By Gregg Hoffmann Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Mar 21, 2002 at 5:02 AM

MARYVALE, Ariz. -- Geoff Jenkins and Jeffrey Hammonds combined for 154 games, 26 home runs and 84 RBI last season.

For the Milwaukee Brewers to be successful this season, they need those kind of numbers for each of their outfielders rather than in combination.

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Jenkins, who played in 105 games last season in between injuries, is looking like he is healthy enough this spring to return to a productive season.

But, Hammonds, who underwent shoulder surgery after only 49 games last season, is still hampered by tenderness in his shoulder and a quadricep problem, and has played in only eight games.

"I want everything to be right," Hammonds said. "I can make it back, but I need practice first.

"You just don't go out there and start hitting sliders and changeups. It will take some time. If I can't play by Friday, I might have to get out of the way and let somebody else get ready."

Alex Sanchez or Ryan Christenson would probably start in center if Hammonds is not ready.

Jenkins said he is trying to pace himself this spring. "I'm swinging the bat pretty good," said Jenkins, who is hitting over .400. "I'm primarily concentrating on strengthening the arm for throwing. I'm feeling pretty good though."

Just a week before Jenkins was injured trying to avoid a collision with Hammonds in the outfield, he won National League Player of the Week honors. He sat out a couple weeks, came back and then went on the disabled list again with a partial muscle tear in his left thumb.

Jenkins eventually returned from that injury, but lacked pop at the plate. "You try to play through injuries, but I was still playing with a broken shoulder at the end of the season," he said.

"It was the best thing I could do to have the surgery after the season. I think it will be stronger than ever."

Jenkins said he has never seen a season like last year for injuries on one team. "We had so many guys out that it made it difficult to compete," Jenkins said. "It's no fun playing banged up, taking anti-inflammatories and all that.

"But, that's last year. This is a new year. We've added a couple good players, and I think we can have a good team if we can stay healthy.

Hammonds said he wants to return as soon as possible, but not until he can help the team. "I don't want to just be out there," he said. "I want to be one of the best athletes our there. If I'm going to run like Davey (Lopes) wants me to, I have to have my legs under me.

"I have to be able to throw like I can throw. I'm not there yet, but hope to be soon."

Gregg Hoffmann Special to OnMilwaukee.com
Gregg Hoffmann is a veteran journalist, author and publisher of Midwest Diamond Report and Old School Collectibles Web sites. Hoffmann, a retired senior lecturer in journalism at UWM, writes The State Sports Buzz and Beyond Milwaukee on a monthly basis for OMC.