The Greatest Baseball Preview in America: Milwaukee Brewers

Saj, I don't think you were clear enough. Do you think the Pirates will do well this year?

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Pitching: I forgot Ben Sheets went 6-7 last year. And he's their ace. As talented as Sheets is, if the ace of a mediocre-at-best team is below .500 in an injury plagued season, they probably underperformed. The Brewers, however, seem to be an improving team, and their young pitchers are a reason why. Sheets, Capuano, and Dave Bush, though they combined for a one-game-under-.500 record last year, should all improve in 2007. The addition of Jeff Suppan gives them a pitcher that can hover around .500 as well.

The Brewers' bullpen is a complete mess. They brought in Francisco Cordero to be their savior in the 9th inning, which is kind of like bringing in Isiah Thomas to revive your struggling business. The rest of their pen is loaded with guys stiffer than Wayne Newton's face, including Derrick Turnbow, who apparently had his arm heal after a "Rookie of the Year" type season in 2005.

Hitting: There are a few pieces to like in the Brewers lineup. Richie Weeks and Prince Fielder make up a young, talented right side of the infield. (Prince Fielder is younger than me, that SOB.) Unfortunately, the young Prince hurt himself running a 60-yard-dash, which was about as predictable as Sean Hannity making no sense on a social issue.

There are other pieces to the puzzle that can do the job, like Koskie, Hall, Jenkins, Estrada, and Grafanino. The problem is this team has little power and little speed beyond Fielder and Weeks.

Miscellaneous: Every aspect of this team is average to below average. Except one thing... The sausage race!!!

Pirate-related Ridiculous Proposition Bet: Odds on the Staush winning the most amount of races this year - Exactly 5:1.


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