Countdown to Opening Day: #21 Milwaukee Brewers

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Pirates, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, biggest spring training question and top prospect.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Rickie Weeks

CF Carlos Gomez

LF Ryan Braun

1B Prince Fielder

RF Corey Hart

3B Casey McGehee

SS Yunieksy Betancourt

C Jonathan Lucroy

P Zack Grienke

PROJECTED ROTATION
Zack Grienke

Yovani Gallardo

Shaun Marcum

Randy Wolf

Chris Narveson

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - John Axford
Set-up - LaTroy Hawkins

Top Prospect - Mark Rogers (RHP)

Breakout

Yovani Gallardo - The presence of Grienke and Marcum not only make the Brew Crew a bonafide contender, but I believe it will take Gallardo to the next level. He was an above average pitcher as the "the" guy at the age of 23 and 24. Now at 25, and not needing to pitch a perfect game every time out I say he has his best year yet. The ERA probably stays around 3.60, but the walks go down, the K's go up and YoGa makes a run at 20 wins.

Bust

Rickie Weeks - I am sort of taken back by how quickly the Brewers forgot about the past three season prior to his 2010 breakout campaign when Weeks could not stay on the field. He has his deal now, good for him, but he needs to stay healthy for back-to-back years if he wants me to give him the injury-free stamp of approval. 

Biggest Spring Training Question

Is this this core group's last chance - The looming free agency of Prince Fielder raises the question is this the last season that Braun and Fielder will be back-to-back in a lineup. The additions of Grienke and Marcum clearly say the Brewers are going for it all and the type of season the Brewers have will probably directly effect Fielder's choice. I'm taking the Brewers to win the Central and Prince to win the MVP, so that will force Milwaukee to resign him.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 77-85

Will Prince push Pujols and others for MVP?

PROJECTED FINISH: 1st in the National League Central

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 

Check back tomorrow for the New York Mets