2012 Brewers Prediction Thread

[KevinWI]

Should be an 'interesting' year for our Brew Crew.

No Prince Fielder.
Ryan Braun reeling from his PED controversy.
Aramis Ramirez comes from the Cubs.
Norichika Aoki imported from Japan.
K-Rod calls the Brewers' bluff, back for another year.
Can John Axford repeat last year?
Grenike playing for the biggest contract of his career.
What's up with Marcum?
Will Nyjer Morgan behave himself?

All those storylines and more.

To be honest, I don't see how you can look at this team and say they're better. They're certainly better in spots, but Ramirez' performance in the spring did not give me any confidence. I think Braun may also try to prove something, and I think he'll get flustered and force himself to swing at pitches he shouldn't.

I predict the Brewers go 84-78. I think this will be good enough for second in the division. Everybody is picking the Crew to come in 3rd, behind the Reds and Cardinals. I think one of those two teams will do worse than anticipated and the Brewers can take the #2 spot in the division.

[The Dude]

I would say they are a better team.

We have five starting pitchers who are all returning, 4 of which are entering the prime of their career.
Greinke and Hart are both healthy and Greinke looked great in spring.
We've improved our infield defense, improved our speed (Gamel, Aoki), and still have 5-6 guys who can hit 20 home runs this season.

Yeah, we lost Prince, and irreplaceable player. But if our pitching holds true and Roenicke continues to show how strategical he can be, we should have a good season.