Brewers Peaks All Time Forty Man Roster

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Brewers Peaks?? Now there is a TV show I would watch.

 

But seriously, fifty five years of Brewers baseball (plus whatever 2020 was) here and gone. Not quite as nice and round of a number as 50 is, but these last five years have been some of the most exciting in franchise history (even if the World Series remains ever elusive). 

 

With that in mind, I thought it might be an interesting exercise to put together a forty man roster comprising the best peaks in franchise history. Normally these kind of things tend to take a more career-centric approach, but who wants to remember the decline years or those early years of figuring things out fresh into the MLB fire? 

 

Below is what I came up with. I'll separate out the Starting Pitchers, Relief Pitchers, Starting Lineup, and Bench / Rest of the 40 into individual posts to split things up a bit. 

 

Did I miss anybody? What would you have done differently?

 

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STARTING PITCHERS (6 / *4)

 

1986-88 Teddy Higuera (737 IP | 10th)
(ranks among 92 pitchers min. 400 IP)
71 ERA- (2nd) | 76 FIP- (2nd) | 88 AVG+ (8th)
142 K+ (7th) | 84 BB+ (33rd) | 78 HR+ (15th)
21.5 rWAR (2nd) | 17.7 fWAR (2nd) 

 

2020-23 Corbin Burnes (622 IP | 5th)
(ranks among 94 pitchers min. 350 IP)
68 ERA- (4th) | 67 FIP- (1st) | 81 AVG+ (2nd)
135 K+ (7th) | 82 BB+ (43rd) | 66 HR+ (7th)
18.7 rWAR (1st) | 17.9 fWAR (2nd)

 

[pair of Aces. Burnes has the better peripherals, and slightly better run prevention, but gave the #1 spot to Higuera for throwing more over a shorter period and the sepia toned memories of my youth]

 

2004-08 Ben Sheets (839 IP | 45th)
(ranks among 95 pitchers min. 600 IP)
75 ERA- (9th) | 71 FIP- (1st) | 91 AVG+ (14th)
133 K+ (10th) | 52 BB+ (7th) | 88 HR+ (30th)
21.1 rWAR (12th) | 23.0 fWAR (7th)

 

[my personal favourite Brewer of all time, but outside of 2004 was never really a true Ace. Funny thing, when Higuera was the 2nd best pitcher in MLB from 1986-88 the guy ahead of him in every category was Roger Clemens. When Ben Sheets posted thee very best FIP- in MLB from 2004-08 the guy in second place was Roger Clemens]

 

2021-25 Freddy Peralta (738 IP | 27th)
(ranks among 85 pitchers min. 500 IP)
79 ERA- (12th) | 87 FIP- (24th) | 81 AVG+ (1st)
132 K+ (4th) | 106 BB+ (77th) | 97 HR+ (40th)
18.7 rWAR (8th) | 14.8 fWAR (19th)

 

2019-23 Brandon Woodruff (595 IP | 43rd)
(ranks among 90 pitchers min. 450 IP)

69 ERA- (4th) | 72 FIP- (7th) | 86 AVG+ (8th)
130 K+ (8th) | 72 BB+ (27th) | 81 HR+ (23rd)
18.2 rWAR (11th) | 15.1 fWAR (14th)

 

[near perfect example of how players can put up similar value over similar time frames but arrive there in two different ways. Woodruff is no doubt the better pitcher, but Peralta is still pretty good himself and has the quantity. Being the very hardest pitcher to get a hit off of for a five year stretch is pretty impressive stuff for Freddy too]

 

2008 CC Sabathia (130 IP | 114th)
(ranks among 115 pitchers min. 130 IP)
39 ERA- (1st) | 56 FIP- (1st) | 85 AVG+ (7th)
139 K+ (7th) | 55 BB+ (11th) | 40 HR+ (1st)
5.9 rWAR (8th) | 4.7 fWAR (13th)

 

[no words. Ok, a few. As kids we hear legends and fables and tall tales and whatnot, but what CC did in that summer of 2008 was a whole other thing. A real life myth on par with Bo Jackson or Andre the Giant for me]

