The National League Central will be one of the toughest divisions this year, but the 2015 Milwaukee Brewers have the talent and All-Star caliber players that it takes to rebound and have a decent year. The value of catcher Jonathan Lucroy that has been analyzed in recent weeks makes it hard to not think about the possibilities for Milwaukee’s 2015 season. A third place, 82-80 2014 season shows that the Brewers are potentially on the rise but still lack the one constant they need in their line-up and perhaps their rotation, which struggled with injuries last season. The bullpen remains strong and hopefully Bernie Brewer will be sliding down his slide in center field more often than not this season for home runs.
2015 Team Overview: Milwaukee Brewers
Manager Ron Roenicke enters his fifth season as the Brewers manager, and has compiled a 335-313 record his previous four seasons. His understanding of players and clubhouse leadership (he was one of the Angels coaches who served under Mike Scioscia and ended up becoming a manager himself, along with Joe Maddon and Bud Black) aids in his control of his team.
The Brewers outfield remains one of the strongest in the league with Carlos Gomez patrolling center field and Ryan Braun in right field. Both provide major firepower and Gomez provides speed in the middle of the Milwaukee line-up, third and fourth in the order. Left fielder Khris Davis is still an underrated side note to Gomez and Braun, hitting a .244 with 22 home runs and 69 RBIs in 144 games in 2014. The combined power of the three should provide the Brewers with some run scoring ability, but only if other players like Jean Segura and Scooter Gennett can get on base, and if Lucroy repeats his recent success of 2013 and 2014.
Roster Moves
He’s Here: C Juan Centeno, P Neal Cotts, 2B Luis Jimenez, P Corey Knebel, 1B Adam Lind, 2B Luis Sardinas
Non-Roster Invitees with chance to make roster: 3B Donnie Murphy, P Chris Perez
He’s Gone: SS Jeff Bianchi, P Zach Duke, P Marco Estrada, 2B Irving Falu, P Yovani Gallardo, OF Caleb Gindl, P Tom Gorzelanny, 1B Lyle Overbay, Mark Reynolds, 2B Rickie Weeks
Healthy Crew for the Brew Crew
The 2014 Milwaukee Brewers started as a very surprising team, going 51-32 by June 28. But then injuries set in and they barely held on to a .500 record.
Third baseman Aramis Ramirez announced this season would be his last, the potential Hall of Famer needs to have one more solid season for Milwaukee both offensively and defensively, or else Milwaukee will have quite a struggle getting back up to the top of the standings. To supplement Ramirez, bench player Luis Jimenez, who hasn’t seen too much Major League playing time, will have to be as solid as general manager Doug Melvin makes him out to be, or else third base will be a problem spot this season.
As Brew Crew Ball mentions, the pitching rotation absolutely NEEDS to stay healthy in order for the Brewers to compete this season. The trade of Yovani Gallardo to the Rangers for infield depth in Luis Sardinas and bullpen help in Corey Knebel allows Jimmy Nelson to slide into the last rotation spot. Nelson needs to prove he can be a reliable fifth Major League starter and help the Brewers win some ballgames.
The Brewers only used seven pitchers to start games last season, with Matt Garza, Kyle Lohse, Mike Fiers, Willy Peralta and Nelson as the returning starters, while Gallardo and Marco Estrada (traded to Toronto for Adam Lind) were the non-returners. Tyler Thornburg provides another option at the back of the rotation, but as a last resort. The Brewers banking on another season like last year, as applied to their starters, is a mistake. They can’t take for granted last season and assume all their starters will remain healthy (or reliable) for a full season.
The bullpen will hopefully be very reliable this season, especially after bringing back closer Francisco Rodriguez on a two-year contract. Supplementing him will be Jonathan Broxton, a veteran, and Jim Henderson, who has two previous proven seasons in the bullpen. Non-roster invitee Chris Perez also has a good chance to make the team if he keeps his runs and walks down at a minimal level. Neal Cotts was a big left-handed addition to the bullpen for this season and can hopefully repeat his recently newfound success as a big league reliever. He places Tom Gorzelanny in that rule and may be even better than Gorzelanny was in Milwaukee.
Team Outline
(Red indicates a new acquisition)
C: Jonathan Lucroy
1B: Adam Lind
2B: Scooter Gennett
3B: Aramis Ramirez
SS: Jean Segura
LF: Khris Davis
CF: Carlos Gomez
RF: Ryan Braun
The addition of Adam Lind gives the Brewers a true first baseman who they can use in most games against right-handed pitchers (due to Lind batting left-handed), and can use Jason Rogers off the bench if needed. Martin Maldonado also makes a compelling case as a back-up first baseman since, as a catcher back-up to Jonathan Lucroy, he won’t see too much time behind the plate.
1. Kyle Lohse
2. Matt Garza
3. Willy Peralta
4. Mike Fiers
5. Jimmy Nelson
Bottom Line
The Brewers have the talent and tools to compete with some of the other National League Central teams but need to stay healthy and consistent throughout the season to make the kind of impact they’re looking for. Good seasons from Aramis Ramirez and Jean Segura and repeat seasons from Jonathan Lucroy and Ryan Braun will provide stability in the line-up, and the reliability of the rotation will have to come close to being repeated. A third or fourth place, 78-85 win season seems reasonable for this team, somewhere behind the Cardinals and Pirates and possibly the Cubs, while ahead of the Reds.
Main Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
