MILWAUKEE IS BREWING UP A TITLE IN 2008.
January 20, 2008
For the first time in franchise history, the Milwaukee Brewers have a problem they need to solve before the season opener on April 4th against the San Francisco Giants at home in Miller Park.
With three weeks left until the start of Spring Training in Arizona, the Brewers have an abundance of pitching - starting and relief.
The Brewers avoided arbitration with two players this week as they signed RHP Claudio Vargas on Wednesday to a one-year, $3.6 million contract. LHP Chris Capuano and the Brewers agreed to terms on a one-year deal, reportedly worth $3.75 million late on Thursday.
Vargas, 29, went 11-6 for the Brewers in 2007 with a 5.09 ERA in 29 games, including 23 starts. He will be among a slew of pitchers vying for openings in the starting rotation or bullpen during Spring Training.
Capuano made $3.25 million during a disappointing 2007 season, which came after he won 18 games in 2005 and made the National League All-Star team in 2006. He won his first five decisions, but then lost the final 12, eventually losing his spot in the Brewers’ starting rotation. The Brewers lost the final 22 games in which he pitched (0-12, 6.08 ERA during that span), though Capuano pitched well in a handful of those outings. He underwent surgery after the season to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, an injury that had existed for some time.
The Brewers starting rotation is as solid as its been in Milwaukee since the team last made the postseason in 1982. The starting rotation is anchored by staff ace, Ben Sheets. Jeff Suppan, Yovani Gallardo and Carlos Villanueva seem to have a lock on positions two thru four in the starting rotation leaving Dave Bush, Manny Parra, Capuano, and Vargas battling for the fifth and final spot.
The Brewers finally have a luxury they haven’t had since they moved to Milwaukee from Seattle in 1970, pitching, pitching, and more pitching.
The Brewers no longer have to call up a prospect from their farm system to get his tits ripped off because a starting pitcher went down with an injury. The Brewers have a legit eight starting pitchers on their roster heading into the 2008 preseason in Arizona.
Six bullpen spots are all but locked up leaving only one spot available in the pen for the three pitchers who fail to nail down the fifth starter’s spot.
That leaves GM Doug Melvin with some flexibility heading into the 2008 campaign. With quality starting pitching available for trade bait, the Brewers could land a key veteran player/players that could back up the new positions held by Bill Hall (3B) , Ryan Braun (LF) or Eric Gagne (Closer).
The Brewers bullpen got a major makeover as Eric Gagne is now the man in the pen. Milwaukee will once again use Derrick Turnbow as a setup man. The other roster spots locked in heading into Spring Training for the bullpen include: Brian Shouse, David Riske, Salomon Torres, and Guillermo Mota.
The Brewers will once again go as far as their pitching takes them. With the best pitching staff assembled in nearly 25 years towing the rubber for Milwaukee this season, the Brewers have to be the clear cut favorites to win the NL Central title this season.
If the pitching in Milwaukee lives up to expectations and the staff remains healthy throughout the season, the Brewers might be printing playoff tickets this year by Labor Day.
It will be the second consecutive year that Milwaukee has printed playoff tickets. The only difference between last year and this year will be I can use my playoff tickets to attend October baseball at Miller Park this season instead of framing the tickets I couldn’t use in 2007.
Comments
One Response to “MILWAUKEE IS BREWING UP A TITLE IN 2008.”
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
No wonder ticket prices are thru the roof (no pun intended), when you get a $500,000 raise for going 5-12 and your team loses the last 22 games you’re involved in. What a country!!!