Iowa has had the best of luck with these kinds of stories. Just this year, the Kinnick Wave captured the hearts and minds of the nation, even winning the annual Disney Spirit Sports Award. But, if you had the chance to be at the Purdue-Iowa slaughter at Carver, the annual Chris Street reminded the Iowa faithful of why we love sports.

January 19^th, 2018 marks the 25^th anniversary of the passing of Hawkeye legend Chris Street. Street lived out his dream, even if it was marked short. The legend of Chris Street was never about his stats. Street’s passion was such a high intensity that the only thing you’d be able to do is be in awe. And smile. Chris did that a lot, another level of the legend. Not only did Street have an unparalleled passion for the game, but his lovable personality and magnetic smile was equally a force to be reckoned.

Iowa fell in love with Chris Street because Street was Iowa embodied. Street had the “Iowa Nice” personality commonly found in the Hawkeye State and held the tenacity of the court that is a by-product of his tough, blue collar work ethic. But, more than anything, Chris Street woke up everyday wanting to do nothing more than to play basketball for his Hawkeyes. The University of Iowa released a video and showed the same video during halftime of the Purdue-Iowa contest one day after the 25^th anniversary of his passing. The following link goes to the inspirational tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48dGMn_muYk.

The game prior to and following the Chris Street tribute did not have the match the intensity of the Iowa legend. Purdue put Iowa out of the game in the first ten minutes of the first half and merely poured on the point. Making the game seem like nothing more than a morning stroll, the Boilermakers sliced through the soft Iowa defense on its way to a Big10 record in most 3-pointers in a game. 20 shots fell out to 33 attempted from beyond the arc for the third nationally ranked Purdue squad. Iowa could and would not come close after taking an early 3-0 lead in an eventual 87-64 loss.

Purdue will be taking their talents back home to West Lafayette, Indiana in a matchup against Michigan on Thursday, January 25^th at 6 pm CST. The next game for the Iowa comes with another tribute to Chris Street. However, in this Tuesday contest against the hated Wisconsin Badgers, Iowa will be wearing the Gold jerseys. Iowa faces Wisconsin on January 23 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 6 pm CST.

The post Forever 40: Remembering Chris Street appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The defending National Champions in the Major Baseball League manage to survive. For now. The mounting of a comeback has begun in Chicago. In a low scoring match between the Chicago Cubs and the LA Dodgers, the Cubs would top their adversaries 3-2 in Wrigley Field.

This particular addition to the series would face off Jake Arrieta and Alex Wood. Unlike other faceoffs between the Dodgers and Cubs, this matchup would only allow runs scored off home runs. In similar fashion to Game 3, the Cubs would strike first on a second inning home run from Wilson Contreras. A 491 foot bomb into left field.

Contrasting the previous outing, Chicago would not merely score once this inning. The 437 foot belt into left by Javier Baez would further the gap. This hit is very significant for the second baseman. The end of a 0 for 20 streak slayed the demons which haunted Baez for longer than any Cubs fan would enjoy.

Despite this, the Dodgers would respond the next inning. Another homer, this one from first baseman Cody Bellinger. The score would stay at a 2-1 standstill until the fifth inning following the 378 foot blast.

Off of another pitch by Wood, Baez would once again swing for the fences. And succeed. A 380 foot solo shot into left field put the Dodgers into a 3-1 hole. In spite of their best attempts, LA would stay in the hole. An eighth inning home run by Justin Turner tightens the gap to a single run once more. Nonetheless, this would be the last run scored by either side.

The bullpens for both Los Angeles and Chicago performed well in Game 4 with both sides totaling more than 10 strikeouts a piece. The Cubs would total 12 strikeouts and the Dodgers, 11. The Dodgers would end up pulling 6 members of the bullpen onto to mound in opposition to Chicago bringing only Arrieta, Brian Duensing, and Wade Davis to close.

