The Brewers are a near certainty to win the National League Central this season, their recent slump notwithstanding. But as everyone revels in the season that is, what might the Brewers look like in 2012 and beyond?
On the brink:
Highly-touted prospect Mat Gamel switched positions this season in preparation for taking over for Prince Fielder when he moves on to greener (as in more money) pastures. Gamel had a monster season (.310, 28 HR, 96 RBI in 493 at bats) in Class AAA Nashville, but was left off the Brewers call-up list on Sept. 1 because of character and makeup issues. Brewers management have not been impressed with Gamel's constant tardiness and unwillingness to put in extra time in the batting cage during the opportunities he has been given at the major league level. If Fielder is indeed gone after the Brewers playoff run ends, Gamel is the most likely to take over, but only if he shows himself to be a team-player when camp breaks in February.
Third baseman Taylor Green has the best chance to oust an incumbent next year if Casey McGehee cannot regain the form he displayed in 2009 and 2010. Neither McGehee nor Green will ever be confused for Brooks Robinson in the field, but Green's upside (.336, 22 HR, 88 RBI in 420 at-bats with Class AAA Nashville) is intriguing. In limited action as a pinch-hitter since his call up to Milwaukee, Green has shown an ability to hit major league pitching, and his left-handed bat could help balance out the Brewers predominantly right-handed lineup. Don't be surprised if McGehee is dangled out on the trading block by GM Doug Melvin in the off-season.
Centerfielder Logan Shafer began the season in Class-A Brevard County and will end 2011 in Milwaukee. Shafer's meteoritic rise was welcomed, but certainly unexpected. He has no power whatsoever to speak of, but did hit a combined .315 in 395 minor league at-bats. Shafer may be considered a late bloomer, but at 25, he has the maturity the Brewers desperately wish Gamel had. Shafer won't take Nyjer Morgan's job (Morgan is arbitration-eligible after this season, and will not earn full free-agency until 2015), but Shafer has a chance to catch on as a bench player with the Brewers if he impresses in spring training.
Talented but raw outfielder Caleb Gindl (.307, 15 HR, 60 RBI's at Class AAA Nashville) faces a crowded outfield roadblock at the next level, but has all of the tools scouts look for. Gindl still has some maturing as a ballplayer before he is ready for the next level, but if he has another season like the one he had in 2011, he, too might be used as trade bait. With Corey Hart signed through 2013 and Ryan Braun locked up until 2020, cracking the Brewers outfield will be a tall order, even if the Brewers seem to be rich with high-minor league level prospects.
One position the Brewers are noticeably thin at all levels is shortstop. Ron Roenicke may be saddled with another year of Yuniesky Betancourt until 2009 third-round draft choice Josh Prince is ready. Prince had a lackluster introduction to professional baseball, but began to find his comfort zone in 2011. Prince is at least two years away from being major league ready after spending this season in Class A Brevard County. His numbers were quite respectable (.281, 5 HR, 24 RBI in 249 at-bats), but how he performs at the AA level may determine if he ever becomes the player the Brewers thought they drafted.
One area that has drawn considerable (and warranted) criticism over the past several years has been the Brewers inability to develop their own pitchers. Aside from Yovani Gallardo, the current major league pitching staff is comprised of castoffs from other teams (Chris Narveson, Kameron Loe, and John Axford), free agents (Randy Wolf and LaTroy Hawkins), or players traded for (Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, and Francisco Rodriguez). One pitcher who did earn a September call-up was Mike Fiers. Fiers, the Brewers 22nd round selection in the 2009 draft has been a pleasant surprise at all levels, including this season's eye-popping 8-0 with a 1.11 ERA in 10 starts at Class AAA Nashville.
Another pitcher that may factor into the Brewers future is reliever Daniel Meadows. Meadows earned a promotion to Class AAA Nashville after posting a 6-2 record with a 1.51 ERA in 21 games at Class AA Huntsville, but found the transition to the next level daunting. In 20 games with the Sounds, Meadows went 0-2 with a 4.04 ERA. Still, the Brewers like his size (6-6, 223), his maturity (he is 24 years old), and his control (23 walks in 77 1/3 innings). In addition, Meadows could give the Brewers something they don't currently have – a left-hander in the bullpen.
With the failures of former first round picks Mark Rogers, Eric Arnett, Mike Jones, and J.M. Gold, the Brewers are counting on getting contributions from their two first round selections from this past June, Taylor Jungmann and Jed Bradley. Bradley, a left-hander from Georgia Tech University, will pitch in the Arizona Fall League after a few weeks in the instructional league in Arizona. Bradley will begin next season at Class-A Brevard County, but will be on a fast-track for a promotion if he gets off to a hot start. Jungmann, a right-hander from the University of Texas, gained notoriety in the College World Series this past spring, and will get the winter off after spending a few weeks at instructional league ball in Arizona.
Doug Russell has been covering Milwaukee and Wisconsin sports for over 20 years on radio, television, magazines, and now at OnMilwaukee.com.
Over the course of his career, the Edward R. Murrow Award winner and Emmy nominee has covered the Packers in Super Bowls XXXI, XXXII and XLV, traveled to Pasadena with the Badgers for Rose Bowls, been to the Final Four with Marquette, and saw first-hand the entire Brewers playoff runs in 2008 and 2011. Doug has also covered The Masters, several PGA Championships, MLB All-Star Games, and Kentucky Derbys; the Davis Cup, the U.S. Open, and the Sugar Bowl, along with NCAA football and basketball conference championships, and for that matter just about anything else that involves a field (or court, or rink) of play.
Doug was a sports reporter and host at WTMJ-AM radio from 1996-2000, before taking his radio skills to national syndication at Sporting News Radio from 2000-2007. From 2007-2011, he hosted his own morning radio sports show back here in Milwaukee, before returning to the national scene at Yahoo! Sports Radio last July. Doug's written work has also been featured in The Sporting News, Milwaukee Magazine, Inside Wisconsin Sports, and Brewers GameDay.
Doug and his wife, Erika, split their time between their residences in Pewaukee and Houston, TX.
