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04-05-2004, 12:50 AM
MILWAUKEE -- After improving 12 games in their first season under manager Ned Yost and general manager Doug Melvin, the Brewers will look to take another step forward in 2004.
No one thinks it will be easy. Offensive anchor Richie Sexson was traded for four everyday players, and Yost went into Opening Day still trying to figure where they best fit in. New right fielder Ben Grieve is a big question mark, coming off three bad years in Tampa Bay. Left fielder Geoff Jenkins is coming off an injury-shortened season and center fielder Scott Podsednik has a tough task ahead to match last year's rookie brilliance.
<b>Rotation:</b> While the Cubs and Astros put together two of baseball's best starting rotations, the Brewers pieced one together with pieces from last year and one new addition. Ben Sheets was thrust into the "ace" role as a rookie and expects bigger things in 2004 after winning 11 games in each of his three seasons. Doug Davis was the team's best pitcher last August and September and enjoyed a solid spring, but will have to prove he is better than the guy cast off last year by Texas and Toronto. Matt Kinney has great stuff but could not consistently put it together in 2003, his first full season in the Majors. Chris Capuano, who came in the Sexson trade, and Wes Obermueller will enjoy their first Opening Day in the big leagues and get a chance to prove they belong.
<b>Bullpen:</b> With a rotation composed mostly of "high pitch-count guys," the Brewers bullpen is stocked with flexible relievers. Dave Burba, Adrian Hernandez and Ben Ford all have Major League starting experience. Rule 5 pick Jeff Bennett only converted to the pen last season, Brooks Kieschnick proved durable last year and setup man Luis Vizcaino can go two innings. Only closer Dan Kolb will be a one-inning specialist in this group, which is devoid of left-handers.
<b>Lineup:</b> The lefty-heavy group will rely on singles and doubles -- not Sexson home runs -- to score. Yost may top his batting order with four straight left-handed hitters (Podsednik, Craig Counsell, Lyle Overbay and Jenkins), possibly exposing the team to left-handed specialists. The team hopes Grieve gets aggressive at the plate and believes he could benefit from a season at Miller Park, where fly balls to right field tend to go a long way. The catching tandem of Chad Moeller and Gary Bennett could be the Brewers' best at that position in years. The bench is primarily right-handed, and Yost expects to use outfielder Brady Clark and utility man Keith Ginter in nearly every game. When he was not pitching, Kieschnick chipped in seven home runs and a .300 batting average in 70 at-bats -- mostly as a left-handed pinch-hitter.
<b>Defense:</b> Overbay showed outstanding hands at first base during his first spring with the team and may be as good defensively as the vastly-underrated Sexson. Third baseman Wes Helms has a cannon arm and worked with video this spring to improve his footwork, but Counsell and Junior Spivey up the middle are average at best. Jenkins could win a Gold Glove if he stays healthy for a full season, Podsednik relies on his speed to make plays and Grieve may be a liability in right. Clark, a great defender with a plus arm, will replace Grieve any time the Brewers have a late lead.
<b>Fearless prediction:</b> With a weak pitching staff and a ton of games against National League Central rivals like the Astros, Cardinals and Cubs, the Brewers could slip toward the bottom of the division by midseason. If that happens, Melvin may decide to make some trades and see what he's got in minor leaguers like Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy and Prince Fielder.
<a href=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/images/2003/08/22/zpehIADT.jpg><img src=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/images/2003/08/22/zpehIADT.jpg border=0></a>
For the Brewers to contend, they'll need another solid season from Scott Podsednik.
No one thinks it will be easy. Offensive anchor Richie Sexson was traded for four everyday players, and Yost went into Opening Day still trying to figure where they best fit in. New right fielder Ben Grieve is a big question mark, coming off three bad years in Tampa Bay. Left fielder Geoff Jenkins is coming off an injury-shortened season and center fielder Scott Podsednik has a tough task ahead to match last year's rookie brilliance.
<b>Rotation:</b> While the Cubs and Astros put together two of baseball's best starting rotations, the Brewers pieced one together with pieces from last year and one new addition. Ben Sheets was thrust into the "ace" role as a rookie and expects bigger things in 2004 after winning 11 games in each of his three seasons. Doug Davis was the team's best pitcher last August and September and enjoyed a solid spring, but will have to prove he is better than the guy cast off last year by Texas and Toronto. Matt Kinney has great stuff but could not consistently put it together in 2003, his first full season in the Majors. Chris Capuano, who came in the Sexson trade, and Wes Obermueller will enjoy their first Opening Day in the big leagues and get a chance to prove they belong.
<b>Bullpen:</b> With a rotation composed mostly of "high pitch-count guys," the Brewers bullpen is stocked with flexible relievers. Dave Burba, Adrian Hernandez and Ben Ford all have Major League starting experience. Rule 5 pick Jeff Bennett only converted to the pen last season, Brooks Kieschnick proved durable last year and setup man Luis Vizcaino can go two innings. Only closer Dan Kolb will be a one-inning specialist in this group, which is devoid of left-handers.
<b>Lineup:</b> The lefty-heavy group will rely on singles and doubles -- not Sexson home runs -- to score. Yost may top his batting order with four straight left-handed hitters (Podsednik, Craig Counsell, Lyle Overbay and Jenkins), possibly exposing the team to left-handed specialists. The team hopes Grieve gets aggressive at the plate and believes he could benefit from a season at Miller Park, where fly balls to right field tend to go a long way. The catching tandem of Chad Moeller and Gary Bennett could be the Brewers' best at that position in years. The bench is primarily right-handed, and Yost expects to use outfielder Brady Clark and utility man Keith Ginter in nearly every game. When he was not pitching, Kieschnick chipped in seven home runs and a .300 batting average in 70 at-bats -- mostly as a left-handed pinch-hitter.
<b>Defense:</b> Overbay showed outstanding hands at first base during his first spring with the team and may be as good defensively as the vastly-underrated Sexson. Third baseman Wes Helms has a cannon arm and worked with video this spring to improve his footwork, but Counsell and Junior Spivey up the middle are average at best. Jenkins could win a Gold Glove if he stays healthy for a full season, Podsednik relies on his speed to make plays and Grieve may be a liability in right. Clark, a great defender with a plus arm, will replace Grieve any time the Brewers have a late lead.
<b>Fearless prediction:</b> With a weak pitching staff and a ton of games against National League Central rivals like the Astros, Cardinals and Cubs, the Brewers could slip toward the bottom of the division by midseason. If that happens, Melvin may decide to make some trades and see what he's got in minor leaguers like Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy and Prince Fielder.
<a href=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/images/2003/08/22/zpehIADT.jpg><img src=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/images/2003/08/22/zpehIADT.jpg border=0></a>
For the Brewers to contend, they'll need another solid season from Scott Podsednik.