Milwaukee Brewers

All anyone wanted to talk about all winter for the Milwaukee Brewers were the pitching woes the team suffered in 2009.

The Brewers finished up as one of the worst staffs in all of baseball, thanks in large part to several injuries and ineffectiveness.

Many forget that as late as June 19, the Brewers were sitting atop the NL Central. If not for the breakdown of the rotation, the Brewers very easily could have been in playoff contention at the end of September.

The glass slipper slipped off the Brewers foot last year as the club came crashing back to Earth after a Cinderella run in 2008. Of course, after the free agent departures of longtime ace Ben Sheets and half-season workhorse Carlston Charles Sabathia, the slide wasn’t all together unexpected. The Brew Crew finished the year with a record of 80-82, good for third place in the NL Central.

Today I am going to take a look at the updated starting rotations for each National League Central team.

Pitchers like Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, and Roy Oswalt call this division home. This division has quality pitchers throughout.

Here are the updated starting rotations for each National League Central team.

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Chris Carpenter, RHP

2. Adam Wainwright, RHP

3. Kyle Lohse, RHP

4. Brad Penny, RHP

5. Jaime Garcia, LHP

After three injury-filled seasons, it finally appeared Rickie Weeks was heading for a breakout season in 2009. That ended on a check-swing in St. Louis that saw Weeks tear a tendon in his left wrist.

He was out the rest of the season after playing in just 37 games.

However, it was the best 37 game stretch of his career, and it gave the organization and fans a taste of what Weeks can do when healthy.

For much of the 1990's, the Milwaukee Brewers had one of the worst farm systems in all of baseball. Things began to turn around with former GM Dean Taylor and continued with the team of current GM Doug Melvin and former director of scouting Jack Zduriencik.

Over the last six years, Baseball America has ranked the Brewers farm system in their top 10 four times, including No. 3 in 2005. The Brewers have done a great job producing young hitters, but they are still waiting on young pitching to add to Yovani Gallardo.

Unlike other lists, you won't see Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar on this list.

Everyone knew J.J. Hardy would be traded from the Brewers after the 2009 season. Most felt his departure would bring the Brewers a starting pitcher to compete for a spot in the rotation in 2010.

No one expected a trade for a center fielder—especially when Mike Cameron said he was willing to sign for less than market value to remain in Milwaukee. GM Doug Melvin decided it was time for the team to move on, and he pulled the trigger on the deal to bring Carlos Gomez to Milwaukee.

When the Padres let Trevor Hoffman leave their organization after the 2008 season, many felt it was the end of the line for one of the game's great closers.

The Dodgers showed mild interest in Hoffman, and it made sense for him to sign with a team so close to his home. Add to that the fact he'd be able to pitch against his former team, and it seemed all but certain he would wear Dodger blue.

However, the Brewers made a late push for the future Hall of Famer. They needed a replacement for Salomon Torres after he suddenly retired following the 2008 season.

Outside of my Wild Prediction (click here to view), we haven’t talked much about Yovani Gallardo this preseason.  He is one of my favorite pitchers entering 2010 and I didn’t really think it was necessary to discuss him.  While many think highly of him, it turns out a little conversation is needed.

Last season there were a lot of questions surrounding him, as injuries had cost him all but 24 innings in 2008, but he responded with flying colors:

The Milwaukee Brewers needed to make a pitching splash in free agency over the winter. Once it was apparent that John Lackey wouldn't become a Brewer, GM Doug Melvin signed the next best option, Randy Wolf.

Wolf signed a three-year, $29.75 million deal with the Brewers on December 9.

There were two main thoughts by most after the signing: Wolf is a good pitcher, but the Brewers overpaid to get him.

Both statements are true, but that's the price the Brewers must pay in order to get a big-name free agent to come play in Milwaukee.

Just two years ago Corey Hart was an All-Star and the most popular Brewer player behind Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun.

Hart has proven how quickly things can change in baseball.

Entering the 2010 season, Hart is coming off an injury filled season that saw a significant dip in most offensive categories. He's also had his battles in the media, criticizing the fan base several times.

Hart made the All-Star game in 2008 as the final member thanks to the fan vote.