Despite having substantially lower payrolls than the Cardinals and Cubs, the small-market, limited-spending Milwaukee Brewers clinched their second NL Central division title this week. That makes three division championships in the last four seasons, and four first-place finishes in the last six years. The Cubs and Cardinals have a huge financial advantage over the Brewers, but it doesn't matter ... in this instance Brain Power beats Spending Power.

The last two executives that have led the Milwaukee baseball department, David Stearns and Matt Arnold, were analysts for Jeff Luhnow in Houston, so it's no surprise to see the Brewers have superior payroll efficiency and an excellent touch on drafting and development. It used to be that way in St. Louis when Jeff Luhnow was here. Those days are long over, and we can see how the "Luhnow Effect" has dramatically altered the landscape in the NL Central.