2013 Brewers Pitching

Pitching Predictions for the 2013 Brewers:

Starting Rotation
Gallardo
Dempster/Lohse/Veteran Free Agent
Fiers
Narveson
Peralta or Rogers

Bullpen
Axford 
Estrada (replacing Hernandez)
Henderson (replacing Rodriguez)
Travis Webb (replacing Parra)
Badenhop (replacing Loe)
Thornburg (maybe not Opening Day..?)

Dempster to Milwaukee, Chicago, or Boston?

So far I've seen the Cubs, Brewers and Red Sox interested in Ryan Dempster. He's looking to get back into the National League, so Boston is out. Now, his old team, or his old team's rival? Hmm, let's take a look at this.
Let's say Dempster was looking for a winning team, a contending team. Then he'd go to the Brewers, right? The Cubs are in rebuilding mode and don't look to be winning too much in 2013. Now, let's say he was looking for a comfortable area. Both ballparks are usual for him; he's been to both plenty of times. Now, maybe he's just looking to get back to normal. Then the Cubs would get him. 
Who knows? The Brewers and Cubs seem to have the best chances in getting him. Let the Winter Meetings BEGIN!

Corey Hart & The Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers seem to be taking extra long in deciding if they want to extend the already-willing-to-stay, potential Gold Glove award winning first baseman, or to let him play one more year in Milwaukee and test him in free agency in 2013. What's the fuss all about? He's already proved himself as a worthy 1st baseman, and he's definitely got the bat to go along with his stellar defense...so? Why are the Brewers waiting to sign this key piece in their top notch offense?

Corey Hart, who will be 31 at the start of the 2013 season, is just looking to stay in Milwaukee as long as possible. One year, two years, three years; he doesn't care. If the Brewers offer him something, he'll take it. So why are the Brewers thinking this over? If it's money, why? The Brewers could get off with paying Hart lower than he should, because he'll want to stay so badly. If the Brewers need to keep up with their offensive mastery, Hart needs to be a part of it.

Now, what if it isn't money, could it be young talent? Yes, most definitely yes. Hunter Morris, who in 2012 played in AA, hit .303 with 28 home runs and 113 RBI. He'll probably be in Triple AAA in 2013, but could this mean, with Hart gone, Morris will get a shot at 1st in 2014? Who knows, but the Brewers seem to be taking this all into consideration.

The Brewers have already stated that Hart will play 1st next year, so it wouldn't make sense to predict he'd go into right field. Besides, Aoki has that area covered. This means Mat Gamel, who didn't play more than a month in 2012 due to injuries, won't be the everyday 1st baseman like predicted early 2012. Therefore, Hart will be playing 1st as long as he's healthy. 

Like I said before, what are they waiting for? Hart is a player that is needed on this Milwaukee Brewers team, especially since he proved himself so well this past year. Mat Gamel, Travis Ishikawa, Hunter Morris...nobody, and I mean nobody, could do the job better than Corey Hart.

Predictions for the NL Central

It's never too early to start predicting who will win the division, especially since there's only 129 days left until Opening Day! Here's my predictions for the NL Central 2013:

5. Chicago Cubs

This one wasn't a tough one to decide. The Cubs have too many things to fix, and only one winter won't fix them all. Pitching, offense, defense...it's just all terrible. LaHair left for Japan, and Ryan Dempster is likely going somewhere else. Who knows, though. Maybe they'll come up on top like the Bears managed to do so far this football season.

4. Cincinnati Reds

This might come to a surprise, but its actually not that hard to figure out. In the NL Central, the Reds might be separated by a game or two. After having 2 of the past 3 seasons winning the division, it's time for the Reds to start cooling down.

3. Pittsburgh Pirates

For a while there in 2012, the Pirates were considered in contention. We all know they had that late season meltdown to drop them to 4th in the Division, but in 2013 they'll be able to stay up in wins consistently, although they won't make it to postseason, even with Andrew McCutchen.

2. Milwaukee Brewers

After the terrible bullpen circus in 2012, if they manage to get a few bullpen arms and a quality veteran starter, Milwaukee might have a good chance of repeating what they did in 2011. Okay, maybe not quite as extravagant, but still pretty good. Maybe a Wild Card contender?

1. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have won a World Series, won the Wild Card. Now it's time for them to win the division. They've proved that you don't need to win the division, but, come on. Being the division winners would make you much more victorious than being a Wild Card winner.

Follow my Twitter! @Catcher_Voice

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Turkey, football, family and friends, what better? Oh, yeah. Baseball, of course! Good news is, only 130 days until opening day! Give thanks, praise The Lord, and wait for baseball season! Have a nice week. -Erin
Follow my Twitter! @Catcher_Voice

Why Josh Hamilton Won't Go to the Brewers

One of the biggest rumored destinations for Josh Hamilton this offseason is Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now, I do admit he would fit in perfectly there, but it isn't likely...at all. Here are my reasons why Josh Hamilton will not go to the Brewers this winter.

5. Options

For a player like Josh Hamilton, he has so many other places that would offer him enough money and years. There are also other teams that need Hamilton to boost their offense. The Brewers don't need that kind of boost, although it would be a major addition to the team.

4. Offense Not the Problem

I'm sure we all know that offense is not the problem in Milwaukee. With power bats like Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez in the middle of the order, the Brewers are pretty much set for 2013. Leading the National League in home runs, power is definitely not an issue for next season, and seasons to come.

3. Pitching

If the Brewers are looking to win more games in 2013, they need pitching. More importantly, relief pitching. Acquiring Josh Hamilton will limit the amount of quality pitchers the Brewers will be able to get during the winter. Considering that they need pitching more than they need Josh Hamilton, it wouldn't make sense to spend it on him.

2. Money

The Brewers are a small market team. Simple as that. They don't have the money to pick up Josh Hamilton and give him the money and the years he's looking for. With a considerably high payroll, adding Hamilton will not help the Brewers economically.

1. It's Just Not Likely

Just take a long, deep thought about all of this. Is it actually even a possibility? Well, yes, but a very small possibility. There are only two ways the Brewers would end up signing Josh Hamilton; 1, He lowers his price/years dramatically; 2, Doug Melvin makes a huge mistake and signs Hamilton instead of the much-needed bullpen pitching.

Make sense now? Next time you see an ESPN or Bleacher Report writer talking about the "high chances" Josh Hamilton has to sign with Milwaukee, just think. Is this really going to happen?

Follow my Twitter! @Catcher_Voice

"Baseball is a love."

A synonym for love is passion.

So it makes sense.
Follow my Twitter! @Catcher_Voice