Post by Strategist on Jan 10, 2020 23:29:18 GMT
2018 Review:
Record: 107-55 1st in the NL Central. 1st (NL) runs scored. 1st (NL) runs against. Finished first in run differential at 256 runs. Was the NL overall #1 seed. Defeated PHI in the Division series 3-2. Lost in NLCS to WAS 4-2.
Starting the Offseason:
Lineup: The NL's best lineup was bringing back RF Aaron Judge, 3B Eugenio Suarez, C Gary Sanchez and LF Tommy Pham to make up a lineup with 5 all-star right in the heart of it. 2B Jeff McNeil and SS Addison Russel were solid pieces up the middle. Traded for CF AJ Pollack, and signed 1B/UT Marwin Gonzalez to fill the only semi holes they had in the entire lineup. It looked this lineup had a good chance to out score the 2018 version.
Rotation: Jon Gray, Lance McCullers Jr. and Collin Mchugh were all back to form a very good rotation once again. Went out and signed Japanese import Yusei Kikuchi and Matt Moore to bolster the final 2 spots in the rotation. Overall a good rotation. Probably top 10 although they didn't really have that ace type stud at the top.
Bullpen: Just insane depth in the bullpen. Andrew Miller was the best but everyone else was above average. They had the best bullpen in 2018 and there was no reason that should change.
Early/Mid Season:
The first month didn't start out as expected going only 16-15 but after that turned it on and pretty much cruised. Went 19-8 in May and 20-6 in June. Did make 1 trade at the in of May to bring in 1B Eric Hosmer for Mchugh and Gonzalez.
Conclusion:
Finished the last 3 months strong being at least 5 games over .500 in each accumulatiing to a final record of 104-58 1st in the NL Central and #1 seed in the NL once again. Also leading the entire league in run differential at 293. Swept the Mets in the Division series.
Lineup: 1st (NL) runs scored. Overall just a dominate lineup from top to bottom. Every regular in the starting lineup had 3.3 WAR or more with Suarez, Judge, and Pham all have 7.0+. Suarez probably being their MVP going .289/.379/.564 47 HRs 106 RBIs 116 Rs 151 OPS+ and 7.8 WAR.
Rotation: 7th (NL) starters' ERA. Overall as a group just had a solid season. Everyone but Matt Moore who had 20 GS or more had an ERA under 3.85. Mccullers was their Cy Young Candidate going 9-1 2.65 ERA 241 Ks in 32 GS and 169.2 IP.
Bullpen: 3rd (NL) bullpen ERA. Overall fantastic. 6 guys over 100 Ks coming out of the pen and that isn't counting Miller who had 93 in 63 IPs.
Future:
Salary Cap: Hard to guess what they will have available for cap but should be somewhere between 10-20 Mil.
Needs: Lineup has almost no needs as everyone is back plus top prospect Bo Bichette is ready to join the lineup. The Rotation could use some help as McCullers and Gray will be there only above average SPs to start the offseason. Their bullpen will still be strong and insanely deep. Miller is a FA so either need to resign him or look into a different closer. Overall with no moves this team is still setup to compete for World Series.
Trades Overview:
C Austin Barnes, RP Grant Dayton, and 2B Roman Urias to TB for A.J. Pollack - Pollack was solid patrolling CF for the Brewers and ok at the plate hitting .242/.312/.445 23 HRs and 102 OPS+ in 512 ABs. As this was more of a salary dump for the Rays the Brewers didn't have to give up top end talent to get him.
SP Colin McHugh and 1B Marwin Gonzalez to CLE for Eric Hosmer and Alberto Figuereo - The Brewers were looking for more hitting from the 1B spot and they got it from Hosmer who went .308/.390/.480 and 134 OPS+ in 419 ABs.
FA Overview:
SP Yusei Kikuchi 5 yr 163 Mil - 14-6 3.85 ERA 167 Ks in 32 GS. Starting Pitching was expensive this offseason but I think the Brewers reach a little high for this one. At least going the 5 years for a pitcher that has never pitched in the MLB before. He pitched good in the sim this year but in real life he was terrible. One of the worst SP in the league. So it looks like next year he isn't going to get very good ratings and that is a lot of money tied up in a poor SP. He is still young and can still bounce back and the Brewers have got to be hoping that at this point. F
RP DJ Johnson 5 yr 22.5 Mil - 7-6 3.35 ERA 134 Ks in 89 GP and 80 IP. Pitched very good in year 1 of the contract but similar to Kikuchi poor IRL stats are going to bring his ratings down for next season. D
RP Matt Wivinis 4 yr 18.9 Mil - 1-2 9.53 ERA in 7 GP. Spent the rest of the year in AAA. Don't like a 4 yr deal and that much guaranteed in for a RP that has never pitched in the majors. D
1B Marwin Gonzalez 3 yr 32.79 Mil - .204/.274/.296 and a 55 OPS+. Stuggled with MIL but was able to be moved in the trade for Hosmer. B
SP Matt Moore 1 yr 5.25 Mil - 4-6 6.05 ERA in 22 GS before being released. D
Overall D. I understand the plan and like the idea its just the length of those 3 contracts are a bit cumbersome to look at down the line.
