HITTING The Brewers could be exciting in 2014, but not in the way Milwaukee fans have been accustomed. This group is more like “Roenicke’s Roadrunners” than “Harvey’s Wallbangers.” They led the National League in stolen bases last season, and will be amongst the leaders again this year. Speedy shortstop Jean Segura and centerfielder Carlos Gomez each swiped 40 bags, and even catcher Jonathan Lucroy had nine. Gomez also hit a team-high 24 homers, the first 20-40 player in franchise history and the only one in the Majors in 2013. The Brewers were sixth in the NL in homers with 157, getting a career-best 18 from Lucroy, but getting no more than 13 from anyone else and only 12 from injury-riddled third baseman Aramis Ramirez. If Braun returns to form, Khris Davis (11 HR) produces with regular at-bats, and free agent first baseman Mark Reynolds provides his usual power, they’ll score runs, the caveat being an increase in strikeouts. FIELDING No team in the National League committed more errors last season than the Brewers. That should change this year. Last year, 85 errors came on the infield, with 20 miscues committed at first base, where the Brewers played without Corey Hart all year. Hart is now a Seattle Mariner and Reynolds, more of an offensive contributor, and Lyle Overbay take over at first. Scooter Gennett is an improvement over Rickie Weeks at second, improving the Brewers up the middle, where Gomez, a Gold Glover, Segura and Lucroy are solid. Davis is an improvement in left over Braun, who moves to right, replacing traded Norichika Aoki. A healthy Ramirez will cut down on errors at third. STARTING PITCHING Milwaukee is hoping for more consistency from its rotation after a Jekyll-and-Hyde 2013. Ace Yovani Gallardo, in the final year of his contract, has something to prove after winning 12 games and pitching 180 2/3 innings — both career-lows — with a career-high 4.18 ERA. Offseason pickup Matt Garza (4-5, 4.38 with Texas) adds experience, but hasn’t been the most durable of pitchers, with past elbow issues. Last off-season’s key signing, Kyle Lohse was durable (32 starts) and among league-leaders in walks/9 IP (1.6). Six-year pro Marco Estrada will try to build off his final two months (3-0, with a 2.15 ERA), and highly touted young righty Wily Peralta (24) needs to improve his control. RELIEF PITCHING The Brewers had one of the NL’s best bullpens, if you go by ERA (3.19, third) and opponents’ on-base percentage (.307, fourth), but one of the worst according to hits allowed (407, fourth-most), home runs allowed (55, tied for second-most) and blown saves (23, third-most). They’ll count on Jim Henderson to put out fires in the ninth. The 31-year-old, third-year pro, originally drafted by the Montreal Expos in 2006, had more strikeouts (75) than hits allowed (44) in 60 innings, and converted 28 of 32 save opportunities, closing 18 of his last 19. Brandon Kintzler, who didn’t allow an ER in his final nine appearances, and rookie Rob Wooten will see a lot of action, as will Will Smith, acquired for Aoki, and Francisco Rodriguez. MANAGING Ron Roenicke is in the final season of his contract (there’s a team option for 2015), and while the Brewers’ win totals have gone down each of the last two seasons, he’s been granted a mulligan of sorts for 2013, which has been written off as “one of those years.” A players’ manager, he’s three years removed from a franchise-best 96-win season, in which his team won the Central and reached the NLCS. GM Doug Melvin, who has quietly lasted 11 years in Milwaukee, has two years left on his contract, and believes he’s upgraded enough to at least get back over .500 and, if things go right, stick around in the division race. DATE OPPONENT TIME Fri, 6/27 Cardinals 7:10p Sat, 6/28 Cardinals 4:15p Sun, 6/29 Cardinals TBD Mon, 6/30 Indians 7:10p Tue, 7/1 Indians 7:10p Wed, 7/2 Indians 12:10p Thu, 7/3 at Rockies 5:10p Fri, 7/4 at Rockies 5:10p Sat, 7/5 at Rockies 1:10p Sun, 7/6 at Rockies 1:10p Tue, 7/8 at Tigers 4:08p Wed, 7/9 at Tigers 10:08a Thu, 7/10 Padres 7:10p Fri, 7/11 Padres 7:10p Sat, 7/12 Padres 7:10p Sun, 7/13 Padres 1:10p Fri, 7/18 at Cardinals 5:15p Sat, 7/19 at Cardinals 1:05p Sun, 7/20 at Cardinals 5:05p Mon, 7/21 at Pirates 4:05p Tue, 7/22 at Pirates 4:05p Wed, 7/23 at Pirates 4:05p Fri, 7/25 at Giants 7:15p Sat, 7/26 at Giants 6:05p Sun, 7/27 at Giants 1:05p Tue, 7/29 Braves 7:10p Wed, 7/30 Braves 7:10p DATE OPPONENT TIME Thu, 7/31 Braves 7:10p Fri, 8/1 Cubs 7:10p Sat, 8/2 Cubs 6:10p Sun, 8/3 Cubs TBD Mon, 8/4 Angels 7:10p Tue, 8/5 Angels 7:10p Wed, 8/6 at Angels 7:05p Thu, 8/7 at Angels 7:05p Fri, 8/8 at Brewers 5:10p Sat, 8/9 at Brewers 4:10p Sun, 8/10 at Brewers 11:10a Mon, 8/11 at Braves 4:10p Tue, 8/12 at Braves 4:10p Wed, 8/13 at Braves 4:10p Thu, 8/14 at Braves 9:10a Fri, 8/15 Brewers 7:10p Sat, 8/16 Brewers 6:10p Sun, 8/17 Brewers 1:10p Tue, 8/19 Padres 7:10p Wed, 8/20 Padres 7:10p Thu, 8/21 Padres 7:10p Fri, 8/22 Mets 7:10p Sat, 8/23 Mets 6:10p Sun, 8/24 Mets 1:10p Tue, 8/26 at D-backs 6:40p Wed, 8/27 at D-backs 6:40p Fri, 8/29 at Padres 7:10p DATE OPPONENT TIME Sat, 8/30 at Padres 5:40p Sun, 8/31 at Padres 1:10p Mon, 9/1 Nationals 5:10p Tue, 9/2 Nationals 7:10p Wed, 9/3 Nationals 12:10p Fri, 9/5 D-backs 7:10p Sat, 9/6 D-backs 6:10p Sun, 9/7 D-backs TBD Mon, 9/8 Padres 7:10p Tue, 9/9 Padres 7:10p Wed, 9/10 Padres 7:10p Fri, 9/12 at Giants 7:15p Sat, 9/13 at Giants 6:05p Sun, 9/14 at Giants 1:05p Mon, 9/15 at Rockies 5:40p Tue, 9/16 at Rockies 5:40p Wed, 9/17 at Rockies 12:10p Thu, 9/18 at Cubs 5:05p Fri, 9/19 at Cubs 11:20a Sat, 9/20 at Cubs 1:05p Sun, 9/21 at Cubs 11:20a Mon, 9/22 Giants 7:10p Tue, 9/23 Giants 7:10p Wed, 9/24 Giants 7:10p Fri, 9/26 Rockies 7:10p Sat, 9/27 Rockies 6:10p Sun, 9/28 Rockies 1:10p
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