Oh no! Prince Fielder is gone! He left us! He left us! But that's not what I'm going to do. I suppose by those words that would make Prince Fielder Dr. Ian Malcolm and Ryan Braun would be Dr. Alan Grant. Which one would you rather have when facing off against a giant Tyrannosaurs Rex or a pack of viscous Velociraptors? I'm pretty sure that everyone here will agree with me when I say that I feel more comfortable following the "Dinosaur Man" into replicated jungles of the Jurassic era than the foremost expert on Chaos Theory. You're probably questioning my decision right now because I have made it pretty well known that I dislike Ryan Braun and I have often called Prince Fielder my "Brother from another Mother." Well guess what - Prince is gone. Deal with it. Like it or not Braun now becomes the face of the the Milwaukee Brewers offense and he will be counted on to produce in 2012 just like he did in 2011 which saw him win the National League MVP. Sure there will be some other guys around him to help out scoring runs, but is there another batter that you fear in the lineup? Some will say that Aramis Ramirez is old and past his prime and although Rickie Weeks looks like the Predator monster he can't stay healthy for a full season, so why should they intimidate you? They are going to have to do that if the Brewers hope to find some success on the offensive side in 2012. It's going to take a team effort with everyone pulling their weight in order for the casual fan to have faith in the offense this year.
Mat Gamel
Preseason Prediction: .271 batting avg, 18 HRs, 63 RBIs, better range and defense at 1st base than Prince Fielder and putting his Nashville Apartment up for rent
Mat Gamel has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues. In 7 seasons at varying levels he has compiled a stat sheet that looks pretty stellar - .304 batting avg, 105 HRs and 503 RBIs. But how will that translate to the Major Leagues? That's one of the biggest questions about the 2012 Brewers Offense. He only has 171 at bats in the majors and it's nothing to write home about - .222 avg, 5 HRs and 23 RBIs. That's mostly because he hasn't gotten regular playing time and when he did have a chance to make an Opening Day roster he was always injured in Spring Training. But with the departure of Fielder 1st base became his, and not even his to lose! That's because there just aren't any other options over there. Add to the fact that Gamel is out of minor league options (allowing any team to claim him on waivers should the Brewers try to send him to the minors) means that he will be the 1st baseman for the entire year unless he is God awful. But I don't think that he will be. He has too much talent to fail and he is better defensively than most people say he is. A lot of that has to do with the fact that he just has to stand there and catch the ball and the only person that he has to throw the ball to is the pitcher after recording the out but still, he's going to be just fine. No one can fill the shoes of Prince Fielder, but if anyone is going to give it a try it might as well be Mat Gamel. It's time for this heavily lauded prospect to shine. And if all goes right he will be in Milwaukee for many years to come and he can sever all of his Nashville ties. So if you are looking for an apartment give him a call.
Rickie Weeks
Preseason Prediction: .268 batting avg, 24 HRs, 58 RBIs, .355 OBP (On Base Percentage), 90 runs scored, 18 stolen bases and continue to be the quiet clubhouse leader
I'm not high on the gonj man. I'm actually being pretty realistic for once. That's because I'm normally pretty high on Rickie Weeks because he's my favorite player and has been since Bill Hall no longer wins games. I would like to put Rickie Weeks with a higher average, more homeruns and more RBIs but I just don't see him doing it because he'll probably bat leadoff once again. I'm basing my predictions on the fact that he won't get a whole lot of chances to drive in runs. That makes a huge difference because when you are batting leadoff you have two goals - get on base and score runs. Any homeruns you hit or runs you drive in is icing on the cake. I wish that he could bat fifth so that they could take advantage of his power but the reality is that he is the best leadoff hitter on the team. Certainly better than the next best available player Corey Hart, who also doesn't fit into that role. But someone has to go #1. You can't just go #2 all the time. Because that would be a lot of time wasted reading magazines. Behind Ryan Braun, Weeks is the most important player on the offense because he will set the tone for the inning in which he bats. Braun and Ramirez need to have guys on base if they are going to drive them in, and that is something that Weeks has excelled at. Whether it is taking a walk, running out a ground ball or getting hit by a pitch - Weeks will get on base. You can count on that. He won't have another All-Star year but I can guarantee you that he will be an important factor in the offense's success. And since he is probably the longest tenured player on the team (he's been a regular since 2005) he commands a lot of respect. He probably doesn't say much, but he's one of those lead by example type who plays hard everyday and puts forth max effort. He's my Brewers man-crush.
