even stronger if the fly-swatting Jason Kendall takes a seat, and the can’t miss youngster Angel Salome breaks through.

4) Not Ricky Weeks again

Last year, Ray Durham was brought in to show Weeks what life could be like as a journeyman second baseman. At this point, however, Weeks can only dream of having the career Durham has had. Weeks .342 slugging percentage was solid—but how many times can “potential” be used in the same sentence as "disappointing" when referring to him.

If Weeks struggles, you may see rookie Mat Gamel go to third and Bill Hall take over to ensure more pop out of the position. The Brewers also have steady third-baseman Mike Lamb, who has been solid everywhere he has gone. Lamb may get more playing time depending on the rotating chairs that Ken Macha puts in place.

5) The Division

In order to compete with the Cubs and Astros (and just maybe the Reds) the Brewers are going to have to get lucky with one of their young pitchers. Maybe Gallardo or Parra will have the breakout year that some predict, but the lack of a an ace is a huge hindrance in a division which features the likes of Carlos Zambrano and Roy Oswalt.

If the Brewers are in breathing distance of first in July watch for Melvin to make another attempt at recreating the Sabathia move by dangling his minor-league booty in the face of salivating GMs.

In conclusion, the Brewers have as much young talented position players as any team in the majors, however Melvin’s inability to land a quality free-agent starter(s) suggests there will be a lot of 11-8 games this year which may not favor the good guys all that often.