 

*1978-79 Mike Caldwell (528 IP | 6th)
(ranks among 94 pitchers min. 300 IP)
70 ERA- (3rd) | 82 FIP- (7th) | 96 AVG+ (32nd)
87 K+ (60th) | 51 BB+ (2nd) | 66 HR+ (10th)
14.3 rWAR (3rd) | 10.7 fWAR (5th)

 

*1988-92 Chris Bosio (985 IP | 25th)
(ranks among 93 pitchers min. 600 IP)
86 ERA- (20th) | 89 FIP- (23rd) | 98 AVG+ (43rd)
97 K+ (47th) | 64 BB+ (9th) | 90 HR+ (41st)
17.9 rWAR (16th) | 17.1 fWAR (16th)

 

*2009-12 Yovani Gallardo (782 IP | 26th)
(ranks among 100 pitchers min. 500 IP)
92 ERA- (37th) | 89 FIP- (27th) | 94 AVG+ (20th)
128 K+ (8th) | 110 BB+ (88th) | 105 HR+ (63rd)
11.0 rWAR (38th) | 11.3 fWAR (38th) 

 

*2004-05 Doug Davis (430 IP | 17th)
(ranks among 94 pitchers min. 300 IP)
84 ERA- (19th) | 86 FIP- (22nd) | 91 AVG+ (16th)
120 K+ (18th) | 110 BB+ (80th) | 80 HR+ (23rd)
8.8 rWAR (17th) | 8.1 fWAR (16th) 

 

[last four are the forty man depth. Caldwell's two year ace run was just a little too short and a little too long ago to make the cut, but is also a clear notch above these other three for me. Bosio more of an innings eater pitch to contact command kind of guy. Gallardo and Davis give R/L options with more strikeout stuff]

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RELIEF PITCHERS (7 / *3)

 

2017-21 Josh Hader (282 IP | 16th)
(ranks among 103 relievers min. 180 IP)
53 ERA- (2nd) | 60 FIP- (3rd) | 57 AVG+ (1st)
195 K+ (1st) | 112 BB+ (65th) | 87 HR+ (63rd)
10.9 rWAR (1st) | 8.8 fWAR (1st) | +13.46 WPA (1st)

 

2020-24 Devin Williams (222 IP | 45th)
(ranks among 107 relievers min. 180 IP)
41 ERA- (2nd) | 53 FIP- (2nd) | 59 AVG+ (1st)
179 K+ (2nd) | 139 BB+ (95th) | 44 HR+ (7th)
9.4 rWAR (2nd) | 7.6 fWAR (2nd) | +14.33 WPA (1st)

 

1981-82 Rollie Fingers (157 IP | 19th)
(ranks among 92 relievers min. 80 IP)
49 ERA- (2nd) | 61 FIP- (3rd) | 80 AVG+ (4th)
174 K+ (5th) | 64 BB+ (5th) | 55 HR+ (24th)
7.5 rWAR (1st) | 4.9 fWAR (2nd) | +7.21 WPA (1st)

 

[trio of dominant Relief Aces. Pretty much just ordered them by quantity of IP but all three were among the couple two tree names in the conversation for Best Reliever in MLB during their respective peaks with the Brewers]

 

1986-89 Dan Plesac (284 IP | 35th)
(ranks among 82 relievers min. 180 IP)
63 ERA- (3rd) | 68 FIP- (4th) | 86 AVG+ (9th)
156 K+ (7th) | 81 BB+ (9th) | 69 HR+ (27th)
9.1 rWAR (4th) | 7.6 fWAR (4th) | +5.12 WPA (14th)

 

2014-18 Jeremy Jeffress (240 IP | 69th)
(ranks among 106 relievers min. 210 IP)
51 ERA- (4th) | 76 FIP- (30th) | 92 AVG+ (56th)
112 K+ (66th) | 100 BB+ (54th) | 54 HR+ (11th)
8.1 rWAR (11th) | 3.7 fWAR (40th) | +9.02 WPA (11th)

