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Milwaukee Brewers
Overall: 70
Title track: 113
Ownership: 78
Coaching: 93
Players: 84
Fan relations: 71
Affordability: 30
Stadium experience: 42
Bang for the buck: 70
Change from last year: +2
The bottom line was pretty much unchanged, both on and off the field, as the Brewers' overall ranking jumped two notches from No. 72 to No. 70. But after a 49-place drop last year, it feels a bit different this time, as the club began to successfully develop some of its youth at the major league level and build a foundation for near-term growth.
What's good
The Brewers continue to fare best in the off-field categories, such as affordability (30th overall) and stadium experience (42nd). The cost of just about anything you can buy on a night at the park -- parking, beer, soda, etc. -- is below the MLB average at Miller Park, though some prices are creeping toward the norm (a $26 average ticket price is better than that of all but 10 other clubs). The tailgating outside the park is unparalleled in the sport. Attendance has trended down slightly, in line with the club's fortunes, but has been resilient, given the limited market.
What's bad
There's no getting around the club's extremely low title track ranking (No. 113). The club has never won the World Series (the 1957 Braves don't count), has been there only once and has now reached a point where just a rare playoff appearance is cause for local celebration. The Brewers' low grade in coaching (93rd) is directly tied to the club's most recent on-field performance, but it seems ripe for an upward spike. Craig Counsell and his staff oversaw a club that got simultaneously younger and better in 2016. That's a sign of solid coaching and front-office work.
What's new
Ultimately, on-field performance is the key driver of these rankings, and the Brewers' improvement in its roster (up 13 spots in players to 84th) is the biggest development of 2016. You'd much rather be .450 and young than .500 and old. Jonathan Villar flashed power, speed and defensive versatility, and Orlando Arcia looks to be a long-term fixture at shortstop. Zach Davies was a revelation in the rotation. Just as importantly, the minor leagues are flush with quality and quantity, thanks to solid drafting and recent sell-high trades of Carlos Gomez, Jonathan Lucroy, Jeremy Jeffress, Will Smith and others. Better times are ahead in Milwaukee.
Next: Colorado Rockies | Full rankings