CNN/SI Preview: Milwaukee Brewers
Posted: Friday March 12, 1999 01:00 PM
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Nilsson hasn't been a full-time catcher since the 1994 season. Steve Moore/Allsport |
By Ryan Hunt, CNN/SI Perhaps no player was more affected by the Brewers' move to the
National League than Dave Nilsson. Milwaukee's one-time designated
hitter was forced to dabble with a number of positions last season --
outfield and first base among them -- just to get at-bats. This time
around, the Australian left-hander will be the Brewers' full-time catcher.
With the release of Mike Matheny,
the signing of Sean Berry to
play first base and the emergence of Geoff Jenkins in left field, the only
position left for Nilsson was catcher. Nilsson was behind the plate for
just seven games last year, but does have 208 games of catching experience
in his career. The Brewers hope the eighth-year major league
veteran can add some sorely needed pop to their lineup, one which was 23rd
in the majors last season in runs scored. If Nilsson can return to his 1997
numbers, when he hit .278 with 20 homers and 81 RBIs, Milwaukee can
maintain respectability in the second-go-around in the National League.
1998 Recap (74-88, 5th NL Central) The Brewers'
inaugural National League season got off to a good enough start, winning
six of the first seven games. But four of those were a sweep of the lowly
Marlins. Milwaukee quickly learned it couldn't play Florida every night.
After staying near the .500 mark for most of the season, an early
August slide (nine losses in 10 games) effectively killed any postseason
hopes. A 10-15 September left the Brewers 28 games out of first place.
All-Star 3B Jeff Cirillo
was one of the few bright spots for Milwaukee in 1998, finishing eighth in
the National League with a .321 average. Jeromy
Burnitz hit 38 homers, but struck out a whopping 158 times. No Brewer
pitcher won more than 10 games last season. 1999 Outlook
At least one era will end in Milwaukee this season. County Stadium will
close its doors after 46 years. The 1999 team likely will fail to make that
final year memorable. Another season like last year and manager
Phil Garner might see his era in Milwaukee come to an end as well.
After six straight losing seasons, the Brewers did little to upgrade their
mediocre ball club, signing only Berry away from Houston and acquiring
speedy OF Alex
Ochoa from Minnesota in a trade. Meanwhile, they lost injury-prone
power-hitter John
Jaha to Oakland, and 2B Fernando Vina
has been the subject of constant trade rumors for the past year.
Scoring more runs is a must for this team, because
the starting rotation is among the worst in the league. Scott Karl, who
has all of 39 major league victories, will get the Opening Day nod,
followed by a mix of a rehabilitating Cal Eldred, Steve
Woodard, Brad
Woodall, one-time Mets prospect Bill
Pulsipher, the young Rafael Roque and suddenly re-emerging Jim Abbott.
However, Abbott, who won all five of his starts with the White Sox
last season, likely will be one of the few feel-good stories coming out of
Milwaukee this year.
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