Alex Gonzalez
Preseason Prediction: .240 batting avg, 18HRs, 62 RBIs, .285 OBP and slick defense that will make you forget all about Yuni B
Offensively Alex Gonzalez isn't going to be any better than Yuniesky Betancourt. In fact, he will be almost exactly the same. Look for him to almost always swing at the first pitch and rarely ever take a walk. It will be extremely frustrating at times but at least he will hit a couple of homeruns and drive in some runs. But at least we got used to it last year with Yuni B so the transition should be pretty seamless. So why did they sign Gonzalez instead of just bringing back Yuni B for another year? It's because Gonzalez brings a much better arm and glove to the field and should improve the defense. In 2011 Gonzalez had 12 errors while Yuni B committed an unacceptable 21 errors. Right there you're saving a handful of runs if not a couple of games. Pitching and defense wins games so if you've improved defense and brought back the same pitching staff, you have to be a better team, right? Look I got nothing against Gonzalez. But I have nothing for him either. The problem is that there is no future shortstop in the minor leagues who can take over for the long haul so get used to these yearly replacements. I just hope he's as good defensively as everyone says that he is. I don't think I can handle another year of limited range and defensive liability. A mannequin could play better defense than Yuni B, and I hear they can even rob liquor stores. But we're not putting a faceless, current fashion-wearing drone out there this year, we've got Gonzalez. And heaven help us if he's as bad as a mannequin or even worse, Yuni B.
Aramis Ramirez
Preseason Prediction: .289 batting avg, 29 HRs, 90 RBIs, .354 OBP, better defense than Casey McGehee and hated rival to celebrated hero just by changing the name on the front of his shirt
It's funny how you can have one opinion about a guy and the next year it's totally flipped. Former Chicago Cubs 3rd baseman Aramis Ramirez is a great example of that. When he was with the North Siders in the Neighborhood Dump I couldn't stand the guy mostly because he was on the other team but also because he was one of those "Brewers Killers" that seemingly hit .600 against us every year. So I hated Aramis Ramirez because he was good. But that same reason is why I loved when Doug Melvin signed him to a 3-year contract. Over the last 8 seasons with the Cubs he has proved to be one of the most consistent hitters in the game as well as being a run producer. Knowing that Prince Fielder would sign with another team, Melvin wasted no time signing another cleanup hitter to pick up the slack in what would be the nail in the coffin on the "Maybe Fielder is going to resign with the Brewers" nonsensical talk that was going on in the offseason. In Ramirez we get a guy who is going to hit for average and power and will help anchor the middle of the lineup. Paired with Ryan Braun in the heart of the lineup, this duo should have no problems knocking in some runs providing people get on base in front of them. Some people might argue that at 33 years of age is best years are behind him and I'm not going to dispute that. I don't expect him to hit 38 homeruns and drive in 119 runs like he did in back in 2006. But I do expect him to hit right around his career averages if not a little better since he is playing half of his games at hitter friendly and roof covered Miller Park. The one knock on him was that he was a slow starter at the beginning of the season. A lot of that might have had to do with the cold and windy conditions at Wrigley Field and their antiquated clubhouses and training facilities. I wouldn't expect anyone to perform well there when it's 40 degrees and misty. But the real question is how he will do in 2012 and beyond and if he is reading and willing to step up and provide some protection behind Braun. As much as we need Rickie Weeks to get on base and Ryan Braun to perform like an MVP, we also really need Ramirez to drive in runs. I'm a believer that Aramis is the guy and I look forward to seeing what he will do in a Brewers uniform so that I will have no issues with cheering for the guy. I always liked him and respected him as a player, but it goes against everything I believe in to cheer for someone on the Cubs. Now's my chance. You better bring it Ramirez!
