Defeat the Empire

The Brewers are a classic example of a struggling franchise. They haven't finished over .500 since 1992. But last year, for the first time since '92, they finished at .500. They have a great young collection of position players, and finally seem to be on the track towards respectability.

Prince Fielder, the son of former slugger Cecil Fielder, is one of the best prospects in baseball. The Brewers think so much of him that they dealt Lyle Overbay away to the Blue Jays to make room for the 21-year-old phenom. It's clear that he can hit; he smacked 28 home runs in just 378 AAA at-bats last year, with a line of .291/.388/.369. The only concerns with Fielder are his suspect defense and weight (260 lbs.), which has led some scouts to think he'd be better fit as a DH in the American League.

Another young stud will line up on the right side of the Brewer infield. Rickie Weeks, a second baseman, has drawn comparisons to Gary Sheffield at the plate and impressed many while starting last second. JJ Hardy will start at shortstop. Hardy struggled with the bat for most of 2005 but came on strong late, and the Brewers remain high on him.

The anchor of this lineup comes from the outfield. Geoff Jenkins is a powerful lefthanded bat and a long-tenured Brewer. Carlos Lee had a very good season last year after coming over from the White Sox for Scott Podsednik, driving in 114 runs. If Lee isn't traded (there are some rumblings about him being moved, as he's a free agent after the season,) he should continue to be productive. And Brady Clark, who was a scrap-heap type minor league veteran prior to his Milwaukee renaissance, will hit leadoff. He has posted OBP's of .385 and .372 in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

The main hole in this team is the mediocre pitching staff. Ben Sheets is a true ace and isn't a question mark. Chris Capuano and Doug Davis, a pair of soft-tossing lefties, are slotted next in the rotation. Capuano's success in 2005 was suprising, as he started 35 games and won 18. Davis also is solid, as evidenced by his 3.39 and 3.84 ERA's the past two years. Tomo Ohka will by the number four starter, and keep the team in games. A battle will be staged for the fifth slot in the rotation between Dave Bush, Dana Eveland, and Rick Helling. Eveland is the favorite to win. Derrick Turnbow is an intimidating closer that came from nowhere, and Dan Kolb has been brought back to set him up after Kolb's atrocious 2005 with Atlanta. Jose Capellan also will pitch in key situations in a bullpen that is weak outside of the closer's slot.

The Brewers have a very good shot at cracking the .500 mark for the first time in 14 years. If the young players continue to get better, and the pitching remains, solid, second place in the division isn't impossible. Outlook: 4th Place, NL Central