Well after gettin off to a decent start i have to say i was very
excited for the brewers season. Chris Capuano had a great first half,
but i think we can say that about a lot of the brewers this year.
Carlos Lee was doin pretty good to and then we traded him in an ok
deal, francisco cordero is a steal and i look forward to having him as
our closer for the next year. as far as injuries yet again...they hurt
us a lot. JJ Hardy, Ben Sheets. Bill Hall had a great season and i
think he will even excel more next year. as far as the 07 season goes.
who really knows what our outfield will look like but i have some
predictions as to maybe what our lineup will look like.

The team's main focus in the offseason will be rebuilding the starting
outfield alignment. There are also several health issues to address,
mainly assuring that players are fully recovered prior to spring
training. The bullpen no doubt will be tweaked, and the catching will
be examined as well.

outfield:
Leftfield-Bill Hall or Kevin Mench.
CF-Unknown as of now, but it won't be Brady Clark. Rumors are that the
Brewers are intrested in Dave Roberts and Juan Pierre. Gabe
Gross/Laynce Nix could play here or Right.
RF-Corey Hart/Gabe Gross/Laynce Nix. i see Hart starting amongst these
3 though.

infield:
3B-Corey Koskie a huge question here at 3b-is he going to ever recover
from that post concussion syndrom? Not sure if Graffino can play 3b.
they could always put hall here, but he never really produced at 3b
for whatever reason. ryan braun may see some time at 3b come end of
the year. im sure Cirillo will also see time here.
SS-JJ Hardy-Locked in at SS.
2B-Rickie Weeks-expected to be fully recovered from wrist surgery.
1B-Prince Fielder-another lock, but we dont have a backup 1b.
C-Damian Miller/Mike Rivera. Miller has one year left on his contract
and Mike River showed that he can play in the Big's.

Rotation:
1. Ben Sheets
2. Chris Capuano
3. Doug Davis
4. Dave Bush
5. Carlos Villanueva/Zach Jackson

Bullpen:
Matt Wise, Jose Capellan, Derrick Turnbow ?, Rick Helling?, Dan Kolb?
lots of ?'s here.
Closer-Francisco Cordero, a no brainer


BIGGEST NEEDS: If the Brewers decide to trade RF Geoff Jenkins, they
will be in the market for another run producer in the outfield. At
this point, it appears Corey Hart will play one corner spot, leaving
the other as well as center field to be determined. Bullpen help will
be sought as well, especially with 37-year-old catcher Damian Miller
wearing down considerably at the end of the season.

FREE AGENTS: 3B David Bell, INF Jeff Cirillo, INF Tony Graffanino, RHP
Geremi Gonzalez, RHP Rick Helling, RHP Dan Kolb, RHP Tomo Ohka.

The Brewers already have started negotiations with Graffanino's agent.
They also would like to keep Cirillo, who must decide if he wants to
play another season. There is some slight interest in Ohka, who would
have to take a pay cut to return.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: LHP Chris Capuano, INF Bill Hall, LHP Doug
Davis, OF Kevin Mench, LHP Brian Shouse.

Capuano and Hall are eligible for arbitration for the first time and
will merit significant pay raises. Davis is in his last year of
eligibility and is seeking a three-year deal. Mench looked awful after
coming from Texas in late July but probably will be kept. The Brewers
plan to keep Shouse as well.

IN LIMBO: RF Geoff Jenkins is signed for $7 million in 2007 but had a
significant fall-off in production this season, and was even benched
for a time in late August. The Brewers could choose to move him and
try somebody else, but his contract won't be easy to trade. Jenkins
has played with the Brewers his entire career and is the senior player
in terms of service (eight years).

PROSPECT WATCH: 3B Ryan Braun was the Brewers' minor league player of
the year, and RHP Yovani Gallardo was the pitcher of the year. Both
could be in Milwaukee uniforms at some point in 2007, with Gallardo
the better bet of the two. Gallardo is only 20 but is poised and
mature beyond his years, and has all the makings of a fast mover.
Braun, a first-round draft pick in 2005, is more likely to show up in
2008. Another prospect to keep an eye on is RHP Carlos Villanueva, who
has been very impressive during a September audition and will get a
chance to win a spot in the rotation next spring.

MEDICAL WATCH:

2B Rickie Weeks (wrist surgery) is expected to be fully recovered by
spring training.

SS J.J. Hardy (ankle surgery) is expected to be fully recovered by
spring training.

RHP Matt Wise (elbow nerve relocation) is expected to be fully
recovered by spring training.

3B Corey Koskie (post-concussion syndrome) has an uncertain prognosis,
but the Brewers are counting on him being ready to play again by the
spring.

OF Laynce Nix (toe surgery) may or may not be in the picture at the
start of 2007

Thats all i got for now any thoughts, comments, ideas lets here them
and i look forward to the 2007 season gettin underway! but first up is
the Winter Meetings. could we see Carlos Lee back in a brewers
uniform? i highly doubt it, but that would be sweet...hes just askin
for too much money.