Ryan Braun
Preseason Prediction: .299 batting average, 28 HRs, 105 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, 145 games played and bothered by more distractions than a kid with Attention Deficit Disorder
It's been well documented that I don't care for Ryan Braun and I'm sick of talking about him. People know that I'm a Brewers fan so everyone from my Mom's Church friends to the cashier at the supermarket bring it up when they chat with me. I guess that it doesn't help that I wear team apparel every day. One could say I brought it on myself. During the months of November to February (also known as the offseason) the two biggest Brewers stories were Prince Fielder's free agency and Ryan Braun's positive test for a banned substance and subsequent successful appeal which led to the overturning of a possible 50-game suspension. Both stories had been talked about ad nauseam and everyone, even the non-fans had their own opinion on both. I'm near the point of vomiting just thinking about it so I'm going to get this over with my stating my opinion on both. Everyone (except the idiots) knew Prince was going to sign with another team because a small market team like the Brewers simply couldn't afford to pay him $214 million over 9 years. That's just the business of baseball folks. And Ryan Braun took something that caused him to fail a drug test. Whether it was something that he did on purpose or accident will never be known, nor will we know what it was that elevated his testosterone levels. His legal team was able to win the case by attacking the testing process and procedure including the chain of command with Braun's sample. They never argued or tried to prove that he did not fail the drug test. They just attacked the area in which they knew they could win and get their client off scot-free. And they won, Braun will not have to serve a 50-game suspension. While I will still believe that Braun failed the test and got off on a technicality, I will not argue that having him in the lineup for 162 games instead of 112 games is a good thing for the team. And since I'm all about the name on the front of the jersey instead of the back, I'm going to be ok with it.
I'm mad at myself for typing this much because I doubt any of you pookondotcommies out there will actually read all of this shit. Who has that much time in a day, let alone their week? Apparently I do. Lucky bastard. But Brauny angers me so much that I just can't stop. I can't stand everything about him. From his clothing company to his restaurant, from his bush baby eyes to his long hair last season and from his swagger on and off the field to his pompous attitude. I'm sure there's more but I'm done. Of course I'm going to cheer for what he does on the field because I need the team to win, but I can't project his stats anywhere near what they were last year which caused him to win the National League MVP award. He's going to fall off for a few reasons. He will get pitched differently resulting in him taking more walks. No one wanted to walk him in the last 5 seasons because then they'd have to deal with Prince with runners on base. Now if Aramis Ramirez starts hitting then Brauny might get better pitches, but Aramis is no Prince. So Braun's gonna have to make that adjustment. He also is going to be dealing with adversity for the first time in his career and he will hear the booos echoing loudly when he is on the road. Chants of "steroids" will probably rain down on him and I wouldn't be surprised if he got a fair dose of heckling from the home fans as well, and I'm not just talking from those two loonies in the leftfield bleachers. There have to be some other people out there who aren't happy with him. But his numbers will most likely suffer because of this and some other factors and he will end up having an off year. But when an off year for Brauny is a .300 batting average, 25 HRs and 100 RBIs, you know that he is a pretty good player. Now if only he would stop bitching about those god damn shadows then maybe we could be on speaking terms again. But even if we were I probably wouldn't say shit to him. Screw Ryan Braun.
