Brewers Predictions 2014

[RightFieldCoder]

Record: 80-82

All Stars: Lucroy as a backup

Biggest Surprise: First Base will be better than average

Biggest Disappointment: Pitching, CF offense, and 3B DL

Playoffs: It will be Cubs/Brewers for the draft pick race by June

Place: Depends on whether the Cubs or the Brewers trade for prospects first

[danzig6767]

I'd also like to make another prediction.

 

Mark Reynolds will be a complete and total bust, not even reaching the serviceable tag.

 

He will flop, and it will take our management 1/2 the season or more to detect it.

 

He will also be forced into our everyday 3B when ARam gets hurt, leaving Francisco to man 1B full time.

 

Reynolds and Francisco starting every day at the corners will account for 10 losses defensively on their own.

 

UGHHH!

 

I think there is about a near zero percent chance of that happening. I've heard Melvin mention multiple times about not wanting to see the same brutal defense at firstbase as we saw last year, that's why i think it's close to a lock that Overbay makes the roster unless he just looks flat out done at the plate in spring.

 

That said, i do think Ramirez is the biggest key on the team this year. He has to play 140 games at least and be really productive for the Brewers to have any realistic chance to be a playoff contender this year because their is nobody to replace him.

 

As for a prediction. I'd guess around 84-78, but it's so hard to know given the offense could easily range from being top 5 in runs scored in the NL to bottom 5 depending on a myriad of different factors.

[Eye Black]

Record: 82-80

All Stars: Jonathan Lucroy, Ryan Braun

Biggest Surprise: Wily Peralta

Biggest Disappointment: Khris Davis, Matt Garza

Playoffs: No

Place in Division: 3rd

World Series: Nationals vs. A's

[JimH5]

Record: 76-86

All Stars: Gomez, Braun

Biggest Surprise: Roenicke isn't the manager at the end of the year

Biggest Disappointment: Segura, Davis, Henderson

Playoffs: No

Place in the Division: 4th

NL Playoff Teams: Dodgers, Cardinals, Nats, Pirates, D-Backs

AL Playoff Teams: Angels, Tigers, Red Sox, Indians, Rays

World Series: Dodgers over Red Sox

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Record: 80-82

All Stars: Lucroy, Braun will deserve it but be snubbed

Biggest Surprise: Weeks plays well enough to be traded, Peralta

Biggest Disappointment: Gennett, all things 1B (I see Scott Tolzein battling Yuni B by mid-year)

Playoffs: No

Place in Division: 3rd

World Series: Rangers over Nats

 

Last year felt like risk was to downside, this year I think it's to the upside. I could see 74-90 wins this year and not be surprised. Would not surprise me to see them challenge for a WC playoff spot.

[torts]

Record: 86-76

All Stars: Braun, Segura

Biggest Surprise: Estrada, staying healthy!

Biggest Disappointment: I DONT BELIEVE IN NEGATIVE OUTLOOKS!

Playoffs: 2nd WC

Place: 2nd Central

NL Playoff Teams: Nats, Cards, Diamondbacks, Atlanta, Brewers

AL Playoff Teams: Boston, Cleveland, Oakland, Baltimore, Texas

World Series: Nationals over Oakland

[JohnBriggs12]

Record: 85-77

All Stars: Gomez, Lucroy

Biggest Surprise: Schafer, Thornburg

Biggest Disappointment: Davis

Playoffs: Miss 2nd WC by 2 games

Place: Tied with Reds for 2nd place

NL Playoff Teams: Nats, Cards, Dodgers, Giants, Braves

AL Playoff Teams: Boston, Detroit, Baltimore, Texas, Angels

World Series: Dodgers over Rangers

 

 

Note: Braun is essentially blackballed from All Star game, first by fans, and second by league despite numbers well deserving of inclusion

[PrinceFielderx1]

Prediction - Brewers trade for a solid everyday 1B man by trade deadline. Not someone long term, but on 2 year minumum deal.

[brewcrewdue80]

ESPN's Prediction

4. Milwaukee Brewers

ESPN FORECAST Difference +2wins 76-86 .469

Jerry Crasnick: The Brewers are an intriguing team for a bunch of reasons. They're strong up the middle with catcher Jonathan Lucroy, shortstop Jean Segura and center fielder Carlos Gomez. Ryan Braun swung the bat with authority in the Cactus League, and, if anyone is resistant to the abuse that a lengthy PED suspension will invite, it's the Hebrew Hammer. Braun and Aramis Ramirez combined for only 529 at-bats last season. If they can give manager Ron Roenicke 1,200 or so ABs this season, it will provide a major boost to an offense that was middle-of-the-pack in most categories a year ago. The big questions, as usual, revolve around pitching. The Brewers spent $50 million on Matt Garza this winter, and his performance this spring didn't exactly advance the narrative that he's a great fit as staff leader. It's imperative that Garza, Yovani Gallardo, Kyle Lohse, Wily Peralta and Marco Estrada eat innings so the bullpen isn't overtaxed again this season. The Brewers could challenge the Reds and Pirates for second place if a lot of things go right. More likely, they'll have to settle for fourth in a challenging NL Central.

