The Milwaukee Brewers won the N.L. Central Division in 2011 with a 96-66 record, which had them 6 games ahead of the second place St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers then beat the Diamondbacks in five games in the N.L.D.S. before falling to the Cardinals in six games in the N.L.C.S. Here is what really stood out to me in 2011 about the Brewers:

TEAM MVP: This is a tie between 27-year old righty swinging LF Ryan Braun and 27-year old lefty swinging 1B Prince Fielder. Braun played in 150 games for the Brewers last year and he was 187 of 563 (.332 avg, .994 OPS) with 109 runs scored, 33 homers, 111 RBIs and 33 stolen bases. Fielder played in all 162 games for the Brewers in 2011 and he was 170 for 569 (.299 avg, .981 OPS) with 95 runs scored, 38 homers, 120 RBIs, 1 stolen base and 107 walks.

BEST PITCHER: 28-year old righty closer John Axford was awesome in 2011 for the Brewers. He pitched in 74 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 2-2 with 46 saves, a 1.95 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He only gave up 59 hits while whiffing 86 batters in only 73 2/3 innings for the Brewers in 2011, and that’s pretty darn impressive.

PLEASANT SURPRISE: 31-year old lefty swinging Nyjer Morgan stepped up in CF in 2011 when Carlos Gomez faded in the first half of the year. Morgan played in 119 games for the Brewers in 2011 and he was 115 for 378 (.304 avg, .778 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 4 homers, 37 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: 29-year old righty swinging 3B Casey McGehee was so bad in 2011, that he lost his starting job to Jerry Hairston in the playoffs. McGehee played in 155 games for the Brewers last year and he was 122 for 546 (.223 avg, .626 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 13 homers and 67 RBIs.