Nyjer Morgan
Preseason Prediction: .290 batting avg, .342 OBP, 3 HRs, 34 RBIs and at least 5 new Alter Egos to go with his myriad of personalities
Was there another Brewers player as entertaining as Nyjer Morgan? Even though it was all just an act to sell himself as a personality we sure as hell went along for a pretty wild ride with Nyjer Morgan in 2011. Or should I call him Tony Plush, Tony Hush, Tony Clutch, Tony Gumble, Antonio Picante or Tony Tombstone? I'm just going to stick to his birth name if that is ok with you. Morgan has been a distraction in the past on losing teams but fit right in with the Brewers who had their best season in a long time. Fans ate up everything he was dishing up and I'll admit I got caught up in the T-Plush mania that swept the city. But the real question here is can he repeat it for another year? And what happens with his antics should the Brewers start off slow or go through some tough losing streaks? Manager Ron Roenicke has reeled him in in the past (which is where Tony Hush came from) and also figured out how to best take advantage of his talents by using him in a centerfield platoon with Carlos Gomez. Because he is a better hitter than Gomez and is just a step below him in speed and defense, look for Morgan to also start some games in rightfield and get a fair amount of playing time. And if everything goes according to my plan the Brewers will have another successful season and Morgan will continue to be the free spirit that he is and will continue to entertain the fans both on and off the field. AHHHH! THAT'S IT! GOTTA GO!!! AHHHHHHH!
Corey Hart
Preseason Prediction: .287 batting average, 27 HRs, 95 RBIs, .347 OBP, 10 stolen bases and a one year pass from my heckling
I've made it known on this blog on countless occasions that I also don't care for Corey Hart although my disdain for him is a little different than what I have for Ryan Braun because there are some aspects of Hart's on the field actions that I don't care for. I think he strikes out too much and his defense at times looks clumsy, like an awkward gangly kid trying to slow dance with a girl for the first time. But none of that matters because it is an even year. Corey Hart was an All-Star in 2008 and 2010 and put up some pretty good numbers to back up the selection. But 2009 and 2011 weren't banner years for him and I'm looking for the streak of even years to continue because we need production from him in order for the offense to be successful. Like Rickie Weeks, it's tough to predict what Corey Hart will do in 2012 because I don't know where he will bat in the lineup for the majority of the season. Corey has missed all of Spring Training while recovering from knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. So I don't even have any information to draw an opinion from. Weeks has bounced around from leadoff to fifth in to try to get comfortable in any spot but I'm guessing he will settle in at leadoff and Corey Hart will bat 5th. Because of that I'm going to say that his homerun and RBI numbers will increase and he will continue the streak of great even years. Now if only someone could teach him how to run back on a ball hit over his head in the outfield or how to time his jump to get said ball then we'd be just fine in rightfield. Then he also needs to learn how to play well in odd years but thankfully we don't have to worry about that until 2013.
Jonathon Lucroy
Preseason Prediction: .275 batting average, 20 HRs, 75 RBIs, 130 games and a new fan favorite
In 2012 Jonathon Lucroy will break out as the offensive player of the year for the Brewers and become a new fan favorite. If people didn't already latch on to this kid last year than they certainly will now and the loud booming cheers of "Luuuuuuuuuuuuc" will engulf the stadium. And he's not going anywhere for the next couple of years folks so if you're looking for a new jersey or t-shirt to buy I suggest going with #20. All of his numbers are going to increase over last year but he still won't reach numbers like Hart or Gamel because he will be batting in the #8 spot in the lineup ahead of the pitcher. I wish that he would be moved to the #6 spot to give him the opportunity to drive in more runs but in the National League clearing the pitcher's spot in the inning and just having the mentality to hit ahead of the pitcher is a rare quality. I'd rather have him hit there and produce something versus having someone like Gonzalez make it a total waste of an at-bat if he were there instead. I just hope that the number 6 and 7 batters (most likely Gamel and Gonzalez) get on base enough so that he can drive in some runs especially because I'm putting him down for 75 RBIs by the time the year is done. I don't know how much you follow baseball outside of the Brewers but that's a pretty high number because the catching position is mostly compromised of players who focus more on their defense, game calling and throwing skills which leaves the offense as a distant 4th. Usually you'll take whatever you can get out of the catcher as long as he does the other things well. That's how a guy like Henry Blanco (a 14-year veteran with a career batting avg of .228) is still in the league. Last year Lucroy didn't breakout offensively because he was still learning at the Major League level as well as learning how to handle 2 new starting pitchers during the season despite not being able to catch them in a Spring Training game because he was out with a broken pinky finger. Since the entire pitching staff (including most of the bullpen) is returning from 2011 he doesn't have to play catch up with any of them and instead can focus more on swinging the bat. That's not to say he will put less emphasis on his game calling skills or defense, because from what I've read he is one of the best at studying and preparing for games. 2012 he will evolve into one incredibly well-rounded catcher and you might as well give him the award for Brewers Team MVP right now because there is no one else on this roster who deserves it more.