 

Jim Bowden: For the second year in a row, owner Mark Attanasio got personally involved in landing significant free agents. Last year it was Kyle Lohse, and this year it was Matt Garza. The Brewers suddenly have a solid rotation led by Yovani Gallardo, who should have a bounce-back year, and Wily Peralta, who is due to finally break out. The middle of the diamond for the Brewers is one of the best in the National League, with underrated Jonathan Lucroy at catcher, Jean Segura at shortstop and Gold Glove center fielder Carlos Gomez. Ryan Braun should have another MVP type season with the PED issues behind him, and the Brewers should be in a tight race with the Reds and Pirates for second place in the NL Central as well as a wild-card berth.

 

 

Edit my Take: Apparently, ESPN thinks the rest of Baseball will beat up on the Central this season. As the top are projected to lose 20more games overall and the Brewers/Cubs gain just 5Wins. So there's 15wins being taken from the NL Central of '13 in to '14.

We suddenly have a solid rotation and potentially 600+ABs more from Braun/ARam but only 2 more wins? I mean the mention of an overtaxed Bullpen but a solid rotation? Where's the logic? Better Rotation=less taxing bullpen...More Braun/Aram=more Runs yet it amounts to +2wins? Where's the simple mention that removing Yuni should have added +2wins to this team?

 

It's going to be fun to watch this team exceed expectations, but of course they make mention we're an intriguing team so when the team reaches the AS Break these pundits will say, they knew we were capable to be 10wins over .500 it's really not a surprise to them.

[trwi7]

I'll go on record as saying 77-85.

[stalton]

Record: 79 - 83

All Stars: Lucroy, Braun, Gomez, Seggy

Biggest Surprise: Brewers are a game back at AS break and we make a trade at the deadline.....

Biggest Disappointment: ....until the Brewers pull a Pirates and just tank the 2nd half.

Playoffs: With our good start, we will still be "in contention" but end up not being close

Place in Division: 4th (lost 3rd to the pirates in the last week)

World Series: Nats over Tigers

[dlk9s]

I don't have a specific prediction, but considering the team has been marketing a dog for most of the pre-season, I'm not feeling very optimistic.

 

(the dog is ultra-cute, though)

[3and2Fastball]

70-92 and Melvin, Roenicke, Ash and the rest get fired

[nate82]

Record: 88-74

All Stars: Jean Segura, Ryan Braun, Matt Garza

Biggest Surprise: Adam Dunn makes a comeback in Milwaukee and hits .250/.325/.550

Biggest Dissapointment: Scooter Gennett

Playoffs: Yes

Place in Division: 2nd; The Cardinals finally get some negative karma and are hit with the injury bug all year and only win 70 games.

Playoffs NL: Braves, Pirates, Dodgers, Nationals, Brewers

Playoffs AL: Rays, Tigers, Royals, Angels, Rangers

World Series: Tigers over Pirates

[TNT]

Record: 84-78

All Stars: Braun, Gomez, Weeks, Estrada

Biggest Surprise: Weeks

Biggest Dissapointment: Gennett

Playoffs: Wildcard; Lose NLDS

Place in Division: 2nd

World Series: Dodgers over Angels

[lcbj68c]

Record: 71-91

All Star: Lucroy

Biggest Surprise: Peralta/Estrada combine for more wins/better .ERA than Lohse/Garza

Biggest Dissapointment: Segura/Henderson. Brewers starters wont keep them in games and Henderson blows it when they do.

Playoffs: Not a chance

Place in Division: 5th

Playoffs NL: Dodgers, Reds, Nationals, Pirates, Braves

Playoffs AL: Angels, Tigers, Orioles, Yankees, Rangers

World Series: Tigers over Nationals

[pitchleague]

I'll play along, now that Spring Training is over.

 

Record: 85-77

All Star: Braun, Ramirez, Lohse

Biggest Surprise: Overbay/Reynolds platoon works out to the tune of a combined .780 OPS.

