The Brewers collapse to finish off the 2014 season was disheartening to many, but expected by some. After playing beyond their potential through the all-star break, the Brewers fell back to earth and out of the playoff race faster than a meteor entering the earth’s atmosphere. Carlos Gomez, Ryan Braun, Jean Segura, and Khris Davis all faded down the stretch when the team needed them the most. Still, the beginning of the season should fill the Brewer fans with optimism for 2015, even after the trade of Milwaukee mainstay Yovani Gallardo.

Gallardo was never a top of the rotation pitcher, despite being pushed into that role early in his career. His inability to finish off batters early in counts led to him rarely pitching beyond the sixth inning. This was shown in his inability to pitch 200+ innings in a season, a mark he reached only twice despite never starting less than 30 games. With Gallardo pitching in Texas, a spot in the rotation is opened up for Jimmy Nelson to step into a full time role as the fifth starter.

Nelson is a big lefty who has tons of potential as a top of the rotation starter. Like many young pitchers, he struggles with control more than anything else which led to 55 walks in only 156 innings last year. Wily Peralta is another young pitcher who has a cannon for an arm, but struggles with control. When Peralta is throwing strikes he is practically unhittable, but when he is struggling to find the zone the batter can simply wait for his pitch and lay off the breaking ball.

Adam Lind is the big offseason acquisition for the Brewers, and he will step in as the second best batter the Brewers have to offer. The logical place to hit Lind in the batting order would be fourth, right behind Braun and Jonathan Lucroy and in front of Aramis Ramirez. Lind will also be filling the need at first base, a position that was sorely lacking in productivity last season. While most teams first basemen make up for being a defensive liability at the plate, the Brewers were forced to trot out mediocre first baseman all of last year.

While Gomez and Braun are the undeniable stars of the team, Lucroy has carved out quite a niche for himself the past few years. Lucroy endears himself to many fans with his professionalism and reliability. Defensively, there is arguably no better catcher in baseball. His pitch-framing is an undervalued strength that leads to his pitchers getting more called strikes than they would otherwise. The fact that he has been snubbed from all-star and gold glove consideration only endears him to Brewer faithful even more.

I would be remiss to not delve deeper into the dynamo that is Carlos Gomez. For years Gomez underperformed in with the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, and the Brewers, only to finally come into his own two years ago. To match his unparalleled success defensively, Gomez started to hit for a higher average which led to more fantastic base running moments. Gomez is loved in Milwaukee for his intensity on the diamond, his never say die attitude, and his courage chasing fly balls.

The one real weak spot I see, and I hate saying this, is Ron Roenicke. I was never a big Roenicke proponent, but he has proven during the past few seasons that he isn’t the manager capable of getting the Brewers over the hump. Late-season collapse after late-season collapse have marred promising Brewers season after promising Brewers season. He never makes excuses but with the talent the Brewers have, how can we still accept losing? We can’t. Roenicke was a solid hire when he first came aboard. A pupil of Mike Scioscia, he has yet to reach the reliability that Scioscia produces year in and year out for the Los Angeles Angels. If the Brewers start hot and finish ice cold again this season, I will be among the many calling for Roenicke to be fired.

With the way this team looks, a playoff run is not out of the question and should probably be expected. I will believe it when I see it, so I am going to call for another season at or below .500.