Milwaukee Brewers preview For the first time since 1982, the Brewers made the postseason in 2008. That was largely because of a large lefthander -- CC Sabathia went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA and seven complete games in 17 starts after joining Milwaukee last season -- who now pitches for the Yankees. However, there's still plenty of emerging talent on this roster, as well as a potent offense. THREE QUESTIONS 1. How do the Brewers replace Sabathia and Ben Sheets in the rotation? They don't. Sabathia's performance down the stretch isn't the kind of thing that can be duplicated, and Sheets -- the N.L. All-Star starter last season -- also was rolling before an elbow injury slowed, and eventually shelved, him. But young righthander Yovani Gallardo can help make up for some of the lost production. Because of ACL surgery, Gallardo was limited to only four starts (just one after May 1) in 2008. But the budding ace posted a 1.88 ERA in those starts and fanned 20 batters in 24 innings, after going 9-5 with a 3.67 ERA and 101 Ks in 20 games (17 starts) in 2007. Lefthander Manny Parra, a 10-game winner last season, also has a lot of potential. Still, it will be important to get contributions from veterans Jeff Suppan and Braden Looper, and a consistent season from Dave Bush. 2. What does new manager Ken Macha bring to the team? Not many managers are lucky enough to inherit a playoff team, but not many managers are unlucky enough to be fired after winning a division title. Macha was 368-280 in four seasons (2003-06) as A's manager, but not even a second A.L. West title in 2006 could save his job. Of course, Milwaukee dismissed manager Ned Yost with only 12 games remaining last season, so that was even more shocking. Macha is a good fit with the Brewers because he has a proven track record with working with young talent -- the A's had a lot of roster turnover in his tenure, and much of it included prospects working their way through the system to the majors -- and Milwaukee's roster features few veterans. 3. Will Rickie Weeks ever be healthy and productive? Weeks played in a career-high 129 games last season, but hit a career-low .234. In four seasons in the majors, he has played over 100 games twice and hit higher than .239 once. Losing confidence in him, Milwaukee traded for veteran second baseman Ray Durham last season, and he took plenty of Weeks' playing time late in the season. Yet, there Weeks is atop the Brewers' batting order, despite a 35-point drop (.374 to .342) in on-base percentage from 2007 to 2008. Though his defense has improved (Weeks has 28 errors the past two seasons, after committing 43 in his first two seasons), his .975 fielding percentage ranked only 15th among major league second basemen last season. Milwaukee badly needs a breakout season from Weeks that doesn't include an extended stay on the disabled list. PROJECTED LINEUP 1. 2B Rickie Weeks. Back-to-back seasons with at least 115 Ks. 2. SS J.J. Hardy. Only Hanley Ramirez (61) has more HRs among shortstops past two seasons (Hardy has 50). 3. LF Ryan Braun. Stud's only blemish was poor September (.208 BA). 4. 1B Prince Fielder. One of game's best pure sluggers, but slugging percentage fell from .618 to .507. 5. RF Corey Hart. Hit 50 points lower with 10 fewer HRs after break. 6. CF Mike Cameron. Hit (25 HRs) or miss (142 Ks) at plate, but solid with glove. 7. 3B Bill Hall. Hit just .225 last season; has missed all of camp because of calf injury. 8. C Jason Kendall. No catcher played in more games (149) last season. PROJECTED ROTATION 1. RHP Jeff Suppan. Posted an ERA over 8.00 in July and September. 2. RHP Yovani Gallardo. Is ace, but Macha won't burden him with opening-day pressure. 3. LHP Manny Parra. Went 8-2 with 3.78 ERA in first half; 2-6, 5.32 after break. 4. RHP Dave Bush. Only two of his 10 losses came after June. 5. RHP Braden Looper. Oblique injury makes him questionable for start of season. PROJECTED CLOSER RHP Trevor Hoffman. All-time saves leader had 5.09 ERA in first half of '08, but 1.59 in second half. GRADES Offense: B. The Brewers lose nothing from a powerful lineup -- those Cameron-to-the-Yankees rumors are long dead -- after finishing third in the N.L. in homers in 2008. However, Milwaukee was 10th in OBP and seventh in runs scored and steals. Weeks and Hall must bounce back. Pitching: C. Losing two aces hurts, and despite the addition of Hoffman, the bullpen has serious questions -- both in terms of health and talent. It will be important for guys like Suppan and Looper to eat innings; no Milwaukee starter logged 200 innings in 2008. Bench: D. With Tony Gwynn Jr. battling a shoulder injury and Gabe Kapler gone, the outfield depth is thin (Trot Nixon, Chris Duffy). Craig Counsell is a top-notch defender but offers little offensively, and Mike Lamb is coming off a down year offensively. Manager: B. He has worked magic in the past and has experience with replacing departed stars (especially on a pitching staff). Macha's style can be described as no-nonsense, and that's exactly what this young lineup needs, especially after so many struggled in the second half of '08. Sporting News prediction: Once again, the Cubs are the class of the N.L. Central, so the Brewers will have to battle for the wild card. A return to the postseason hinges on the development of the young arms in the rotation and the effectiveness of the 'pen. The wild card will come from the N.L. East. --

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