Brewers have a deep roster.....

[Pwillows]

What can be better than being at a Brewers Spring Training game and watching the sausage races in the sixth inning, followed by a rousing rendition of "Roll Out The Barrel" in the middle of the seventh?

Not much. Life is good when Brewers fans can sit back, have a brat and a beer and watch the Crew's big bats knock homers far over the outfield walls.

Is there life after Prince Fielder for Milwaukee? In a word -- yes. Excitement is high, and for good reason.

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There were some scary moments when Ryan Braun's availability for the first 50 games of the season was in question. Couple that with the departure of Fielder and there were some moments of acid reflux for everyone involved.

All is well now. Braun is back in his familiar No. 8 uniform, being cheered by thankful and loyal fans. For now, Mat Gamel is staffing first base in place of Fielder. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez has been signed to bring his rather loud bat to shore up the power void created when Fielder left for Detroit.

The Brewers should be able to score runs and pitch well. Will they catch and throw the ball? Time will tell. In addition, the recent knee surgery required by Corey Hart has left a utility position available in the outfield, and competition is steep.

Stocky left-handed hitter Caleb Gindl is an interesting option as a utility outfielder. Gindl, who ranks 15th in MLB.com's list of Top 20 Brewers prospects , is unique. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Brewers in 2007 and has advanced one classification during each of his past four seasons. That's unusual.

Only 23, Gindl's rapid movement through the system was based upon a solid batting average at each level of play. He doesn't show any one outstanding tool. Rather, he has the ability to hit good pitching and play strong defense -- a solid combination. It doesn't hurt that Gindl can hit lefties.

Overall, he has a five-season batting average of .300 in the Minor Leagues. Gindl has shown a nice, level swing with potential gap power. He doesn't yet have a consistent home run stroke. To his credit, he isn't going to the plate swinging for the fences.

Gindl seems to know the strike zone. That said, there are times when he tends to get fooled a bit by offspeed pitches. Generally however, he has enough plate discipline to accept free passes. His contact rate is good.

In short, he's a reliable hitter. Gindl has a large lower half, and if he can get all of his strength behind his swing he can ultimately gain power. Gindl has a wide stance at the plate, and his balance isn't always the best. Occasionally his front foot is a little "out front" on his swing, resulting in a lack of support from his trunk. When that trait is extreme, the end result is a lagging bat that causes pop ups and an inability to drive the ball. When Gindl finds the proper balance, he may see a spike in his power.

Defensively, Gindl has enough athletic ability to play all three outfield positions. His arm is strong and accurate enough to play anywhere in the outfield. His defensive versatility is a plus. Ultimately, he is probably best suited as a corner outfielder, but his lack of power could be an issue.

If Hart misses the start of the season, Logan Schafer may be the most advanced prospect to assume an outfield role. After suffering injuries last season, he is healthy and enjoyed a very fine campaign in the Arizona Fall League.

Schafer, who is ranked seventh among Brewers prospects, is a natural center fielder. He has excellent athletic ability that manifests itself in natural instincts and sound fundamentals. He has a lanky well-conditioned and well-proportioned body. At the plate he has patience to look for his pitch, using enough discipline and pitch recognition to accept a walk. Schafer has a short, line-drive stroke with a goal of hitting the ball up the middle. He fits well at the top of the order, where he can be a table setter if he gets on base. He can surprise some defenses with an ability to get leg hits on short infield hops as well as having enough strength to hit the outfield gaps. Speed is a major tool of his game.

Defensively, Schafer takes good routes, finishing quickly with above-average speed. He is extremely capable of going back on balls hit to the wall. He closes quickly on balls hit to the gaps and takes charge in the outfield. A strong throwing arm adds to his defensive prowess.

Gindl and Schafer are only two among a numerous group in a healthy competition for the fourth-outfielder role. Spring Training will help the Brewers staff sort things out.

If there is a need in the starting rotation, big, strong right-handed starting pitcher Wily Peralta wants the nod.

Peralta, who is the top-ranked prospect in the Brewers' organization, will be 23 in May. He signed with the Milwaukee in 2005, and it may seem to Brewers fans that he's been around a long, long time. However, he still has work to do to complete his development.

Peralta was set back a bit when he missed time due to Tommy John surgery in 2007. He now looks totally healthy on the mound.

With his huge 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame coming at hitters in a rather straight, downhill motion, Peralta has the ability to keep the ball below the belt of the hitters, inducing ground balls. He throws both a two-seam (sinker) and four-seam fastball at speeds from 92-96 mph. His imposing figure on the mound works to his advantage, as he doesn't hesitate to use the inside portion of the plate.

Peralta threw a wide variety of secondary pitches in the outing I most recently observed. His changeup was an "out" pitch that he used with frequency. Perhaps he was just working to improve that particular pitch in Spring Training, but it was a major bullet in his arsenal. It was a very effective pitch, especially after a hitter had just faced his fastball. It was Peralta's slider that lacked the crispness and command required among his secondary pitches.

If there is an issue keeping Peralta from a starting role it has to be command of his entire repertoire. He seems to lose rhythm quickly and he struggles to recover. Once his pitches veer off the plate due to his lack of extension (failing to finish his delivery) and awkward landing spot, Peralta gets out of sync. However, his arm strength is real. He has a chance to help the club once he refines the command and control of his entire repertoire.