Record: 107-55 1st in the NL Central. 1st (NL) runs scored. 1st (NL) runs against. Finished first in run differential at 256 runs. Was the NL overall #1 seed. Defeated PHI in the Division series 3-2. Lost in NLCS to WAS 4-2.
Starting the Offseason:
Lineup: The NL's best lineup was bringing back RF Aaron Judge, 3B Eugenio Suarez, C Gary Sanchez and LF Tommy Pham to make up a lineup with 5 all-star right in the heart of it. 2B Jeff McNeil and SS Addison Russel were solid pieces up the middle. Traded for CF AJ Pollack, and signed 1B/UT Marwin Gonzalez to fill the only semi holes they had in the entire lineup. It looked this lineup had a good chance to out score the 2018 version.
Rotation: Jon Gray, Lance McCullers Jr. and Collin Mchugh were all back to form a very good rotation once again. Went out and signed Japanese import Yusei Kikuchi and Matt Moore to bolster the final 2 spots in the rotation. Overall a good rotation. Probably top 10 although they didn't really have that ace type stud at the top.
Bullpen: Just insane depth in the bullpen. Andrew Miller was the best but everyone else was above average. They had the best bullpen in 2018 and there was no reason that should change.
Early/Mid Season:
The first month didn't start out as expected going only 16-15 but after that turned it on and pretty much cruised. Went 19-8 in May and 20-6 in June. Did make 1 trade at the in of May to bring in 1B Eric Hosmer for Mchugh and Gonzalez.
Conclusion:
Finished the last 3 months strong being at least 5 games over .500 in each accumulatiing to a final record of 104-58 1st in the NL Central and #1 seed in the NL once again. Also leading the entire league in run differential at 293. Swept the Mets in the Division series.
Lineup: 1st (NL) runs scored. Overall just a dominate lineup from top to bottom. Every regular in the starting lineup had 3.3 WAR or more with Suarez, Judge, and Pham all have 7.0+. Suarez probably being their MVP going .289/.379/.564 47 HRs 106 RBIs 116 Rs 151 OPS+ and 7.8 WAR.
Rotation: 7th (NL) starters' ERA. Overall as a group just had a solid season. Everyone but Matt Moore who had 20 GS or more had an ERA under 3.85. Mccullers was their Cy Young Candidate going 9-1 2.65 ERA 241 Ks in 32 GS and 169.2 IP.
Bullpen: 3rd (NL) bullpen ERA. Overall fantastic. 6 guys over 100 Ks coming out of the pen and that isn't counting Miller who had 93 in 63 IPs.
Future:
Salary Cap: Hard to guess what they will have available for cap but should be somewhere between 10-20 Mil.
Needs: Lineup has almost no needs as everyone is back plus top prospect Bo Bichette is ready to join the lineup. The Rotation could use some help as McCullers and Gray will be there only above average SPs to start the offseason. Their bullpen will still be strong and insanely deep. Miller is a FA so either need to resign him or look into a different closer. Overall with no moves this team is still setup to compete for World Series.
Trades Overview:
C Austin Barnes, RP Grant Dayton, and 2B Roman Urias to TB for A.J. Pollack - Pollack was solid patrolling CF for the Brewers and ok at the plate hitting .242/.312/.445 23 HRs and 102 OPS+ in 512 ABs. As this was more of a salary dump for the Rays the Brewers didn't have to give up top end talent to get him.
SP Colin McHugh and 1B Marwin Gonzalez to CLE for Eric Hosmer and Alberto Figuereo - The Brewers were looking for more hitting from the 1B spot and they got it from Hosmer who went .308/.390/.480 and 134 OPS+ in 419 ABs.
FA Overview:
SP Yusei Kikuchi 5 yr 163 Mil - 14-6 3.85 ERA 167 Ks in 32 GS. Starting Pitching was expensive this offseason but I think the Brewers reach a little high for this one. At least going the 5 years for a pitcher that has never pitched in the MLB before. He pitched good in the sim this year but in real life he was terrible. One of the worst SP in the league. So it looks like next year he isn't going to get very good ratings and that is a lot of money tied up in a poor SP. He is still young and can still bounce back and the Brewers have got to be hoping that at this point. F
RP DJ Johnson 5 yr 22.5 Mil - 7-6 3.35 ERA 134 Ks in 89 GP and 80 IP. Pitched very good in year 1 of the contract but similar to Kikuchi poor IRL stats are going to bring his ratings down for next season. D
RP Matt Wivinis 4 yr 18.9 Mil - 1-2 9.53 ERA in 7 GP. Spent the rest of the year in AAA. Don't like a 4 yr deal and that much guaranteed in for a RP that has never pitched in the majors. D
1B Marwin Gonzalez 3 yr 32.79 Mil - .204/.274/.296 and a 55 OPS+. Stuggled with MIL but was able to be moved in the trade for Hosmer. B
SP Matt Moore 1 yr 5.25 Mil - 4-6 6.05 ERA in 22 GS before being released. D
Overall D. I understand the plan and like the idea its just the length of those 3 contracts are a bit cumbersome to look at down the line.