Carlos Gomez
Preseason Prediction: .238 batting avg, 7 HRs, 23 RBIs, .288 OBP and the finest defense that you will see down in the valley
I've had it with Carlos Gomez as an everyday player. It's obvious now that the kid has zero plate discipline and still thinks that he is a homerun hitter. Put the ball on the ground and just leg it out pal! If you juts get on base you will probably steal second and score on the next guy's at bat when he singles you home because you are one of the fastest baserunners in the world. There's a reason they call you Go-Go-Gomez. I don't know why I'm addressing him personally (as if he would read this someday soon) but I figure I might as well try getting through to him where many before have failed. But even if he does stumble upon this blog I doubt he will listen because I'm sure all sorts of coaches throughout his entire life have told him the same thing to no avail. Luckily Manager Ron Roenicke is using him in the way he is most likely to succeed - as the right-handed hitting half of a platoon in centerfield with Nyjer Morgan, as a pinch runner and most importantly as a late-inning defensive replacement. That's because he's most known for his speed and his glove, two very big tools when it comes to stealing bases and running down deep fly balls in the outfield. I have no issues with him when it comes to that because he is the best player on the team when it comes to those activities. But his bat usually plays him out of the lineup so he doesn't get a lot of opportunities to steal bases and make highlight reel catches. I expected him to change and fulfill all of his potential. I expected him to contribute in more ways than 2. I expected a lot out of him and I was let down. I'm done being burned by these players and am almost ready to stop putting my faith in individuals because you will always get your heart broken. Players come and go so fast that's it's hard to maintain a connection with them. Remember Gabe Kapler? I loved the guy but he only played one season in Milwaukee. And then we get bums like Gomez and Manny Parra who stick around for 3-4 years because of potential. Oh well. It could be worse. At least Gomez is good at something. But just go out and do that really well and don't complain about playing time. I'm done hearing shit like that from you. Go do your job. That's what I'm paying you for.
Norichika Aoki
Preseason Prediction: .285 batting avg, 2 HRs, 20 RBIs and hopefully as crazy as Tanaka in Major League II so that Bob Uecker can come up with some more insanely funny lines like "So, Hiroshi "Kamikaze" Tanaka, recently of the Tokyo Giants, knocks himself cold for the second time this week. Maybe in Japan, that's actually better than catching the ball. Personally, I think he's just trying to get out of the lineup."
