When the Milwaukee Brewers decide to start the offseason moves I would say that being a veteran was the main requirement. With the addition of Randy Wolf (32yrs) and Doug Davies (33yrs) to the starting rotation, the age average is 29.8 years old and could be close to 31 at the end of the season. This rotation is also including Yovani Gallardo (23yrs), Jeff Suppan (34yrs), Manny Parra (27 yrs) and Dave Bush (30yrs). LaTroy Hawkins (38yrs), David Riske (32yrs), Claudio Vargas (31yrs) and Trevor Hoffman (42yrs) complete the group of experimented pitchers in the bullpen that will see heading the 2010 season.
This combination of a veteran group of pitchers with a relatively younger and healthy lineup might be the key to finish in the top of their division. However, spring training will be a challenge for Manny Parra being inconsistent on his two first full seasons, Bush and Suppan coming out of injuries and Chris Naverson who made good numbers in few appearances as a starter is also looking for a spot in the rotation.
With the departure of Mike Cameron the Brewers offense lost a valuable power hitter but add some speed on Carlos Gomez as the new Centerfielder and Alcides Escobar (2009-2010 Venezuelan Winter League Champion Bat) playing as the regular shortstop. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun will have the command of the team helped by the explosives but sometimes inconsistent bats of Weeks, Hart and McGeehe.
Defense was an issue last season and coaches are really focused on deal with that specific situation. Milwaukee finishes #20 on fielding percentages in MLB and had the worst record in caught stolen percentage 21%. They just caught 21 of 82 base runners during the season. Greg Zaun on his new role as regular catcher will have a lot of work to do, but he is not the only one in charge of the base runners because pitchers also have the same responsibility to make those numbers better in 2010.
The Brewers GM Doug Melvin is optimistic about his club and very confident with Macha as the team manager and Rick Peterson as the new pitching coach who worked with Macha in Oakland back in 2006.
This is what I think is the probable Brewers rotation and lineup for 2010:
1Yovani Gallardo
2Randy Wolf
3Doug Davies
4Jeff Suppan
5Manny Parra
5Dave Bush
1.Rickie Weeks, 2B
2.Casey McGehee, 3B
3.Ryan Braun, LF
4.Prince Fielder,1B
5.Corey Hart, RF
6.Gregg Zaun, C
7.Carlos Gomez, CF
8.Alcides Escobar, SS
9.Pitcher
Mr. Hardball 