2006 Milwaukee Brewers Predictions & Season Preview
When you look at the 2006 Milwaukee Brewers predictions this year you have to remember that they have been terrible year after year. This team has been living in the shadow of the nearby Chicago Cubs’ popularity, but 2005 saw this new-look team climb to a .500 record for the first time in over 12 years and over take the Cubs in the division. It was their first non-losing season since 1992, and the Club rewarded manager Ned Yost with a contract extension through 2008. Although their 2006 campaign looks good on paper, this is a team that you should feel out in the early going to make sure the 2005 Brew Crew were not a one and done ball club.
One big question that needs to be asked when a team comes out of nowhere like Milwaukee did last season is why the improvement ? All signs point to increased run production through manufacturing runs instead of relying on the long ball as so many other teams in the league do. Probably the biggest reason for the turnaround was that they took care of business on their home field posting a 46-35 record. Last season’s Brewers averaged .6 runs more per game than they did in 2004 at 4.5 runs per game and they boosted that mark to 4.65 runs per game at Miller Park. The Brewers will need increased production on the road this season to give them any chance at making a Wild Card run.
The Brewers were the third place finishers in the toughest National League division which sent St. Louis and Houston to the playoffs and the ’Stros to the World Series. I expect the Cubs might slide past them this season if their right hand-dominant pitching staff can get healthy, which should give them problems in head-to-heads. Houston could drop off a little this season because of a lack of bats. I expect the Brewers to finish in third or fourth, but their record should improve by several games. The pitching staff did well last season with an opposing batting average of .251 and a 3.97 ERA led mostly by Ben Sheets, who will need to stay healthy if this team is going to contend with the big boys. Doug Davis, Chris Capuano, and Tomo Ohka will all be able to post a lot of quality starts and in the bullpen youngster Derrick Turnbow has been mowing people down effectively.
Expect the 2006 Brewers to thrive at home once again, especially when facing left-handers. Milwaukee’s balanced, disciplined lineup, won 15 of 23 games vs. south paw’s at home while scoring nearly 5 runs per game. They were able to score even more runs against lefties on the road, averaging 5.13 runs per game, but they only won 11 of 23 games due to poor pitching away from Miller Park. You should be able to cash in on the Brew Crew against lefties in 2006. If you pick your spots, overs against lefties should be a solid play as well.
Lastly, we may be seeing a future big time slugger in the making for the Brew Crew. Remember the name Prince Fielder as he is very reminiscent of his father Cecil Fielder. He has power for days and if he continues to develop this team could win bettors a lot of money.
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