The Brewers have a mix of players ready to help at the Major League level. The loss of Fielder and the injury to Hart have posed some challenges, but the roster is deep enough to carry the team to success.

[Pwillows]

Brewers see a different Gamel this spring

Ryan Braun took his first look at the Brewers' new first baseman and knew something was different.

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No player has generated more buzz from teammates than Mat Gamel, the longtime prospect taking over first base in Milwaukee from Prince Fielder. Braun says he's convinced that Gamel will fill those shoes ably. Never mind that Gamel is 26 and playing a relatively new position. Never mind that he's batted .222 over 171 sporadic big league at-bats over the last four years.

Braun says he can just see it.

"He looks better," Braun said. "He dresses better."

That drew a laugh.

Braun was serious.

"He cleaned it up, man," Braun said. "He shaved. He's dressing nice. He just looks a little more professional. He stepped his fashion game up a little bit. He looks like he cares."

Gone are the untied sneakers, the baggy jeans, the mop of hair. Gamel is getting his best shot the Brewers have ever given him to cement a spot in the starting lineup, and Braun is not the only teammate who has noticed a more serious Gamel in this spring camp.

He's off to a serious start. Gamel homered on Saturday in Scottsdale, his third blast in as many games, a streak that ended in Sunday's win over the Rockies. Gamel and the Brewers enjoyed a well-deserved off-day on Monday, their first of the spring.

Braun was there in 2009, when Gamel was in his first big league camp and some Brewers veterans decided he was not showing up for work early enough, not working hard enough to impress. In Gamel's defense, he was tending to a pregnant girlfriend at the time who would later become his wife, but Mike Cameron and Jason Kendall decided to make a statement. They found a portable locker and moved it outside, along with all of Gamel's belongings.

When he reported that morning, Gamel found a perfectly recreated locker out in the cold. Those veterans had to explain the lesson.

Not anymore.

"I really think he's going to surprise some people," said left-hander Randy Wolf, who watched Gamel make a pair of slick defensive players in Thursday's win over the Indians. Gamel also homered in that game.

"He looks really determined this spring," Wolf said. "I never judge anything on performance [in Spring Training]. I just look at their attitude and how they're preparing for the season, and he looks like he's getting ready to really contribute this year. I think it was hard for him in years past to know he's got Prince in front of him."

Gamel has always seemed to have someone in front of him. He was drafted as a third baseman in the fourth round in 2005, the same year the team took then-third baseman Braun.

Braun moved to left field for 2008, but then Casey McGehee emerged as the Brewers' long-term option at third, so Gamel started tinkering in the outfield and at first base.

But the corner outfield spots were taken by Braun and Corey Hart, both with long-term contracts. First base belonged to Fielder, who played more games from 2007-11 than anybody in baseball.

Fielder was entering his free-agent year in 2011, so the Brewers asked Gamel to make a permanent move to first base at Triple-A Nashville. Gamel found the position fit him. He always had good hands at third base and made the majority of his errors on throws. At first base, he rarely has to throw.

When it became clear last fall that Fielder would leave via free agency, the Brewers publicly declared Gamel his heir apparent. Manager Ron Roenicke says he and other club officials communicated with Gamel over the winter to ensure the player knew the magnitude of his opportunity. Gamel worked out with a personal trainer to get in shape and avoid the sort of injuries that ruined his last three Spring Trainings.

"For me, it doesn't really matter if he hits .300 in spring," Wolf said. "It's just about the mental aspect of being ready for the year. You can definitely tell he has a different attitude this year."

Hart has said he views Gamel's path as similar to the Rangers' Nelson Cruz, another late bloomer who did not break through until after getting traded twice and being passed over by 29 other organizations after Texas waived him.

Now he's the reigning American League Championship Series MVP, who's signed to a multiyear contract.

Braun sees similarly bright days ahead for Gamel.

"I think he's just confident," Braun said. "He knows he's going to get an opportunity. He knows he's going to have some slack. In the past, I think he's come up and thought if he didn't go 10-for-20, he wasn't going to get to stay up. Knowing he's finally going to get the opportunity to play every day, he's more confident than ever. You can see him go about his business more serious and professional than he has in the past.

"I think he's excited about the opportunity, and we're excited to see him get the opportunity. In a lot of other organizations, he would have had an opportunity a long time ago to be in the big leagues and stay."

[umbrellavoid]

If Gamel and Aramis Ramirez together give consistant production this season, they have a chance to out produce McGehee and Fielders production of last year. This is a big if though? Gamel has been the Brewers top prospect for too many years and now its his time to shine.

[Pwillows]

McGehee just fell off the map last year.

If Gamel can come anywhere close to his last year in AAA; .310, 28 hrs, 98 rbi, .388 obp, in 545 ab; the Brew Crew will slowly forget Prince Fielder.

Aramis will provide some much needed cover behind Braun as well. If anything Ramirez is consistent.

[umbrellavoid]

Aramis will provide some much needed cover behind Braun as well. If anything Ramirez is consistent.

The Brew Crew will also benefit from a full year from Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, and Zack Greinke. All missed some time last year. Also, they will have K-rod for a full year.

I've got the Brewers battling the Reds and Cards for the title this season.