In the top of the ninth, Game 4 ends in dramatic fashion with a Bellinger hit turning into a Chicago double play. The Cubs stave off elimination to earn another fight. Game 5 between the Cubs and Dodgers will occur Thursday night at Wrigley Field once again. Clayton Kershaw will be on the mound for the Dodgers facing Chicago’s Jose Quintana with the first pitch at 7:08 pm CST on TBS.

The post Cubbie Comeback Continues into Game 5 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Many stars from the MLB are committing to their respective countries or heritages, as this may be the most profiled World Baseball Classic to date. Some stars include Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles (Dominican Republic), Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros (Venezuela), Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Mexico), and Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies (USA).

While most are excited that baseball is back and would rather wait for the MLB season to start, hear me out. The World Baseball Classic is a great opportunity to see a lot of great things. The WBC provides us with the opportunity to enjoy talent from other countries who do not play in Major League Baseball. In the past we have seen current MLB stars like Masahiro Tanaka, Jose Abreu, Yoenis Cespedes, and Kenley Jansen play in the WBC before they were signed to big league contracts. Fun fact about Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who is arguably the best closer in baseball right now, played catcher for the Netherlands in the 2006 WBC. Here is a GIF of Jansen throwing out Ryan Braun from his knees.

Another opportunity that the WBC presents is competitive baseball in March. In the month of March, spring training games are just merely for the players prepping themselves for the season. Most of the game’s best players are out of the game by the fifth inning. With the WBC, the game’s premier players are in game action for nine innings. More star studded players as mentioned previously are going to play in the Classic.

Lastly, the WBC has an incredible fan atmosphere. Like the Soccer World Cup, the fans of international teams are loud, rowdy, excited, and prideful for their team. A sense of nationalistic pride comes together in one tournament, on one diamond, in between the foul lines, 60 feet 6 inches away with the winner-take-all in LA.

The first game for Team USA is on Friday, March 10 at 11 AM against Colombia, while the first official game of the WBC is between Israel and South Korea, which begins Monday, March 6 at 4 AM CT in Seoul, South Korea.

The post High Intensity Baseball Comes in March appeared first on KRUI Radio.

A 6’4 college phenom out of San Diego State, Kris Bryant was a household name as soon as he was drafted by the Cubs second overall in the 2013 MLB draft. A mix of extreme power along with patience at the plate, there was good reason why Cub faithful was chomping at the bit to see this guy make his way to the majors. Amassing forty-three home runs in 2014 at the AA/AAA level and a stellar spring training, it was only a matter of a short time before he would join the roster. After a flurry of injuries from infielders Mike Olt and Tommy La Stella, Bryant was called up to fill the third base role just after eight games into this young season.

Lost in one of the most anticipated debuts in a long time, is the other star emerging from the minors in Addison Russell. With the second base position being the achilles heel of this club, with a combined batting average of only .077, the converted shortstop was called up to help the lower part of the lineup and to fill this role. The flashy 21- year-old created a stir around Chicago when he was acquired from Oakland in exchange for pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel (who is back with the Cubs). Known for his defensive craft and quick hands at the plate, Russell quickly crept up the farm system to find himself on a major league roster before previously thought.

With the addition of these two prospects, the Cubs now hold the youngest infield in all of baseball with no one being over twenty-five years of age. Barring any trades, the infield in Bryant, Castro, Russell, and Rizzo all are contracted in until the 2020 season, which means this crew should only get better with time.

With only a handful of games in the rearview for the 2015 campaign, not much is certain in a long 162-game stretch, but what is for sure is the hype is real and this team is ready to compete. Chicago has waited a long time since this much excitement has swept the Cub faithful. We all know of the hundred and some year drought and fans are eager to get that monkey off their bat. Will this year be the year? Will next year be the year? Well, a lot of things will have to fall into place for that feat, but for now let’s just appreciate players like Bryant and Russell and have a fun summer watching this rising ball club. I know I will.

The post Bryant and Russell add depth to Cubs offense appeared first on KRUI Radio.

