Sunday, February 1, 2009

Milwaukee Starting Lineup/Pitching Rotation


Given that the Milwaukee Brewers do not make any transactions before the season begins, here is what I think the starting lineup and starting rotation will be (Some of them I don't agree with but I think that is how it will shake out):





Lineup:

1. Rickie Weeks
2. JJ Hardy

3. Ryan Braun
4. Prince Fielder
5. Corey Hart
6. Mike Cameron

7. Bill Hall
8. Jason Kendall
9. Pitcher


Best two players off the bench: Craig Counsell and TBD. My thoughts are Tony Gwynn or possibly Brad Nelson (if either makes the show). Mat Gamel and Alcides Escobar will get strong looks during camp and could possibly make the team. Escobar is a stronger possiblity because Gamel still has much work to do on his weak defensive play. If he wasn't a weak third baseman Gamel would be the Brewers everyday third baseman and Hall more than likely would have been traded already.


Starting Rotation:
1. Yovani Gallardo*
2. Manny Parra
3. Jeff Suppan

4. Dave Bush
5. Seth McClung

Closer: Trevor Hoffman
Setup: Jorge Julio

My everyday lineup if I was Ken Macha:

1. JJ Hardy

2. Mike Cameron
3. Ryan Braun
4. Prince Fielder

5. Corey Hart
6. Rickie Weeks

7. Bill Hall
8. Jason Kendall
9. Pitcher

I would bat Hardy in the leadoff spot because he is one of the few Brewers who doesn't strike out much and is a great contact hitter. Cameron could also bat leadoff but I like him better in the two hole. I would move Weeks down to six because he strikes out too much and until he shows that he can make good contact and raise his batting average he can't bat in the leadoff spot. Hall is a decent player but his best days are behind him and I look for him to get traded at the deadline. He did have lasik surgery so hopefully that will help him get back to the player he was a few seasons ago. It also helps that he is actually staying put at third base this year and doesn't have to get readjusted to another position.

My starting rotation if I was Ken Macha:
1. Yovani Gallardo

2. Manny Parra
3. Dave Bush

4. Jeff Suppan
5. Seth McClung
Closer: Hoffman
Setup: Either Julio or possibly Carlos Villanueva. Although Villanueva has proven that he can eat up innings in the bullpen so I think I would stay with Julio.





Photo: Courtesy of JSOnline.com

5 comments:

  1. Cameron should hit no higher than sixth in the Brewers lineup and his stats from last season are evidence enough. He batted .243 and stole only 17 bases, making the argument that he should bat second in the lineup illogical when compared with Hardy. Hardy batted 40 points higher than Cameron, hit one fewer homer and had more RBIs. He slugged higher and had more total bases than Cameron.

    Sure, Cameron is an outstanding fielder — one of the best and most consistent in the league — but his streakiness can absolutely kill a team over a 10, 20, or even 30 game stretch at the plate.

    In a 20-game stretch in late July/early August last season, Cameron had 10 hitless games and struck out 23 times.

    Of the 250 worst single-season strikout totals in major league history, Cameron has accounted for seven of them, one being his 142-strikeout campaign in 2008. His strikeout percentage in 2008 was %31.8.

    In my opinion, he is consistently one of the most overpaid and overrated players in the league.

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  2. I agree with you but the entire Brewers roster is prone to strike out a lot. Cameron missed I believe the first either 25 or 30 games last year. I think starting the season will help him be in form all year. You either bat Weeks or Cameron in the number one or two spots because of their speed and if they are going to put Weeks up that far in the lineup than you may as well bat Cameron there because they both have similar batting numbers.

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  3. That's still a pretty good team, even though Sabathia and Sheets are gone. Not sure how good the pitching will be, but the hitters will score a ton. It's going to be Cubs 1 in the division and Milwaukee 2, and everyone else will be fighting it out for the 3-6 spots.

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  4. I definitely agree with Charlie about Cameron batting lower in the order. With those monsters hitting 3,4 in Braun and Fielder, the first two guys getting on is even more important.

    The Brew Crew, on paper, look to have a great mix of speed and power in their lineup. And I'm definitely looking forward to seeing guys like Gamel get the call. But man...that pitching staff looks rough. Look on the bright side though...No more Derrick Turnbow!

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  5. I know I'm biased as a Cubs fan, but I'm just not impressed with this team. They have some good hitters in that lineup, but they can be pitched to. Even Braun has some flaws--he doesn't walk enough.

    And the pitching staff is in trouble. They have a #1 starter (Gallardo), a #4 starter (Parra) and three #5's right now. I think Hoffman is a bad fit for Miller Park, too. He still has a good changeup but throws batting practice fastballs at this stage of his career.

    I see Milwaukee finishing just above .500 on the strength of a decent everyday lineup.

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