Kevin J Wells
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LOS ANGELES, March 22, 2013 — The Milwaukee Brewers ended 2012 with an 83-79 record and wound up in third place in the National League Central. The team is still suffering the consequences of not being able to re-sign Prince Fielder before last season.
There is, however, still a gigantic elephant in the Brewers clubhouse with the possible suspension of Ryan Braun looming. MLB would love to finally get Braun for cheating after he embarrassed them by winning his appeal of the 50 game suspension before the 2012 season. He was suspended for a positive test for elevated testosterone levels in October 2011.
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The team will be without Mat Gamel for the entire season after he tore his ACL…again and Corey Hart will be out until May after knee surgery in January. If Braun gets suspended, the offense is sure to sputter.
The starting rotation is pretty good, however, and these five guys will be the ones to watch in Milwaukee. Top prospect Wily Peralta will be the number five starter. Their pitching and speed on offense will win them enough games to stay out of the National League Central cellar, but that’s about it.
Yovani Gallardo/AP Morry Gash
Projected payroll: $71,028,333
Notable Players Out: RHP Shaun Marcum, RHP Francisco Rodriguez, LHP Manny Parra
Notable Players in: LHP Mike Gonzalez, RHP Burke Badenhop, LHP Tom Gorzelanny
Prospect Watch: 2B Scooter Gennett and RHP Tyler Thornburg
Highlight Hitter: LF Ryan Braun (ZiPS 2013 Projections: .302/.373/.540 33 HR/98 R/112 RBI)
Highlight Pitcher: RHP Yovani Gallardo (ZiPS 2013 Projections: 14-10, 3.80 ERA, 9.23 K/9, 194 IP)
Projected Lineup: C Jonathan Lucroy, 1B Alex Gonzalez, 2B Rickie Weeks, 3B Aramis Ramirez, SS Jean Segura, LF Ryan Braun, CF Carlos Gomez, RF Norichika Aoki
Projected Rotation: RHP Yovani Gallardo, RHP Marco Estrada, RHP Michael Fiers, LHP Chris Narveson, RHP Wily Peralta
Projected Closer: RHP John Axelford
Manager: Ron Roenicke
Projected 2013 Finish in NL Central: 1. TBA 2. TBA 3. TBA 4. Milwaukee Brewers 5. Chicago Cubs
Kevin J. Wells writes about Major League Baseball and punk rock music. Follow him on Twitter @WellsOnBaseball
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