Biggest Disappointment: Gallardo fails to win 10 games. Weeks plays terrible again.

Playoffs: Brewers fall 2 games out of the wild card.

Place in Division: 3rd

Playoffs NL: Dodgers, Cardinals (blech), Nationals, Pirates, Braves

Playoffs AL: Athletics, Royals, Red Sox, Tigers, Rangers

World Series: Tigers over Dodgers

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

I'll give it a shot.

 

Record: 87-75

All Star: Lucroy, Gomez, Braun.

Biggest Surprise: Gallardo bounces back to have a 2011 kind of year.

Biggest Disappointment: Henderson struggles at the back end. Bullpen has trouble closing out games.

Playoffs: Yes. Wild Card.

Place in Division: 2nd

Playoffs NL: Dodgers, Cardinals, Nationals, Brewers, Braves

Playoffs AL: A's, Indians, Red Sox, Tigers, Rangers

World Series: A's over Cardinals

[ewitkows]

Record: 88-74

All Star: Lucroy, Henderson. Braun has All Star numbers but the fans don't vote for him

Biggest Surprise: Gallardo

Biggest Disappointment: I'm worried if Aram can hold up for 145 games

Playoffs: Yes. Wild Card.

Place in Division: 2nd

Playoffs NL: Dodgers, Cardinals, Nationals, Brewers, Reds

Playoffs AL: A's, Indians, Red Sox, Tigers, Rangers

World Series: A's over Cardinals

[craigharmann]

It's a Wisconsin year. Badgers in the Final Four, Brewers in the Playoffs and Packers win the Super Bowl

 

Record: 90-72

All Star: Lucroy, Yo, Gomez. Braun is going to come out hot. Will have to named by manager.

Biggest Surprise: Yo is going to have some extra ticks back on the FB. A-Ram is going to have a huge year

Biggest Disappointment: Garza

Playoffs: Yep. Division Champs

Place in Division: Squeak past the Pirates for 1st

Playoffs NL: Dodgers, Brewers, Nationals, Pirates, Padres

Playoffs AL: Rangers, Tigers, Red Sox, Rays, Royals

World Series: Rangers over Dodgers

[Funketown]

I have plenty of time in my life to be reasonable. Fandom is a place for blind optimism!

 

Record: 91-71

All Star: Braun, Lucroy

Surprise: Ramirez plays 140 games

Disappointment: Cardinals win greatest fans in the world award

Playoffs: Wildcard

NL: Brewers, Dodgers, Nationals, Cardinals, Braves

AL: Trouts, Rangers, Red Sox, Tigers, Rays

World Series: Rangers over Dodgers

[jjkoestler]

I have plenty of time in my life to be reasonable. Fandom is a place for blind optimism!

 

Record: 91-71

All Star: Braun, Lucroy

Surprise: Ramirez plays 140 games

Disappointment: Cardinals win greatest fans in the world award

Playoffs: Wildcard

NL: Brewers, Dodgers, Nationals, Cardinals, Braves

AL: Trouts, Rangers, Red Sox, Tigers, Rays

World Series: Rangers over Dodgers

 

I'm not sure which part of this I like more, but one of these quotes is my new sig.

[Jaylyn]

Record: 82-80

All Star: Gomez, Lucroy, Gallardo. Braun has the numbers but is blacklisted.

Surprise: 1B is not the blackhole it was last year.

Disappointment: Davis cools down and by june fall into a platoon with Schafer, who does surprisingly well.

Playoffs: No, misses out by 2 games

NL: Braves, Nationals, Cards, Pirates, Dodgers

AL: Angels, Rangers, Tigers, Rays, Orioles

World Series: Angels over Dodgers

[AZBrewCrew]

Record: 89-73

All Stars: Gomey, Seggy.Yo

Surprise: Weeks traded at the deadline

Disappointment: Garza

Playoffs: Yes, NL Central Champs

NL: Braves, Nationals, Cards, Brewers, Dbacks (Brewers/Dbacks rematch of 2011 NLDS)

AL: Angels, Rangers, Tigers, Rays, Red Sox

World Series: Rangers over Braves

[davego]

I'm a bit late to the game:

 

Record: 84-78

All Stars: Yo, Segura, Braun (yes, Braun)

Surprise: See Braun, Ryan; I guess K-Rod as closer of the year!

Disappointment: Dave and Lyle

Playoffs: #2 wild card...lose the "play-in" game.

NL: The 'Crew, Washington, STL, Dodgers and Braves.

AL: Texas, Detroit, Tampa, Boston, Angels

World Series: Texas over LA