 

2010-11 John Axford (131 IP | 28th)
(ranks among 101 relievers min. 100 IP)
55 ERA- (11th) | 57 FIP- (4th) | 82 AVG+ (29th)
156 K+ (11th) | 114 BB+ (71st) | 38 HR+ (11th)
3.6 rWAR (17th) | 3.2 fWAR (10th) | +6.71 WPA (1st) 

 

2017 Corey Knebel (76 IP | 15th)
(ranks among 150 relievers min. 50 IP)
41 ERA- (9th) | 58 FIP- (15th) | 71 AVG+ (13th)
188 K+ (4th) | 148 BB+ (143rd) | 58 HR+ (50th)
4.0 rWAR (1st) | 2.8 fWAR (4th) | +4.38 WPA (3rd)

 

[pretty much just ordered the last four bullpen arms by quantity also. Plesac just a notch below those top three as he was never quite thee dominant guy. Jeffress didn't have the peripherals, but kept runs off the board and was a top dozen reliever for a five year stretch. Axford topping all relievers in Win Probability Added for his two year run with top notch K/HR rates. Knebel just one season, but about as dominant as it gets with only 25 relievers posting a 4.0 rWAR season since Eckersley modernized the closer role in 1988]

 

*2023-25 Trevor Megill (126 IP | 134th)
(ranks among 156 relievers min. 120 IP)
66 ERA- (24th) | 64 FIP- (7th) | 87 AVG+ (45th)
140 K+ (17th) | 98 BB+ (69th) | 56 HR+ (27th)
3.1 rWAR (31st) | 3.3 fWAR (19th) | +4.13 WPA (23rd)

 

*1987-89 Chuck Crim (326 IP | 1st)
(ranks among 84 relievers min. 150 IP)
73 ERA- (16th) | 96 FIP- (55th) | 97 AVG+ (53rd)
83 K+ (74th) | 82 BB+ (13th) | 84 HR+ (49th)
6.1 rWAR (8th) | 1.7 fWAR (46th) | +4.80 WPA (9th)

 

*1992-97 Mike Fetters (334 IP | 34th)
(ranks among 105 relievers min. 200 IP)
64 ERA- (7th) | 84 FIP- (29th) | 91 AVG+ (29th)
112 K+ (63rd) | 116 BB+ (76th) | 48 HR+ (6th)
7.6 rWAR (15th) | 4.7 rWAR (23rd) | +5.71 WPA (21st)

 

[last three forty man options. Megill and Abner Uribe were close for the first spot, but Abner's lost 2024 gave the edge to Trevor for me. Crim with the rubberest of arms. Only four relievers have 326 IP from 2021-25, much less doing it over three years like Chuck did. Fetters elite home run prevention and presumably some contact management skills helped him outperform his peripherals for half a dozen years]

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STARTING LINEUP (9)

 

2B: 1987-92 Paul Molitor (28.8 WAR)
3,840 PA | 139 wRC+ | +11.0 FLD

 

SS: 1980-84 Robin Yount (32.1 WAR)
3,126 PA PA | 137 wRC+ | +35.0 FLD

 

[pair of Hall of Famers at the top. Molitor at second is a little bit square peg round hole, but he managed +5 Total Zone at the keystone in 96 games during the above peak stretch and was +6 Total Zone from 1978-80 when 2B was his primary spot]

 

RF: 2018-19 Christian Yelich (14.3 WAR)
1,231 PA | 170 wRC+ | -7.5 FLD

 

LF: 2007-16 Ryan Braun (38.9 WAR)
5,819 PA | 142 wRC+ | -34.4 FLD (2008-16 in OF)

 

DH: 2007-11 Prince Fielder (19.3 WAR)
3,500 PA | 147 wRC+ | -29.3 FLD

 

[went back and forth on who to put in which corner OF spot, but Yelich's two year peak coincided with his time as a primary RF so went with that alignment. Sets the table nicely with three elite base runners at the top, plus a really good one in Braun before getting to Fielder]