When the Brewers signed Japanese outfielder Nori Aoki to a 3 year contract I was very surprised, because I had read that the Brewers don't scout heavily in Japan and therefor didn't have a lot of firsthand knowledge about him. But after reading about him and reviewing his stats while playing for the Yakult Swallows I think he is the perfect player to counteract the homerun heavy lineup that we have. Solo shots don't win games. You need to have someone on base to turn those into 2 or 3-run homeruns. I would compare Aoki to Nyjer Morgan in the fact that he's not going to hit homeruns, he's got great speed and gold-glove type defense. And in Japan he not only won 6 Gold Gloves but he was also a 7 time All-Star, 2 time batting champion, Rookie of the Year and member of the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic Champion Japanese Team and a member of the 2008 Japanese Olympic Baseball Team at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. That's quite an amazing resume and there is no way he could live up to those accomplishments over here in the States. There are exceptions to every rule (Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners and what is projected from Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers) but a lot of Japanese players have struggled adapting to the style of baseball played in America. I don't why it's difficult but I know for every resounding success there are a list of players who never panned out. So it will be interesting to see how Aoki performs especially because he will not be a starter and therefor will not see consistent at-bats or playing time. But the good thing is that he can play all 3 outfield spots well and will be the first one off the bench to get a start here and there. I really hope that he gets an opportunity to shine but not at the expense of Braun, Morgan, Gomez or Hart. That really doesn't make any sense but I am intrigued by his style of play and I would like to know more. We'll see what happens over the course of the season but don't be shocked when this little import surprises you.
George Kottaras
Preseason Prediction: .225 batting avg, 6 HRs, 22 RBIs, .300 OBP, 32 games played and the best damn accountant in the entire world
A good backup catcher is hard to find. You can have guys like Chad Moeller, Henry Blanco, Wil Nieves and Gregg Zaun be that guy but none of them are that good. In fact I'd even go so far to say that they all suck. Yes, I understand that Moeller hit for the cycle in 2004 but that's just about the only thing he did in his career. George Kottaras hit for the cycle as well in September 2011 and actually has some similarities with Moeller. Both of them weren't really known for their bat with their batting averages sitting down in the low .200 range. Both of them were used exclusivley to catch one pitcher in the rotation with Moeller being paired up with Ben Sheets and Kottaras with Randy Wolf. But here is the difference and the reason why I'd be comfortable with Kottaras being the everyday catcher whereas Moeller would never get that chance - George has 15 HRs in 421 at bats (1 in every 28 at bats) while Chad had 29 in 1392 at bats (1 in every 48 at bats). Also Kottaras has a career on base percentage of .306 versus Moeller's .288, meaning that he's more likely to take a walk. And there's the fact that George Kottaras and Associates does my taxes every year while managing the money flow and cooking the books of the Pookon Empire as my accountant. That gives him a leg up on anyone else as far as I am concerned. I take care of the people who work with me and for me. But even though I'd be ok with him playing almost every day, I'm still glad that he doesn't because we have a better option in Jonathon Lucroy. But he's the best damn accountant I know. That has to stand for something.
Cesar Izturis
Preseason Prediction: .242 batting avg, 2 HRs, 15 RBIs, decent defense at 2nd, 3rd and shortstop and less interesting than a mongoose
I mostly know about Izturis from his time with the Chicago Cubs from 2006-2007 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008. They aren't especially happy memories. And not because he beat our skulls in like Aramis Ramirez did but because for the most part he wasn't that good. But that's why he's a backup and a minor-league invite to camp who if he makes the team will command a salary of around the major league minimum. So I don't really have problem with him unless he starts playing on a regular basis because that means Alex Gonzalez is hurt or just abysmal in the field and at the plate. Izturis might get one start a week but will mostly be a pinch hitter off the bench. The only reason that he is even on this team, like Gonzalez, is that we don't have any other options in the minor leagues for the shortstop position. Since he will also backup 3rd and 2nd base he has been spending some time there in Spring Training shaking the dust off. He hasn't so well offensively or defensively so far but we're not counting on him to affect the outcome of the 2012 season. If he does actually give you something, like Mark Kotsay did last year, then you consider that a bonus. But I'll be as happy as a mongoose in a marsh on a hot African summer day if he does something good for the team. But don't count on it because there's as good of a chance for that happening as there is me becoming an African marsh mongoose in my next life.
