HITTER TO WATCH:

Vinny Rottino is competing for the backup catcher spot, which could lead to plenty of at-bats once the Brewers realize that Jason Kendall is done.

PITCHER TO WATCH:

Manny Parra has a strong four-pitch repertoire, including a potentially plus splitter he's been throwing more than ever this spring. He also appears to be fully healthy after several years of arm problems leading into his breakthrough 2007.
-- Keith Law, Scouts Inc.

JUST THE FACTS

• Ryan Braun digs left field. In fact, he digs anywhere but third base, where he made 26 errors last year. "At third, you don't get a ball the whole game, then you get a backspin, in-between hop in the seventh," he says. As a left fielder, Braun can relax and hit 40 homers.
• Eric Gagne is a closer. His struggles in Boston were, optimistically, because he was used as a setup man. The Brewers have plenty of those: Guillermo Mota, Salomon Torres, David Riske and Derrick Turnbow.
• Ben Sheets holds the key (as usual). Milwaukee has big arms in Yovani Gallardo, Carlos Villanueva and Manny Parra. But when Sheets was out in '07, the team was 10 games under .500.

HEARSAY

"I keep hearing how great it is that we've added veteran leaders," says one Brewer. "But we don't need veteran leadership. Our young guys have been through a lot here. They've grown up and are ready to take the next step."

HOUSE CALL

"The Brewers have good hitters one through eight, and I see some holes in that Cubby lineup. Felix Pie has yet to produce at the major league level, and no one knows what to expect from Fukudome. When you look at the Brewers' lineup, all their players are young and on the way up." -- Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
-- Tim Kurkjian

SLEEPER

Mike Cameron can't help your fantasy team for much of April because he'll be serving a 25-game league suspension, but he totaled 43 home runs and steals in his two seasons in pitcher-friendly San Diego. Even in five months in Milwaukee, he could be a 25/25 player.

BUST

J.J. Hardy hit 26 home runs and knocked in 80 runs last season, but much of the power came in the first half. After the All-Star break he was mediocre and eventually dropped to the No. 8 spot in the batting order. Don't expect more than 20 home runs, and note his career .263 batting average.
-- Eric Karabell

INJURIES

Yovani Gallardo, the Brewers' young ace, injured the left lateral meniscus (fibrocartilage disc in the knee joint) in February, resulting in surgery for him and hand-wringing for Brewers' fans. All in all, the surgery was relatively minor and Gallardo, 22, should fully recover. In fact, Gallardo has been impressive thus far in his return and in the past week has pitched five scoreless innings. The Brewers placed Gallardo on the 15-day DL to start the season to afford him more rehab starts as well as time to increase his pitch count. A few missed days here translates to less risk down the road, a worthwhile trade-off for the Brewers.
-- Stephania Bell