Team Preview: Milwaukee Brewers

2007 W-L: 83-79
2007 Pythag W-L: 83-79
2007 Payroll: ~71 mil
2008 Payroll: ~81 mil

Coming: Jason Kendall, Mike Cameron, David Riske, Eric Gagne, Salomon Torres, Randy Choate, Guillermo Mota

Going: Johnny Estrada Geoff Jenkins, Francisco Cordero

Sliding In:
Although they fell apart late the Brewers gave the world, and more importantly the National League Central, a primer on what's coming for the next few years.

Offense:
One thing is for sure, with Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder the Brewers had quite the corner infield offensive attack. Of course Braun is now in left field, and Fielder is making people forget about his weight, regardless that's quite a 1-2 punch. Rickie Weeks is going to be a popular breakout player, and frankly if he can, you're talking about a legitimate trio that may be top five in the league for the next decade.

Mike Cameron was added in center, if nothing else he adds a true defensive presence along with Bill Hall shifting to third. The Jason Kendall signing makes no sense to me, he's not good, and I'd imagine Eric Munson could out-hit him in 2007 for the league minimum.

J.J. Hardy and an underrated Corey Hart - who in some aspects is a lot like Brad Hawpe - fill out the positional players with Craig Counsell, Joe Dillon, Tony Gwynn Jr., and possibly Gabe Gross - assuming he's not dealt - coming off of the bench along with whomever wins the backup catcher spot.

Starting Rotation:
I'm not even going to say it, okay once, if Ben Sheets can stay healthy...there, I won't finish it, far too painful.

At this point I'm not sure if it's safe to say the Brewers regret the Jeff Suppan signing, but I think they'll be a bit more optimistic about it falling this season. Too many hits allowed suggests his baserunners allowed will regress back towards his career average.

Yovani Gallardo is going to be really, really good, and he'll help fill out the rotation with a combo of Dave Bush, Chris Capuano, Claudio Vargas, and Carlos Villanueva who had a very good season as a pseudo-swing man.

Bullpen:
Despite losing their closer, I don't see the Brewers falling too far off in the bullpen department, although make sure to note that it's going to be a ticking time bomb - something that, while you can say it about any bullpen, this one depends on Eric Gagne bouncing back, post Boston massacre, David Riske and his dangerous peripherals, and Derrick Turnbow. Torres adds a fourth closing option, and Choate as well as Mota are interesting back parts, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my old friend Seth McClung. Go get `em Big Red, just make sure you don't tell the catcher that the location of your next pitch "Beats the hell out of you.". Again.