The Brewers have been terrible year after year, but 2005 saw this new-look team climb to a .500 record for the first time in over 12 years while playing well in a beautiful ball park. It was their first non-losing season since 1992, and the Club rewarded manager Ned Yost with a contract extension through 2008. Although their 2006 campaign looks promising, this is a team that you should feel out in the early going to make sure the 2005 Brew Crew were not one-hit wonders.

Why the improvement last season? All signs point to increased run production through manufacturing runs, instead of relying on the long ball as so many other teams in the league do. They also took care of business on their home field posting a 46-35 record, which is essential to becoming a prominent player in any division, especially one as loaded as the NL Central. Last season