Brooks Conrad
Preseason Prediction: .224 batting avg, 5 HRs, 18 RBIs, savior of the little starving inner-city orphans one child at a time
I don't know much about switch-hitting utility man Brooks Litchfield Conrad and I don't really care to know more. That's no offense to his wife Jessie or his two wonderful kids Jaxon and Reese. I'm sure they're all proud that he is a graduate of Monte Vista High School in California and attended Arizona State University where he was a First Team All-Pac 10 selection in 2000 and 2001. He had some pretty memorable clutch moments in 2010 and 2011 as a member of the Atlanta Braves including one on May 20, 2010 when he hit a walk-off grand slam against Cincinnati closer Francisco Cordero with the Braves trailing the Reds by a score of 9-6. He was a winner that day but if you were to ask his wife she would say that he is a winner everyday. And trust me, she's a nurse so she's a good judge of character as well as being a strong person in the face of adversity. And to Jaxon and Reese he's not only their Dad, he's also a hero. Besides being a Major League baseball player he still finds time to ride bikes with Jaxon and go to Reese's ballet recitals. During the offseason he volunteers at a local Boys and Girls club teaching baseball fundamentals to underprivileged youths and frequently gives back to the community in other ways like donating his time and money. Hell of a guy that Conrad is, and although he is a non-roster invitee he'll probably make the team due to his ability to play all over the diamond (including catcher) as well as the corner outfield positions if needed. Look for him to stay on the roster until something better comes along. At least baseball-wise. Because person-wise, they don't get too much better than Brooks Conrad. The guy is practically a Saint.
Travis Ishikawa
Preseason Prediction: N/A (I'm not going to even bother because even if he makes the Opening Day Roster he probably won't stay there long enough to make an impact on the team)
I laugh at Travis Ishikawa and not because of his baseball abilities. What kind of parents with the last name Ishikawa name their son Travis? What were they trying to have, a hybrid baby? It's like these two middle-eastern kids who went to grade school with Jenny and Timmy. I can't remember their last names but it certainly fit the bill of being from a foreign country. And their first names? One kid was named Dig Vinder and the other one was Steve. Steve!?! Are you kidding me? All that I know about Ishikawa is that he used to play for the San Francisco Giants and that he has a remote chance to make the Opening Day Roster. The Brewers will be going with 13 position players and Ishikawa is the 14th player on this list you just read. I wouldn't have even included him on this list but even if his chance is 1 in a million, I'm still telling you that there's a chance. The only way that he makes the roster is if Corey Hart misses more than a week of the regular season, which isn't looking very likely because his rehab is going better than expected. But why does Corey Hart's injury matter to Travis Ishikawa? That's because Ishikawa has only played first base in the majors and a little bit of outfield in the minors. As you have already seen the Brewers are well stocked in the outfield and Corey Hart is expected to be Mat Gamel's backup at first base. So that really leaves nowhere for him to play. Sorry pal. It's been real. Have fun with your American first name and Japanese last name.
I know that was a lot of shit that I just threw at you and I wouldn't be surprised if it took you a couple of days off and on to read all of that if you even read it at all. I think I managed to make some sense in between all of the dribble but I'll never know because I rarely go back and read my own work after I've spent hours writing all of it. That's why some sentences don't make sense and some words like your and you're are spelled or used incorrectly because spellchecker doesn't pick up on things like that. But basically the summation of this article is that the Brewers offense, despite the loss of the Big man, will be just fine. Of course things could go wrong (knock on wood) but you never go into a season expecting that kind of thing to happen. That's just ludicrous. Be prepared by having quality backup players in both the majors and the minors but hope and pray for the best. These 13 guys will still you one hell of a show at Miller Park this summer but be ready for more station to station baseball and less homeruns and more singles and doubles. You may not like it, Bernie definitely won't like it, but that is what this team needs to do to have great success and repeat as National League Central Champions and more importantly return to the Playoffs. The 2012 Milwaukee Brewers season begins in 12 days. Are you ready? I sure hope so. But make sure you save some of that energy and anticipation for next week as I do my 2012 preview of the Pitching staff, which is the real strength of this team. Feels pretty good to say that, right?
- pookon -
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