Last year when the Milwaukee Brewers traded for C.C. Sabathia, it was apparent that the Brewers were doing what they had to do to win now. As further proof, when the Brewers struggled late in the season they fired field manager Ned Yost and replaced him with batting instructor Dale Sveum. We all know how that worked out, the Brewers edged out our Metropolitans by one game for the NL Wild Card.
In the off season we saw both Sabathia and Sheets leave to free agency. Sveum was relieved of managing duties and replaced by Ken Macha (with Willie Randolph as bench coach no less). The Brewers looked doomed!
Entering action this week, the Brewers were in a virtual tie with the St.Louis Cardinals in the Central Division of the National League. How could that be? Forty percent of their starting pitching staff, the number one and number two guys from last year are gone. At first glance the starting five for the Brewers don’t look like much: Braden Looper, Yovani Gallardo, Seth McClung, Jeff Suppan, and rookie Mike Burns who will be making his second big league start against the Mets on Tuesday night.
The Brewers also happen to have some pretty good players on their team. Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy, Bill Hall, Ryan Braun, veteran catcher Jason Kendall, veteran utility man Craig Counsell.
Yes the Brewers lost 40% of their starting staff during the off season, the front end of their staff. For the most part the Brewers have remained healthy, everybody is contributing to the winning. Maybe our Mets should take note.
