Brewers need a smooth spring

As a person who likes the idea of parity in the major sports vs. dynasties, I tend to root for the underdogs. Milwaukee has been an underdog target for two decades now; not having made a peep on the post-season stage since 1982.

They've spent the past four off-seasons promoting optimistic outlooks to their fans -- while still hamstrung with payroll limitations that keep putting them near the middle of the pack.

This year seems to look good on paper, with the surprise signing of post-season hero Jeff Suppan to a multi-year contract, and the hopeful full-season return of long-time ace starter Ben Sheets.

Some fans, however, are likely wishing that they used that money to re-sign Carlos Lee before 2006, for that would have solved their left-field situation. That position is generating controversy, as Kevin Mench & Geoff Jenkins both want the full-time starting position, and aren't too high on manager Ned Yost's idea of a platoon.

You can bet the publicity from this will not be positive, and the Brewers are one club that needs all the positive press it can get.

Mench's pitch: "I'll pitch a fit." Jenkins' view: he'll leave if he's not the full-timer in left.

Yost may have the right idea initially. Combine Jenkins' 2006 stats (.271, 17-70) and Mench's (.269, 13-68) and you get .270, 30-138; about what Carlos Lee averages per season. Despite Milwaukee once being labelled "Harvey's Wallbangers", power is somewhat short on this team, having lost Lee, Richie Sexson & Lyle Overbay in recent years.

But once again, we enter with the assumption that the manager has control over the team, and the players cannot dictate his actions. In just the first week of spring training action, both players are already criticizing the manager. It's not as if they have no shortage of candidates to replace both of them either, and at less cost, which may have gone through the general manager's mind more than once.

The Brewers are starving for respectability and positive press. Should the issue morph into a problem, fans may wish for 2008 before a 2007 pitch is even thrown.