AL East:

1. Red Sox 93-69
2. Orioles 92-70
3. Yankees 79-83
4. Rays 79-83
5. Blue Jays 76-86

AL Central:

1. White Sox 92-70
2. Tigers 90-72
3. Indians 88-74
4. Royals 84-78
5. Twins 72-90

AL West:

1. Mariners 94-68
2. Angels 89-73
3. A’s 82-80
4. Rangers 79-83
5. Astros 75-87

NL West:

1. Dodgers 93-69
2. Giants 84-78
3. Padres 82-80
4. Diamondbacks 72-90
5. Rockies 68-94

NL East:

1. Nationals 94-68
2. Marlins 86-76
3. Mets 84-78
4. Braves 78-84
5. Phillies 66-96

NL Central:

1. Cardinals 89-73
2. Reds 88-74
3. Cubs 87-75
4. Pirates 86-76
5. Brewers 75-87

Postseason:

• NL Wild Card: Cubs over Reds
• NL Division Series: Dodgers over Cardinals
• NL Division Series: Cubs over Nationals
• NL Championship Series: Dodgers over Cubs
• AL Wild Card: Orioles over Tigers
• AL Division Series: White Sox over Red Sox
• AL Division Series: Mariners over Orioles
• AL Championship Series: Mariners over White Sox
• World Series: Mariners over Dodgers in 7

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, NL Cy Young: Jon Lester

AL MVP: Robinson Cano, NL MVP: Yasiel Puig

AL Rookie of the Year: Taijuan Walker NL Rookie of the Year: Jorge Soler

I hope you all enjoyed the “Preview Articles” this month. I have had a blast writing them, and have learned some important things along the way. I will be back in March of 2016 to do these all over again with a new and improved layout. If you take anything away from these articles, take the “beauties” of the game. They are scattered throughout the articles and will show the important little things in the game. Enjoy the 2015 baseball season and GO CUBS GO!

The post MLB 2015 Predictions Edition #31 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Notable Additions: Miguel Montero C, Tommy La Stella IF, David Ross C, Dexter Fowler CF, Chris Denorfia OF, Jason Motte RP, Phil Coke RP, Jason Hammel SP, Jon Lester SP

Notable Losses:  Luis Valbuena IF, Dan Straily P, Justin Ruggiano OF, Wesley Wright RP

First thing is first. Cubs fans… RELAX. This is not a team made of declining superstars and the plan was never to win it all in 2015. The Cubs are a young and inexperienced team. Maybe just maybe 2016 will be the year, but 2015 should be focused on improving to a .500 record. The pitching staff received a major upgrade this offseason when the Cubs signed Jon Lester. The left-handed pitcher has dominated the AL East for years and will now have a shot at the NL Central. Lester finished 2014 with a 2.46 ERA through 219.2 innings. He has excellent control and will utilize his cutter against all batters. Jake Arrieta holds the second spot in the rotation and will be looking to repeat his 2014 season. He held a 2.53 ERA through 156.2 innings last season. The Cubs signed Jason Hammel this offseason when he became a free agent. Hammel will provide the Cubs with a consistent outing every 5th day. The back end of the rotation should go to Kyle Hendrick and Travis Wood. These pitchers can do something that most cannot… they can hit! I’d be willing to bet Travis Wood finishes with 5 home runs in 2015.

The Cubs have a lot of depth to work with in 2015. Tommy La Stella and Mike Olt will fill in at third until Kris Bryant reaches the Majors. Asmani Alcantara and La Stella will swap turns at second base until Javier Baez gets called back up. Baez was sent down yesterday due to his inability to improve his plate discipline. Chris Denorfia is a nice virtue to have in the outfield. He will most likely be used against left-handed pitching, considering he hit .284 again lefties over the past three seasons. Dexter Fowler will play centerfield and bat leadoff. He finished with a .393 batting average when leading off an inning in 2014. He will set the platter for the power guys.

Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro both had great years in 2014. Both finished with a batting average of .286 or higher and double digit home runs. Rizzo hit 32 long balls and drove in 78 runs last season. Castro showed consistently with his bat and finished with a .292 batting average. Both hitters will be looking to repeat what they did in 2014. The Cubs added two new catchers this offseason. Miguel Montero comes from Arizona and brings a left-handed bat to the lineup. He has some pop left in his swing and should be able to drive in a solid amount of runs. Montero finished with a .243 batting average and hit 13 home runs in 2014. David Ross was signed for his leadership skills and his relationship with Jon Lester. Ross has caught for Lester for the better part of his career and knows how to bring out the best in Lester. Ross will give Montero a nice break and provides Joe Maddon with more options.

Speaking of Joe Maddon…. the Cubs signed Joe Maddon! I know, I know, it’s exciting. Maddon took the Tampa Bay Rays to the playoffs 3 consecutive years and will be looking to bring his success to Chicago. He has a special skill of working well with young players. This team is full of youth, so it’s only a matter of time before Maddon works his magic.

Breakout Player: Jorge Soler RF

Everyone is talking about Kris Bryant right now and I’m not saying that he won’t break out, but I’d rather talk about the other guy. Soler has a talent that very few players posses. Through the first 3 weeks of spring training games, Soler had not swung at a single pitch outside the strikezone. He has incredible discipline and that will set him aside from everyone else. He finished 2014 with a .292 batting average and 5 home runs.  He has all the tools he needs to be successful. If healthy I expect:

.284 BA, 24 HR, 82 RBI

Game Changer: Jake Arrieta SP

To me, Jake Arrieta has the most important role in 2015. We know Lester will be solid, we know what to expect from the bottom half of the rotation and we know the lineup will produce runs. We aren’t sure what we will get from Arrieta. He had an outstanding 2014 season finishing with a 2.52 ERA through 156.2 innings. If he repeats his 2014 season, the Cubs could make the playoffs.

The Chicago Cubs will be good in 2015. They will hit a lot of home runs but will also make a lot of mistakes due to their youth. They will be an exciting team to watch with all the young talent. Expect them to improve each year.

The post Chicago Cubs 2015 Preview Edition #30 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Notable Additions: Matt Belisle RP, Mark Reynolds IF, Jason Heyward OF

Notable Losses: Shelby Miller SP, Pat Neshek RP, Daniel Descalsco 2B, Justin Masterson SP, A.J. Perzynski C

I’ll start by saying that this article will be short. Sorry Cardinal fans… actually I’m not. The Cardinals have been good for too long. Part of me envies you, but the other part of me knows that you all will never have that special bond that Chicago fans have. It’s not a bond of losing, but rather of hope. St. Louis has a strong pitching rotation heading into 2015. Adam Wainwright finished the 2014 season with a 2.38 ERA through 227 innings. As long as he stays healthy, the Cardinals will have nothing to worry about. The rest of the rotation will be filled out by Lance Lynn, Michael Wacha, John Lackey, and Carlos Martinez. The bullpen will miss Pat Neshek, but they shouldn’t miss a beat. They still have Trevor Rosenthal to close out games, and Walden to set him up. Nothing to worry about here. The offense will have problem producing runs in 2015. The lineup is solid throughout and they will do the small things to win games.

The Cardinals had the unfortunate duty of replacing Oscar Taveras. The young star was tragically killed in a car crash this offseason. We wish his family and friends all the best. He will truly be missed. The Cardinals traded for Jason Heyward this offseason and he will take over in right field. Heyward brings an outstanding defensive presence to the field and has some pop in his bat. If the Cardinals can lock him up to a long-term contract, Heyward will terrorize the NL Central for years to come.

