With the Milwaukee Brewers 2008 season over with a 3-1 series loss to Philadelphia Phillies, there are many off season questions to answer. What I will focus are Dale Sveum be the manager in 2009, who is going to be the bullpen in 2009, who will fill the two empty place in the rotation, will the ownership go out and get anyone, who will be in centerfield.
Let’s start with will Dale be back as manager in 2009? Well he did get the Brewers to the playoffs, something that ownership didn’t think that Yost could do. He won a game in the playoffs, but another that should be noted that several third base coaches do become managers of major league clubs, Ron Washington (Rangers), Manny Acta (Nationals) just to name a few of the most recent ones. I also think that the Brewers won’t find a big name manager on the Market, but don’t count out the possibility of Robin Yount as a possible manager. Rumor on the street was that a reason Robin left after his one year in Milwaukee is because they wouldn’t offer his a managerial for the Brewers. Overall my final thoughts on this decision is that the Brewers seem to do better when the personal stays the same, and Dale I believed will be a better manager than Yost.
Will Dale Sveum be back to manage the Brewers in 2009? Yes
The starting rotation seems to be an area that could have four 15 game winners, in Parra, Suppan Gallardo and Bush, so absolutely those four are in my rotation, for the following reason. Gallardo is the Brewers future ace, and he pitch well in 2006 when he was called up and other than his postseason start he pitched, he pitched very well. Suppan is also in because you aren’t going have one of the highest paid player in Brewers history in the bullpen or for that matter Triple-A. Parra is also the future of the Brewers and he pitched well during the first half of the season, and I look for him and Suppan to redemption years. I’m looking for Bush to have a break out season. While he did slump during the first half of the season, but bounced back really well, and pitch amazingly in the second half and was the only starting pitcher to get a win in the playoffs. That leaves the final roster spot open for a number of options. They Brewers could bring back Sheets, who said he hasn’t thought about coming back to Milwaukee, or Sabathia, who will command more money than Johan Santana, but has left the door wide open for a return to Milwaukee. Seth McGlung did well in the few starts and long relief outings and pitch well when he was called on. If he builds up his stamina in Spring Training you could see him fill the final roster spot. Chris Capuano who had Tommy John before the season started, witch takes at the minimum a year to recover, could pitch some long relief or start a few games, but I would except to see him start the season in AAA like what Minnesota’s did with Francisco Liriano just this last season. Carlos Villanueva, who starting the season in the starting rotation but had problems with control, could also get the nod. I would like him to get another chance to earn his a spot, but if he doesn’t get it, he did do an amazing job coming out of the bullpen.
Who will be in the starting rotation: Gallrado, Parra, Suppan, Bush, McGlung
There will be several questions regarding the Brewers bullpen. After a season where they when out and traded for Mota and Torres, signed Riskie and Gange, and re-signed Shouse, with the exception Riskie all are going to be free agents. I personally drought that after really slow start and struggles in the 2008 season the Brewers will not re-sign Gagne unless he takes are large pay cut, and even after that it’s a maybe. He did have times where he was very good, witch can be credited to Mike Maddux’s magical words of wisdom that he can give a pitcher. Mota is definitely not coming back, he is overall to inconstant and I overall think that he didn’t perform to well during the course of the season. Torres did a nice job saving the games when Yost decided to go with him after his closer by committee joke. If Torres doesn’t decided to retire like he almost did last off season, I believe that he will come back next season, but it will be interesting to see how he will be used seeing how he is getting up there in age. Shouse could come back, he is well respected by everyone in the Brewers locker room, but he is also getting up there in age and I also saw Mitch Stetter pitch much more against lefties than Shouse during the later parts of the season. Overall I would like him to come back and I think Shouse will be resigned.
Who will be in the rotation in 2008? Torres, Shouse, Riskie, Stetter, Villinova and a couple of Free agents
Centerfield has been a problem since mind-way thought the 2006 season when Brady Clark struggled. Cameron did do a fine job, but had a few dropped balls that could have been caught. While he did finish the season batting .243 with 25 bombs and drove in 75, witch are all average numbers, it seemed that he was slowly coming into his own in the leadoff spot. If you also look at teams he has played for and then left they haven’t fared too well. When he left the Mariners after a ninety win season, the mariners lost ninety games. Last season the Padres lost to the Rockies in the one game playoff, then Cameron came to the Brewers and they went to the playoffs, the Padres on the other hand were having open try-outs for there minor league guys in August. If the Brewers do decided to bring him back in will be for about the same money, or even less. But if that doesn’t happen you could see Tony Gwynn who could get a chance or Acidoes Escabor, who could move the move from Shortstop to Centerfield.
Who will be the starting centerfielder: I’d have to say a free agent, maybe some that can bat above .300 and steels much more.
Keywords: Milwaukee Brewers
