Developed Teams 2011: Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are a double-relevant team to feature next for this project, as they are both currently in first place in their division and recently played host to my most recent foray to a Major League Baseball stadium.  Miller Park marked ballpark #16, which officially pushed me over the halfway point in my quest to visit the home parks of all 30 Major League teams.  So let's see how this NL Central-leading team would fare with a roster made of only players developed over the years:

First, notice the impressive glut of power hitters in the middle of this order.  Then, observe how many of these hitters are still with the team - pretty much all the ones that matter.  Weeks, Braun, Fielder, and Hart have 10 All-Star appearances and four Silver Sluggers between them, and all are under 30 years of age... that's enough talent to build TWO lineups around.  Bill Hall has been a moderate power threat as recently as last season, but he's currently languishing in the Giants' minor league system as a superutility player.

Michael Brantley and Matt LaPorta are two players who have developed into regulars after going over to Cleveland in 2008's CC Sabathia deal and subsequently making their debuts for the Indians.  Looking at the shortstops, I feel I have to once again clarify that I put these lineups together using pre-season rankings and 2010 stats.  J.J. Hardy has bounced back to a great season with the Orioles after a disappointing last year with the Twins (23 HR, .507 SLG), but would it surprise you that Alcides Escobar was ranked nearly 100 places higher than Hardy over the off-season (193 to 280)?  I guess that's why you have to play all the games to find out who will actually perform.

After you're done marveling at the wealth of offense on this club, make sure NOT to scroll down to the pitching staff.  Because if you did, you'd see a rag-tag bunch, only ONE of whom has pitched in the majors in 2011.  That would be staff ace Yovani Gallardo, the pitcher I saw shut down the Dodgers in my recent visit.  Parra has mostly pitched in relief for AAA Nashville, Ben Sheets - once the face of the franchise - remained unsigned after an injury riddled tour with the A's in 2010, Rogers is quickly losing promise.  Only Dana Eveland has shown some semblance of success, pitching rather well in 23 starts for the Dodgers' AAA affiliate in Albuquerque.

The first three pieces of the bullpen are very solid indeed.  John Axford's breakout performance has pushed veteran closer Francisco Rodriguez to a setup role.  Mike Adams was widely credited as the best non-closer reliever who was traded this trade deadline.  And everybody needs a LOOGY, so why not have one with a Yale degree like Craig Breslow?  Carlos Villanueva is a pretty dependable swingman.  But after that, you have nondescript guys and prospects (such as Jeremy Jeffress who went to Kansas City along with Lorenzo Cain in the deal that netted Milwaukee Zack Greinke this off-season).

Predictions: lots of high-scoring games.