Breakout Player: Matt Adams 1B

Adams finished the 2014 season with a .288 batting average and 15 home runs. Obviously those are impressive numbers, but he is capable of so much more. He has a quick bat and is slowly discovering his true power. I think he is due to “explode” offensively. If healthy I expect:

.281 BA, 21 HR, 79 RBI’s

Game Changer: Michael Wacha SP

Wacha has been one of the best, young, pitchers in the game the past two seasons. He threw in 107 innings and finished with a 3.20 ERA in 2015. He has excellent control of his pitches and his velocity keeps hitters off balance. Wacha has the ability to become the ace of the staff within the next few seasons. He has Adam Wainwright to show him the way and one of the best catchers in the game to throw to. Expect big things from Wacha in the future.

The Cardinals will be dominant again in 2015. They will have some tough competition, but they will find a way to make the postseason as they always do. All we can do is pray the Cardinals have an off year and hope for the best.

Make sure to check back in on March 31st for my complete standing predictions along with a few other fun pieces of news. Until then, you will be able to find a new preview of an individual team from March 1st through the 30th here at KRUI.FM.

The post St. Louis Cardinals Preview Edition #29 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Notable Additions: Liz Radhames P, Antonio Bastardo RP, Corey Hart OF/1B, Francisco Cervelli C, A.J. Burnett SP

Notable Losses: Ernesto Frieri RP, Russell Martin C, Ike Davis 1B, Justin Wilson RP, Edinson Volquez SP

The Pirates have an average pitching staff. Francisco Liriano is listed as the ace, but he will soon fall to the second spot. Liriano finished the 2014 season with a 3.38 ERA through 162.1 innings. He’s tough on lefties and he can get the job done against right-handed batters. He has a career SO9 rate of 9.2. He will get the job done on a day to day basis. The number one spot will be held by Gerrit Cole. The youngster has a mid 90’s fastball, and he is finally learning how to control it. He finished last season with a 3.65 ERA through 138 innings of work. At just 24, he has the time and the talent to develop into one of the top pitchers in the game. I wasn’t a huge fan of the A.J. Burnett signing. Burnett is now 38 years old and his age is finally catching up to him. The Pirates are hoping to get the same Burnett they parted ways with after 2013. He finished 2013 with a 3.30 ERA through 191 innings. Unfortunately, the Pirates will not be getting that Burnett. The real Burnett finished last season with a 4.59 ERA and 18 losses. It might be different if Russell Martin was still in Pittsburgh, but he’s not. The pitching rotation should be able to win games if the offense shows up.

There’s no point in talking about Andrew McCutchen. We all know that he is superstar. He won the MVP award in 2013 and finished third in voting for the award in 2014. Enough said. Starling Marte continues to get better with each year of experience. He finished with a .291 batting average and hit 13 home runs in 2014. Marte drove in 56 runs and finished with a .453 slugging percentage. He is a solid all around player and should continue to improve. Neil Walker had an outstanding season in 2014. He finished with a .271 batting average while hitting 23 home runs. Walker drove in 76 runs and finished with a .467 slugging percentage. Those are crazy numbers from a second baseman. If Walker can repeat his success, the Pirates will be in good shape.

We have yet another “beauty” of baseball on this team. Can you guess who it is? Andrew McCutchen? Not quite. Josh Harrison is one of the most exciting players to watch because of his hustle. Harrison has torn his way into a starting role and has proven that he belongs there. There was a play last season where he got caught in a run-down. Instead of giving up like most MLB players, Harrison made a mess out of the defense. He ran back and forth before diving into third base… safely! You have to go check out that play. It’s not hard to find.

Breakout Player: Gregory Polanco RF

Gregory Polanco was a highly talked about rookie last season. He was up to the major and played in the last 89 games of the 2014 season. Polanco finished with a .235 batting average and 7 home runs. He got off to a hot start, but slowed down as the season progressed. It’s only a matter of time before he breaks out. He has all the tools he needs to be successful in 2015. If healthy I expect:

.271 BA, 16 HR, 69 RBI

Game Changer: Pedro Alvarez 1B

Pedro Alvarez is on this team for one reason…power. He finished with 36 home runs in 2013 and drove in 100 runs. He’s never been a high average guy, but he destroys righties. He finished with a .231 batting average and 18 home runs in 2014. If he gets going, this team will have enough power to go all the way.

