As the 2020 season gets underway, some MLB Power Rankings are being incredibly disrespectful to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Every year, it seems the Brewers are underrated by the national media. They look at the lack of star power beyond Christian Yelich and the lack of flashy, big money free agent signings and think the Brewers are going to just be average.
Despite proving them wrong each of the past few years and continually outpacing the outside expectations, it appears the national baseball media has still failed to learn their lesson.
Brewers A Middle-Of-The-Pack Team?
In Alyson Footer’s latest MLB Power Rankings, she has the Brewers ranked 15th out of 30 MLB teams coming into the season. A team coming off back-to-back postseason appearances with an improved rotation is somehow a “middle-of-the-pack” team.
This is actually an improvement from her initial power rankings, which had the Brewers at 16th, in the bottom half of the league.
Yes, the Brewers lost Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas this offseason, but have effectively replaced those players in the lineup with a group that should provide similar offensive production.
The rotation has added Josh Lindblom and Brett Anderson, as well as an improved Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta heading into this season. Adrian Houser is not a household name yet, but he’s done well in his rotation opportunities.
David Stearns has a track record of finding undervalued players and Craig Counsell has a track record of getting the most out of his roster. How has the national media not learned from this yet?
What About The Rest Of The NL Central?
What’s even more disrespectful is the placement of the rest of the NL Central teams. If the Brewers are 15th, where is everyone else?
The Cardinals are ranked 9th, the Cubs are 10th, and the Cincinnati Reds are somehow 11th.
So you’re telling me that the Cincinnati Reds, who haven’t finished above .500 since 2013 deserve to be power ranked four spots ahead of the Brewers, who have gone to the playoffs the last two seasons?
The Reds had some flashy offseason signings, yes, but they still haven’t proven anything on the field and until they do, they should not be put that far ahead of teams that have proven themselves on the field.
Meanwhile, the Cubs, who have finished behind the Brewers for the past two seasons and made no meaningful offseason additions in free agency or via trade are ranked 10th? What? Is rookie manager David Ross having that big of an impact?
The Brewers don’t get any respect from the national media and power rankings like this only further prove that. Once games get played, then the Brewers will rise up the rankings and hopefully then get the respect they deserve.
Opening Day is just a few days away. The Crew will start their season against the Cubs.