39-year old lefty swinging Craig Counsell really played well for the Brewers this season. With Rickie Weeks going down early this season and Bill Hall in a year long funk, Craig Counsell played a lot of 2B and 3B for the Brewers this season. He played in 127 games for the Brewers this season and he was 110 for 394 (.279 avg, .754 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 4 homers and 37 RBIs. Counsell wants to continue playing next season and the Brewers would be very smart to bring him back in 2010.

The Brewers have shut down 27-year old righty swinging RF Corey Hart due to two fractured fingers on his right hand. He played in 115 games for the Brewers this season and he was 109 for 419 (.260 avg, .753 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 12 homers, 48 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. This was a step back for Hart as he was really good in 2007 and 2008 for the Brewers. A lot of that was due to his health as the Brewers will be depending on him to get back to his previous level of play in 2010.

The Brewers need 24-year old lefty swinging 3B Mat Gamel to step up. They refused to trade him the last couple of months so he needs to reward their faith in him. He was the Brewers’ #2 rated prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America. Gamel played in 75 games in AAA-ball this season and he was 76 for 273 (.278 avg, .840 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 11 homers and 48 RBIs. But he whiffed 89 times in AAA showing a lot of holes in his swing. Gamel has also played in 55 games for the Brewers this year and he is 28 for 121 (.231 avg, .717 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 4 homers and 16 RBIs. Gamel has whiffed a stunning 51 times this season for the Brewers which is way too many for a player like him. With Casey McGahee ahead of him at 3B and Taylor Green behind him Gamel has to step up or lose his place with the Brewers.

26-year old lefty starting pitcher looked like he would be a solid member of the rotation this season. Coming into this year, Parra had pitched in 41 games (31 starts) in which he was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He won a spot in the starting rotation this spring but he has been awful for the Brewers this season even being dispatched to the minors during the year. He has pitched in 25 games (all starts) for the Brewers this season and he is 10-10 with a 6.42 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. Parra has allowed 169 hits in 130 1/3 innings this season while walking 71 batters. Parra will have to win a starting job next spring for the Brewers as nothing will be handed to him.

The Brewers have decided to shut down 23-year old righty starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo for the rest of the season. He started 30 games for the Brewers this season and he was 13-12 with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Gallardo only allowed 150 hits in 185 2/3 innings while whiffing 204 batters which shows how nasty his stuff can be. To be a dominating pitcher however Gallardo will need to tighten his control as he walked 94 batters this year. The Brewers were probably smart in shutting down their best starting pitcher protecting his golden arm.