The Pirates are right where they want to be heading into the 2015 season. They are solid throughout and will be ready to make a playoff run. Keep your eye on the NL Central race this season.

Make sure to check back in on March 31st for my complete standing predictions along with a few other fun pieces of news. Until then, you will be able to find a new preview of an individual team from March 1st through the 30th here at KRUI.FM.

The post Pittsburgh Pirates 2015 Preview Edition #28 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Notable Additions: Marlon Byrd OF, Anthony DeSclafani SP, Burke Badenhop RP

Notable Losses: Alfredo Simon SP, Chris Heisey OF, Mat Latos SP

The starting rotation is strong enough to keep them in games. It is led by Johnny Cueto, who might be the most underrated pitcher in all of baseball. He has excellent control and has a delivery that hides the ball unusually well. He threw in a league leading 243.1 innings and finished with a 2.25 ERA in 2014. Cueto was a true workhorse and might have won the MVP Award if Clayton Kershaw hadn’t had the historic year. Homer Bailey is the second man in the rotation and is not as bad as, analyst, Martin Silva thinks he is. Bailey has kept him ERA in the 3’s for the past three seasons. He finished last season with a 3.71 ERA through 145.2 innings. He’s not a great pitcher, but he is certainly capable of number two work. The rest of the rotation will be solid. Nothing special, nothing bad.

Joey Votto will be looking to stay healthy in 2015. He missed the majority of last season due to injury. Back in 2013, Votto finished with a .305 batting average and 24 home runs. Votto got on base more than anyone in baseball in 2013. He drew 135 walks and held a, league leading, .435 OBP. Votto is a guy who never tries to do too much. He is plenty capable of driving in runs, but can also sit back and draw a walk. Votto will be crucial for this team in 2015. Devin Mesoraco was a pleasant surprise in 2014. He finished with 25 home runs in just 384 at bats. He held a .273 batting average and a .534 slugging percentage. He also drove in 80 runs. Mesoraco’s offensive contributions were incredible in 2014 and he will be looking to replicate them in 2015. Jay Bruce will be looking to bounce back in from his below average 2014 season. Bruce has a career slugging percentage of .467, yet it was just .373 in 2014. He struggled to hit for contact, finishing with a .217 batting average. It appeared to be a dud year for Bruce, but he should rebound in 2015. The Reds will need his leadership and power heading into the new season.

We have to stop and talk about another “beauty” of the game. Brandon Philips is one of the most exciting players to watch in all of baseball. He has incredible defensive range and is not afraid to get dirty. He makes plays that even professionals can’t make. He turned a double play from his knees last season. If you don’t believe me, look it up. Everyone should watch the defensive highlight reel of Philips. Philips is a great leader and should be a role model to the young kids playing baseball. Make sure to watch at least one Reds’ game in 2015 just to watch Philips. It’s not everyday that we see a player like him.

I can’t go without mentioning Aroldis Chapman. Chapman has been one of the top closing pitchers in the game. He has a career ERA of 2.32 and and a 15.3 SO9 rate. His fastball has reached 106 MPH in a MLB game. You can hear the ball hit the glove from anywhere in the stadium when Chapman is throwing. Expect him to continue dominating batters.

Breakout Player: Anthony DeSclafani SP

DeSclafani will be a starting pitcher the entire season for the first time in his career. At just 24, he will have the opportunity to be the number four starter in the Cincinnati rotation. He struggled in 2014, finishing with a 6.27 ERA in his first season in the Majors. He’s had an outstanding spring and will be looking to carry that success over to the regular season. He’s thrown in 19.2 innings this spring and posted a 1.83 ERA. If he is able to locate his pitches, he will be successful in 2015. If healthy I expect:

169.1 IP, 3.96 ERA, 152 SO

Game Changer: Zack Cozart SS

Cozart will have to find his power in 2015 if he wants to contribute. He finished the 2012 season with 15 home runs and a .399 slugging percentage. He struggled finding his power last season, finishing with a .300 slugging percentage and just 4 home runs. The Reds have multiple players who can hit 20+ home runs but Cozart will be one of the most important hitters. If he can hit double digit home runs, the sky is the limit for this team in 2015.

