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Friday, April 14th, 7:10pm @ Shea Stadium Glavine (1-0) vs Capuano (1-1)
Saturday, April 15th, 1:10 pm @ Shea Stadium Trachsel (1-0) vs Ohka (0-1)
Sunday, April 16th, 1:10 pm @ Shea Stadium Bannister (1-0) vs Sheets (0-0)
Perhaps it is poetic that the end of the Barry Alvarez/Brett Favre era in Wisconsin coincides with the first really good Brewers team to come along in a while. After all, the Brewers haven't had a winning season since 1992, which was the year that the two Wisconsin football greats began to transform their respective teams from dismal cellar dwellers into perennial winners. Over the last 13 years, local sports pages have sung the praises of Packer football and UW athletics, while the Brewers have realigned, switched leagues, built a new ballpark and never finished higher than 3rd place. But finally, for the first time in a dozen years, Brewers fans are trading in their tentative "maybe next year" for a hearty "now is the time".
The Brewers came close to a winning record last year finishing 81-81 and owe much of their transformation to GM Doug Melvin and his commitment to youth. New owner Mark Attanasio is less business man and more baseball fan, which is a large improvement over the icy depths of the stingy Selig family. It will be interesting to see how far he his willing to go to address needs if the team is in contention at the trade deadline. In my opinion this team has a load of young talent, but most of it not fully developed...it may take a year or two to get everyone clicking on the same level. Yet in a NL Central that has no clear cut favorite, the Brewers have enough talent to be playing meaningful games well into September.
Brewers by position:
1B - Prince Fielder
One of the young future stars getting the everyday job this year. Has a great eye, and while not as big as his dad, can still wallop the ball.
2B - Rickie Weeks
Another rookie, not as ready as Fielder but will learn in the pros. Low batting average but expected to improve this year.
SS - JJ Hardy
Great glove in the minors, but only average in his rookie year last year. Hit .308 after the All-Star break last year which was an encouraging sign for this season.
3B - Bill Hall vs. Lefties, Cory Koskie vs. Right
Bill Hall hit .291 with 17 HRs last year, while the Brewers are hoping Koskie reverts back to the player he was with the Twins a few years ago.
C - Damien Miller
One of the elder Brewers at 35, he is there for defense and some veteran leadership
LF - Carlos Lee
Proven slugger who is the Brewers' All Star. If the Brewers are not contending in July, look for him to be dealt for more young talent for this team.
CF - Brady Clark
Ex-Met had a breakout year last year batting .306 with 13 HRs. Decent defensive ability. The pressure will be on him to succeed this year because the Brewers have several young outfielders waiting to take his place.
RF - Geoff Jenkins
More veteran pop available here as Geoff will average between 20-30 HRs a year. His batting average is inconsistent, and he his capable of hitting .260 or .300.
Opposing pitchers:
Friday: Tom Glavine vs. Chris Capuno
The Brewers have a decent starting rotation. Capuano posted 18 wins last year and is developing a cut fastball which could make him a good frontline starter. I believe 18 wins is his ceiling, but he will develop into a great No. 2 or 3. Probably the best performance out of a starter we will see this series.
[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=5469]Yearly Stats[/url] | [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=5469&teamId=21]Current Mets Batters' Career vs Capuano[/url] | VS Mets on [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=250508108]05/08/2005[/url]
Saturday: Steve Trachsel vs. Tomo Ohka
The Mets have seen Ohka from his days with the Nationals/Expos. He is the No. 4 and should be the easiest pitcher faced this series.
[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=4122]Yearly Stats[/url] | [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=4122&teamId=21]Current Mets Batters' Career vs Ohka[/url] | VS Mets on [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=250423121]04/23/2005[/url]…[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=250430120]04/30/2005[/url]…[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=250802121]08/02/2005[/url]
Sunday: Brian Bannister vs. Ben Sheets
This will be Ben Sheets frist start of 2006. Ben is still the ace of this staff but has been bothered with injuries last year and this spring. I doubt he'll be as dominant as he may be later this summer.
[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=4571]Yearly Stats[/url] | [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=4571&teamId=21]Current Mets Batters' Career vs Sheets[/url] | Did not face the Mets last year.
Bullpen:
The Brewer bullpen is their weakness, but it is still an area where youth abounds and they expect improvement in the years to come. Derrick Turnbow is the closer, and while he put up decent closer numbers last year, he still can get into trouble if he's not landing strikes.
Vs. Mets:
The Mets have played the Brewers well. Since Milwaukee came into the NL, the Mets have gone 38-20 vs. the Brew Crew, however they split 6 games last year. Brady Clark is the only ex-Mets player on the Brewers. Julio Franco and Jose Valentin have played for the Brewers. Willie Randolph also spent a season in Milwaukee.
Who's Hot in Milwaukee: Carlos Lee (4HR in 9 games), Chris Capuano (14 Ks in 12.1 innings), Derrick Turnbow (5/5 in save opps)
Who's Hot in New York: David Wright (10 RBI in 8 games), Mets Pitchers (2.84 ERA in 73 innings), Carlos Delgado (1.080 OPS)
All in all I'm excited for this series. While the Brewers are not the league's elite club, they are better than the Nats or the Fish. I think they will be more of a challenge for the Mets and a good gauge to see how New York plays a better team. This Milwaukee team is still a season or two away from challenging for a championship...but when they get to be a great team, they have the potential to be a great team for a long time.
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