Yovani Gallardo

OMG, OMG, OMG!

The Brewers are going to summon Gallardo and there is a good chance he will start Monday against the Giants. I *think* that this is the beginning of the end for Claudio Vargas in the rotation. Once Capuano comes off of the DL, I think the rotation will be aligned such that Sheets, Gallardo, Cappy, Suppan and Bush will be the starters and Villanueva will continue to move up the bullpen pecking order. Vargas will become what Villanueva was, a long reliever and emergency 6th starter, then finally Elmer Dessens will likely be DFA.

This plan can be knocked off track if the Brewers need to use Gallardo in relief this weekend, which is plausible. Villanueva is not useable this weekend and the bullpen was taxed yesterday, so hopefully they can get nice long starts from their starters starting with Sheets today.

Anyway, get excited for a mid 90's fastball and a killer curveball.

Braun and Gallardo

Holy crap, the Brewers have called up Ryan Braun (left). This kid has been raking in AAA and seriously, then number of extra bases he may give up defensively is well going to be made up with his offense over the crappy 3rd base platoon the Brewers have going right now.

Check out this comment from Jerry Crasknic about Yovani Gallardo (right):

I talked to a scout at a Phillies game who told me that Yovani Gallardo is better than any starter the Brewers have right now.

That is pretty much the coolest thing I have read in a while.

Brewers Prediction

Now that I have gotten to see that good and the bad of the Brewers, I am ready to make a final prediction on the Brewers.

I've got them at: 87-77
They are now: 25-14
Their remaining record: 62-63

I think that 87-77 will give them the NL Cental, with the next best team being 1-2 games over .500 (either Houston or Chicago).

I think that JJ Hardy will finish at .305 with 26 HRs and about 90-95 RBI's/runs.
I think that Jeff Suppan will finish with an ERA of 3.8 and 15 wins.
I think that the Brewer's won't, but should trade Geoff Jenkins at the trade deadline.
I think that Yovanni Gallardo will only be brought up if there are injuries to two starting pitchers (Villanueva would get first crack at the rotation).
I think that Ryan Braun will come up this year after a slump for his bat at 3rd, but not for interleague play as a DH because, unlike with Prince Fielder a few years back, there are good players sitting on the bench being good soldiers about their reduced playing time.

Quick Brewer Prospect Note

One of the advantages the Brewers have this year is the presence of two elite prospects waiting in the wings in Ryan Braun and Yovani Gallardo.

Three of the best indicators of future pitching success are WHIP, K/9 and K:BB ratio.
Gallardo:
WHIP 0.86 - less than a batter reaching base an inning. Ridiculous.
K/9 - 51/37 = 1.38
K:BB - 51:11 or about 5 to 1.

This man does not allow people on base and is powering through AAA hitters.

Braun -
One of the best indicators of future hitting success is OPS (On-base % + Slugging %).
OPS - 1.142. That is outta control high. This kid's going to be good.