The Year: 2011
W/L Record: 107-55
Run Differential: 882 RS vs. 662 RA +220 Runs
Awards: NL Win Leader: RJ Seidel, NL Cy Young: RJ Seidel
All Stars: 1B Prince Fielder, C Jon Lucroy, 2B Rickie Weeks, SP RJ Seidel
League Leading Stat Categories: 61 Home Wins, 3.31 Starter ERA
Lineup/Bench Rotation/Bullpen
CF Andrew McCutchen Yovani Gallardo
SS Alcides Escobar RJ Seidel
RF Matt Gamel Cliff Lee
1B Prince Fielder Seth Lintz
3B Ryan Braun Evan Frederickson
C Jon Lucroy CL Trevor Hoffman
LF Lorenzo Cain SU Eric Arnett
2B Rickie Weeks SR Bobby Bramhall
SR Todd Coffey
MR Cody Adams
LR Alexandre Periard
C George Kottaras
OF Colby Rasmus
OF Jordan Schaefer
IF Brett Lawrie
IF Eric Farris
OF Logan Schaefer
The Key Players: I don't think I'll surprise anyone on this entry when I say that this will be the furthest we go back in FCM history to find a member of our list. We're going all the way back to FCM's second season to find the Milwaukee Brewers and a lot of familiar names from the baseball world we all know and love. Our 17th best team was a very solid group that was well above average in the league at both scoring runs and preventing them. You'll find a lot of the teams making this list fit the "balanced attack" formula, but that's probably a major key to being among the best - you can't just hit or just pitch, you have to be great at both.
The Brew Crew's offensive attack looks a lot like a drunken cheesehead's ultimate "What If?" scenario. In the FCMverse Prince Fielder stays. Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar are never dealt for Zach Grienke. Matt Gamel and Rickie Weeks fulfill their promise. Instead they spend their prospect resources on Andrew McCutcheon, Cliff Lee, and others. It's a lineup that is gifted both in their ability to score runs and with their defensive prowess. So let's start where I think most great teams are built - up the middle. Behind the dish was All-Star Jon Lucroy - a defensive wiz who managed to post a .264 average, 13 home runs, 59 runs, and 60 RBI to go with a very nice .382 OBP. At SS Alcides Escobar was excellent as well, hitting second in the lineup and providing a .297 average, .344 OBP, 8 home runs, 33 steals, 71 runs, and 63 RBI. His double play partner Rickie Weeks was an all-star that season as well with a very balanced attack - he hit .277 with 18 home runs, 12 steals, 83 runs, 70 rbi, and a .393 OBP.
Lastly was the very solid CF addition of Andrew McCutchen. On June 1st the team was starting Colby Rasmus in the OF and decided it needed an upgrade. They sent Joe Inglett, Efrain Nieves, Kyle Heckathorn, and Tad Girouard (all non-factors in the future) for McCutchen. From there he hit .290 with 11 HR, 50 RBI, 43 SB, and an .833 OPS in about 400 at-bats for the Brewers. It's probably not overselling it to say that trade put them over the top.
The pitching staff was above average and lead by future HOFer R.J. Seidel. Seidell was a homegrown Brewer, having debuted in 2010 but likely would have been considered a rookie if not for Mogul's stupidity. In that first full season he posted a 2.72 ERA in 230 innings, struck out 170, went 19-4, and held opposing hitters to a .220 OBP. He won the Cy Young in his first full season and for good reason - his performance was the kind of elite contribution the Brewer staff needed. Without him the staff would probably have been about league average and may not have been in a position to win the world series.
The rest of the staff consisted of Yovani Gallardo who pitched 176 innings and struck out 189 on the way to an 18-7 campaign and a 3.67 ERA. Cliff Lee contributed 168 innings and a 10-11 record with a 3.05 ERA. The rest of the staff was a cobbled together bunch that included Julio Teheran, Evan Hendrickson, Seth Lintz, and Cody Scarpetta. Most notable of that bunch was future HOFer Teheran who was a rookie that pitched 90 innings, went 8-2, and struck out 67 on the way to a 2.80 ERA.
The bullpen was lead by aging stalwart Trevor Hoffman who (with vitals of 68-61-69) managed to put up a 2.59 ERA in 66 innings, go 7-5, and save 41 ball games. The bullpen was a collection of questionable talent but they somehow managed to be league average. Eric Arnett had a 3.31 ERA in 89 innings with a 5-5 record and 4 saves. Bobby Bramhall went 107 innings with a 3.36 ERA and a 7-3 record. Todd Coffey pitched 75 innings with a 3.81 ERA.
Interview with the Owner: None
What Sets Them Apart: This Milwaukee team was one of the first great teams in the league. In just the second season of FCM they had two future HOF players in their rotation, a lineup stacked with recognizable talent, and a huge midseason addition that was a game changer like few others. It was the first and last time Milwaukee would hold the crown in FCM but the it was certainly a memory to be treasured for every drunken Wisconsonite.
Coming Next: 16th Best Team in FCM History: Poison Ivy
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