Countdown to Opening Day: #26 Milwaukee Brewers

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#26: Milwaukee Brewers: No brains, just Braun

PROJECTED LINEUP
RF Nori Aoki
2B Rickie Weeks
LF Ryan Braun
3B Aramis Ramirez
CF Carlos Gomez
C Johnathan Lucroy
1B Alex Gonzalez
SS Jean Segura
P Yovani Gallardo

**Corey Hart (1B) out until early May with injury

PROJECTED ROTATION

Yovani Gallardo
Marco Estrada
Michael Fiers
Wily Peralta
Chris Narveson

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: John Axford

Set-up: Jim Henderson

Top Prospect: Wily Peralta (RHP)

Ryan Braun

I am standing by my stance that the 2012 National League MVP should not have been Buster Posey. The  award should have highlighted a six year stint to start a career that this league has not seen too often. Every year since his Rookie of the Year season, Ryan Braun has been an all-star and been a top-15 finisher in MVP or better. In 2012 he should have won his second straight award.
The Brewers won 83 games last season and were in the playoff race as we came down the stretch, and though their contention may have been helped by the addition of the second Wild Card, I think without Braun the Brew Crew is "Brew-tal".
I know Posey wins the WAR in the sabremetic eyes, but the only reason the Brewers were in the mix last year is because they had such a dangerous presence in the middle of their batting order.
Their bullpen was bad and has not gotten better. Behind ace Yovani Gallardo the projected foursome has 46 career wins in the major leagues.
It is possible that Braun could have his best year yet in 2013 and the Brewers still may not contend for the postseason. I think it's a shame they backed out on Prince Fielder and C.C. Sabathia before that. Braun is one of the best players in the last 10 years and the organization is not trying hard enough to win a title and make the most of his prime.

Mike Fiers

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - When the Brewers gave Marco Estrada and Mike Fiers a chance to start they did not disappoint. In a little over 125 innings they both should signs of magic if they should pitch 200 innings in 2013. Gallardo, Estrada, and Fiers become a threatening trio in the NL Central, and while in year's  past the Brewers have won it with multiple trips down the slide for Bernie Brewer, this season they do it with a top five pitching staff in the National League.

REAL TALK - It is just a superstition of mine, but when a key member of the team gets hurt in Spring Training, such as the Brewers Corey Hart, the bad vibes start early and can carry over into the season. Plus, I am just not picking a team to win 75 games when their replacement options are a washed-up Rookie of the Year (Bobby Crosby), a shortstop known for his glove (Alex Gonzalez), and player who never played above Double-A (Hunter Morris).

Breakout: Michael Olmstead (RHP)

Bust: Marco Estrada (RHP)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Carlos Gomez (OF)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 83-79 (3rd in NL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 72-90 (5th in NL Central)

**Check back tomorrow for the Seattle Mariners**