Experts pick Milwaukee Brewers to finish first in NL Central? Am I reading this right?

Question

Peter Gammons and Steve Phillips to finish first in the NL Central this year. If I'm not mistaken, the Brewers finished 75-87 last year with the same players. I am a die hard Reds fan and am hoping they can make the playoffs this year but I wouldn't be dumb enough to pick the Brewers over the Cardinals.

Answer 1

Yes, you are. They can totally do it. They have the deepest rotation in the division with Sheets looking healthy so far. The bullpen is good at the end with Cordero and Turnbow. Turnbow seems to have fixed his mechanical issues. Their lineup should score enough runs with Weeks, Fielder and Hall.

The NL Central is weak this year with no clear front-runners. This could very well be the Brew-crew's turn to make the playoffs.

Answer 2

Milwaukee -
1) Was right in the playoff race last year until they fell off in early September
2) Improved their pitching staff with Jeff Suppan, and have the best starting 5 in the NL Central. Pitching wins.
3) Had a real young team last year. They are a year older, should be a year better.
4) The Central is probably the weakest division in baseball.
You can say that they made dumb picks (I hate them as TV entertainers), but Milwaukee is not a dumb pick. A team of good talent with great starting pitching - things the Reds are not - I would not be affraid to say that the Brewers will be in the thick of things again this year come early September.

Answer 3

The experts who picked Milwaukee to take the NL Central are clearly underestimating Dave Duncan's ability to teach pitchers. Jeff Weaver in '06 was the most recent pitcher to revive his career as a Cardinal after failing elsewhere, but I have a feeling that Kip Wells will be next in that list.

Not only that, the experts are also underestimating Walt Jocketty's ability to make a good deal at or near the trade deadline if necessary. Again, Weaver is evidence, but in this case, so is Preston Wilson.

That being said, I can still see the Brewers contending for the playoffs (most likely as the Wild Card) while the Reds struggle to stay ahead of the Pirates (and Cubs, if they lose Lee again, Ramirez, or Soriano for an extended period of time). Closing out games won't be easy for the Reds with their best reliever pitching in innings 6-8.

Answer 4

It depends on the experts - I've seen the Cardinals and the Cubs listed most often at the top of the NL central, with a few picking the Brewers. The Cardinals have regressed a bit with losing several starting pitchers - remember, they only won 83 games last year so it doesn't take much to drop them below .500. It looks to be a fairly close division this year.

Answer 5

They CAN do it but WILL they do it? Maybe if everything goes right for them. They do have a very good starting staff, even after trading Doug Davis after a disappointing season for them last year. They are loaded with young hitting talent - Weeks, Fielder, Braun, Hart, and have some veteran leadership as well.

Peter Gammons, I respect. However, if Steve Phillips was the expert he/they claim him to be, wouldn't he have be G.M.'ing somewhere again after this long? He is knowledgeable, sure, and I suppose next to many, he would be considered an expert. I am not convinced he knows any more about baseball than I do though.

Answer 6

I got one question to ask you. Did you think the Tigers would make the playoffs last year? Brewers have a legitimate shot at winning the weak NL Central.

Answer 7

Peter Gammons and Steve Phillips won't be considered as experts for long if they keep making predictions like this.

Answer 8

LOL, I live in Green Bay, so as a closet Brewers supporter, I'm sorry to say that I have to agree with you on this one..

Answer 9

I don't think they will but they have a good chance just like everyone else!

Answer 10

i think they are a longshot to win