 

C: 2023-25 William Contreras (15.0 WAR)
1,949 PA | 124 wRC+ | +16.7 FLD 

 

[another tough call with Lucroy (see below) actually having a higher wRC+ and more WAR than William for his peak run. Ultimately went with Contreras as the "starter" since he hit better with RISP and is better at controlling the running game versus Lucroy getting a lot of DEF value from his obscene early framing numbers] 

 

1B: 1977-83 Cecil Cooper (28.2 WAR)
4,324 PA | 136 wRC+ | +10.0 FLD

 

[yet another tough call between Cooper and George Scott, but ended up going with Coop because he did it a little longer, got more value from the bat, and had the postseason boost]

 

3B: 1996-99 Jeff Cirillo (20.5 WAR)
2,695 PA | 120 wRC+ | +46.0 FLD

 

CF: 2013-14 Carlos Gomez (12.4 WAR)
1,234 PA | 130 wRC+ | +22.5 FLD

 

[close out the lineup with professional hitter Cirillo in the eight hole, then Carlos as the second leadoff man to kick start things again from the bottom spot]

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BENCH  PLAYERS (4)
 

C: 2012-14 Jonathan Lucroy (19.6 WAR)
1,581 PA | 127 wRC+ | +70.6 FLD

 

SS: 2021-25 Willy Adames (15.8 WAR)
2,356 PA | 113 wRC+ | +13.2 FLD

 

3B/2B: 1973-78 Don Money (22.0 WAR)
3,511 PA | 120 wRC+ | +4.0 FLD

 

RF: 1977-79 Sixto Lezano (12.5 WAR)
1,542 PA | 146 wRC+ | +5.0 FLD

 

[already discussed Lucroy above. Gotta have a second SS and Willy is the easy call there, can also plug him in the six when Yount is backing up CF too. Money is again more of a primary 3B that played some 2B, but he was clearly the best infielder left. Lots of options for the 4th OF but went with Sixto because his bat was the best and the team is lacking a true RF] 

 

REST OF THE FORTY (7)

C: 1982-83 Ted Simmons (7.0 WAR)
1,231 PA | 116 wRC+ | 0.0 FLD

 

1B: 1972-76 George Scott (21.9 WAR)
3,320 PA | 129 wRC+ | +42.0 FLD

 

[apologies to Darrell Porter whose three year run from 1973-75 (118 wRC+ | 9.8 WAR) was a little better than Simmons, but gave Simba the spot for being part of the 1982 squad. Scott is probably the guy it hurts most to leave off the active roster]

 

2B: 2024-25 Brice Turang (10.3 WAR on BRef)
1,278 PA | 106 wRC+ | +29.0 FLD

 

SS: 2005-06 Bill Hall (8.5 WAR)
1,154 PA | 120 wRC+ | +6.9 FLD

 

CF: 1978-82 Gorman Thomas (19.8 WAR)
2,987 PA | 133 wRC+ | -10.0 FLD

 

[went with Turang at 2B because the active roster doesn't have a true second basemen, Gantner never really had a peak, and Weeks isn't up to snuff defensively. SS was tough, but went with Hall for his added bat, base running and defensive versatility over Hardy whose value is mostly all tied up in the glove. Gorman has a longer peak than Gomez, but needed Carlos and his defense to cover for Braun / Yelich in the starting lineup]

 

LF: 1978-80 Ben Oglivie (13.4 WAR)
1,759 PA | 140 wRC+ | +12.0 FLD

 

RF: 1997-99 Jeromy Burnitz (12.4 WAR)
1,848 PA | 130 wRC+ | +15.0 FLD

 

[last two corner OF spots. Oglivie was a pretty easy call for LF between the 140 wRC+ and 1982 affiliations. The last spot was a toss up between Burnitz and Geoff Jenkins. If we were going off career it would be Geoff no doubt, but Jeromy had a more concentrated peak run so he gets the nod]