The Reds have all the talent they need. They have a true ace, a top closer, power bats, and speed with Billy Hamilton. They need to stay healthy to be successful in 2015. The NL Central will be nothing less of superb in 2015.

Make sure to check back in on March 31st for my complete standing predictions along with a few other fun pieces of news. Until then, you will be able to find a new preview of an individual team from March 1st through the 30th here at KRUI.FM.

The post Cincinnati Reds 2015 Preview Edition #27 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Notable Additions: Luis Sardinas IF, Neal Cotts RP, Adam Lind 1B

Notable Losses: Marco Estrada SP, Yovani Gallardo SP, Mark Reynolds IF, Rickie Weeks 2B,

The starting rotation should get destroyed over the course of the 2015 season. They don’t have an ace or even a solid number two. Kyle Lohse, age 36, will lead the staff in 2015. He finished the 2014 season with a 3.54 ERA through 198.1 innings. Matt Garza will be the second man in the rotation. He was decent in 2014 finishing with a 3.64 ERA through 163.1 innings. Both pitchers will be solid but neither have the ability to lead their team to the playoffs. Wily Peralta had a breakout year in 2014 finishing with a 3.53 ERA and picking up 17 wins. I don’t think Peralta will be as effective in 2015. The bottom half of the rotation will struggle to work deep into games.

If the Brewers want to be competitive they will have to out hit their opponents. Ryan Braun and Carlos Gomez are two of the best outfielders in the game. Gomez finished last season with a .284 batting average and 23 home runs. He has an above glove and has the speed to steal 30+ bases. He stole 34 bases in 2014 and finished with a .477 slugging percentage. Ryan Braun finished the 2014 season with a .266 batting average and 19 home runs. He hasn’t quite returned to form since the 2012 season. He hit 41 home runs and had a batting average of .311 back in 2012. Braun will have to be on top of his game if the Brewers are going to compete. One of the most important players is catcher, Jonathan Lucroy. The catcher finished last season with a .301 batting average and 13 home runs. He led the league with 53 doubles and drove in 69 runs. He was one of the best framing catchers in the league last season. It will be important for Lucroy to stay on top of his framing with the average pitching staff. A great catcher can turn an average pitcher into an All-Star.

Breakout Player: Scooter Gennett 2B

Gennett has been great in his first two Major League seasons. He holds a .300 batting average and a .331 OBP. I think Gennett will find his power in 2015. He clearly has the ability to make solid contact and he has a relatively low strikout rate. If the Brewers could get him hitting double digit home runs, their offense might just have the firepower to compete if everything else went right. If healthy I expect:

.279 BA, 14 HR, 67 RBI’s

Game Changer: Adam Lind 1B

I’ve already made it clear that the Brewers will have to out hit their opponents to win games. Adam Lind played in 96 games in 2014 finishing with 6 home runs and a .321 batting average. The Brewers will hope to get more power out of Lind than average. He hit 23 home runs in 2013 and 35 back in 2009. The Brewers will need all the power they can get if they really want to out hit people in 2015.

Don’t expect much from the Brewers in 2015. The NL Central is just too strong and the Brewers lack solid pitching. It will be a long year for Milwaukee fans.

Make sure to check back in on March 31st for my complete standing predictions along with a few other fun pieces of news. Until then, you will be able to find a new preview of an individual team from March 1st through the 30th here at KRUI.FM.

The post Milwaukee Brewers 2015 Preview Edition #26 appeared first on KRUI Radio.