The Milwaukee Brewers reflect on their chances in the upcoming season
The Milwaukee Brewers are looking at a year of good fortune if they spearhead their resources in the right direction. The recent arrival of Zack Greinke and Yuniesky Betancourt from the Kansas City Royals boost their chances for a better performance in the
upcoming season. One of the team’s best batters, Prince Fielder, is slated to hit the free market after the 2011 campaign. Hence, it would be advisable for the management to make the most of the coming year when the regular league starts in April, next year.
The trade deal that saw Brewers lose 4 prospects and gain two established players, speaks volumes on what the management at the club is trying to do. The short run gains can offset the long run trend and that is something Milwaukee is looking to accomplish.
The club has the hard task to repeat the performance of 2008, when Carsten Charles Sabathia clogged in a superb season display to see the club progress to the playoffs. He eventually moved out of the side in the offseason period when the New York Yankees came
knocking on his door.
General Manager of the Brewers, Doug Melvin, sees this as a leading example for the coming year and judging by the ironic similarities between the two scenarios, it seems likely that Milwaukee will push for the playoffs in 2011. With Shaun Marcum and Greinke
in the pitching rotation, things look set for the coming year.
"Teams in markets like ours cannot go out and sign a Cliff Lee or a top free-agent pitcher," said Melvin. "We have to rely on scouting and development and try to do what we did with CC Sabathia and now Greinke."
The Brewers and the Kansas City Royals are not major teams in Major League Baseball. The two clubs, joined by the Cleveland Indians, are not commonly followed by supporters in the country. However with the change coming to the squad, Melvin will hope the
situation changes in the near future.
"We have three Opening Day starters from last season," a laughing Melvin said. "Let me make one thing clear - I love the kids we traded. But how else does a team in our market get a full two seasons' worth of a Zack Greinke? If it were for one year, I wouldn't
have done it. But it's for two years, starting with Opening Day this season. It's worth taking the chance."
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