Yovani Gallardo

The Milwaukee Brewers made the playoffs in 2008 for the first time since 1982 on the back of newly acquired ace CC Sabathia. However Sabathia ran into a brick wall due to his workload and the eventual World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. The Brewers pitching staff took a hit heading into 2009 as both Sabathia and long-time Brewer Ben Sheets chose free agency (Sabathia signed with the NY Yankees and Sheets did not pitch for any team). Yovani Gallardo was given the reigns as ace followed by average veterans Jeff Suppan and Braden Looper, and then Dave Bush, Manny Parra and a host of others. The Brewers rotation was considered a concern during the offseason, but management did nothing to bolster it, thus the struggles. The Brewers pitching staff held a 5.37 ERA in 2009, tied for worst in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles. At least the O’s were throwing out rookies virtually everyday. The Brewers weren’t. Suppan was 7-12 with a 5.29 ERA. Bush could not overcome arm fatigue for much of the season and was very disappointing (5-9, 6.38 ERA). Parra was 11-11 with a 6.36 ERA. Carlos Villanueva was 4-10 with a 5.34 ERA out of the bullpen with 6 starts. Gallardo was the only bright spot in the rotation as he was 13-12 with a 3.73 ERA in 30 starts. He also added 204 strikeouts and was the only Brewers starter with an ERA under 4.00. The bullpen proved solid with the addition of all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman and breakout seasons from Mark DiFelice, lefty Mitch Stetter, Claudio Vargas, and the always hustling Todd Coffey (DiFelice has succumbed to shoulder surgery with no timetable for his return and Vargas is a free agent). To sure up the bullpen, the Brewers have signed veteran righty reliever LaTroy Hawkins to a 2-year deal. Hawkins went 1-4 with a 2.13 ERA in 65 games for the Houston Astros. They also picked up lefty Chuck Lofgren from the Cleveland Indians in the Rule V draft. Lofgren is versatile in that he can start or relieve and the Brewers could use another lefty to complement Stetter.

The young offense is potent through the middle of the order with Silver Slugger winner Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Corey Hart (though Hart struggled throughout 2009). Rookie third baseman Casey McGehee earned ROY votes even though he played through a knee injury that required surgery this offseason. With veteran centerfielder Mike Cameron becoming a free agent, management shedded salary by trading inconsistent shortstop JJ Hardy to the Minnesota Twins for speedy centerfielder Carlos Gomez, who should become the leadoff hitter. Veteran catcher Jason Kendall became a free agent (and signed with the KC Royals) so the Brewers signed veteran Gregg Zaun with the hope that he can mentor prospect Jonathon Lucroy, just as he mentored Orioles top prospect Matt Wieters. Manager Ken Macha will have to work in the younger players (Gomez, McGehee, and shortstop Alcides Escobar) with the young core. With upgrades to the pitching staff, defense, and offense, the Brewers should be at the top of the division in 2010. Here’s their wish list:

1. Starting pitching: Yes, this is again a priority. The Brewers declined Braden Looper’s option for 2010, putting them in the market for two starting pitchers. They signed consistent starter Randy Wolf, filling one of those holes and giving them a reliable left-handed option to pair with young ace Yovani Gallardo and to help young lefty Manny Parra. The Brewers are looking at top free agent pitcher John Lackey, but rumors have him close to signing with the Boston Red Sox. Jason Marquis could be an option as he has experience in the NL Central as he pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. An in-house option could be left-hander Chris Narveson, who made some starts late in the year for the Brewers. In 4 starts, Narveson went 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 19 strikeouts. Other in-house options would be prospects Josh Butler and Mark Rogers, both of whom pitched in the Arizona Fall League. Butler struggled in the AFL, but pitched well in the minors in 2009 (9-3, 2.97 ERA in 23 starts, just 4 homeruns allowed, a .250 opponents average, and 96 strikeouts). Rogers went 1-3 with a 1.67 ERA in 22 starts, though all at High-A Brevard County. In the AFL, Rogers mainly pitched out of the bullpen and struggled.
2. 

   Craig Counsell

   Middle infield depth: The Brewers have starting middle infielders in second baseman Rickie Weeks, who is coming back from a wrist injury, and rookie shortstop Alcides Escobar, who was given the experience of a 38 game call up where he hit .304. The hope was to re-sign veteran utility man Craig Counsell (which they have) who filled in nicely for the injured Weeks, so that he could provide veteran leadership to Escobar and McGehee or fill in at third base or second base if McGehee’s knee or Weeks’ wrist are not ready for the start of the season. The Brewers also claimed infielder Luis Cruz off of waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2009, Cruz hit just .214 in 27 games, though he made just 2 errors between second base and shortstop in those games (he hit .253 in Triple-A Indianapolis).