Despite much greater enthusiasm from the dugout, the front office and the broadcast booth, the 2003 Milwaukee Brewers are actually on pace to finish with a worse record than the 2002 Brew Crew, which set a new franchise record for losses.

But since it's too painful to belabor that fact -- and the Bucks' elimination leaves the city with nothing else to divert its attention -- let's move on to the why rather than the what.

Despite an undermanned unit, the Brewers are not as bad offensively as they were for most of 2002. Sure, they've scored just four more runs (as of May 4) than Pittsburgh and Los Angeles (114), who are tied for worst in that category in the NL. But at least they're only 12th in strikeouts -- a far from admirable total, but one that does reflect a better overall approach at the plate.

Most damning is the team's continued inability to draw walks. With just 95 walks, only -- you guessed it -- the Pirates (93) and Dodgers (90) have earned fewer free passes in the National League, making as direct a connection as possible between patience at the plate and offensive results.

While we suspected the Brewers wouldn't hit much, improved pitching was at least contemplated from the likes of Ben Sheets, Glendon Rusch, Todd Ritchie and Matt Kinney. Sheets and Rusch have struggled and Ritchie pitched well in spots before getting hurt. Surprisingly, Kinney (2-2, 3.09) has been the team's best starter.

As you no doubt recall, the '02 team not only couldn't draw walks, it surrendered them in bunches, as well. At least the latter trend has slowed a tad, as the Brewers have issued 105 bases on balls, somewhere above the median in the National League (Montreal {81} is best; San Diego {146} is worst).

Although the team is doing a better job of throwing the ball over the plate, opposing batters are clubbing them as they cross the dish. The Crew allows a .264 opposing batting average, worst in the NL, and has coughed up 40 homers, better than only Cincinnati.

Sheets, the team's 24-year-old would-be ace, has been most emblematic of the trend. He's walked 11 in 47 innings of work, a better rate of control than the 70 he issued in last year's 216.2 innings. But he's gotten tagged for nine homers and batters are hitting .282 against him, unacceptable totals for a pitcher with Sheets' supposed top-notch stuff. Radar gun readings in the upper 80s -- down from his typical low-to-mid 90s -- tell part of the story.

Unfortunately, Sheets hasn't been the exception. Rusch (1-5, 7.18) has an opposing BA of .346, which matches Luis Vizcaino's number. Ritchie's is .319, Curtis Leskanic is at .327 and Wayne Franklin is at .270.

Kinney has been the smooth roof opening in the team's screeching, leaky rotation. He was in line for his third win of the season Sunday before a rocky inning led to a 5-3 Mets win. Still, his opposing BA is just .209 and he's fanned nearly twice as many as he's walked (31-16). Once fighting for the fifth starter spot with Ruben Quevedo, the 26-year-old is quickly becoming the team's No. 2 man. Sheets, despite the slow start, remains the anchor.

The inconsistent Quevedo, meanwhile, threw well enough in his first start Saturday (6 IP, 3 BB, 2 ER) to earn a win and another start while Ritchie rests a "fatigued" shoulder. At 1-2, 5.08, Ritchie has pitched better than his stats indicate.

Overall, however, the team's pitching numbers tell a last-place tale. And it's not just the starters. Vizcaino has looked nothing like the guy who solidified the bullpen last year, Valerio de los Santos has given up five homers in 11 innings (and is now on the DL), and Leskanic's return from two years of arm problems has been marked by the same wildness that plagued him earlier in his career. This staff could test even Ned Yost's trademark enthusiasm and patience.

"We're competing every day. We're in every ballgame, but we're just not getting the breaks we need to win," Yost said after Sunday's loss to the Mets. "Over the course of the season, hopefully the breaks will even out."

To a large extent, you make your own breaks. Blowing a three-run lead late against Florida was a bullpen problem, not a cosmic happening; 5.00 and higher ERAs across a staff are pitching issues, not the fates acting unfairly. The Brewers have some work to do.

Prior to the season, we took a look at the team's new faces and their prospects for improving the overall talent level and win totals in Milwaukee. Despite the Brewers' slow start in the standings, the newcomers have contributed ... at least somewhat.

Matt Kinney and Todd Ritchie have authored most of the team's best pitching performances. Ritchie's tired shoulder is a concern, especially for an organization so snakebitten by arm and other injuries over the last 20 years. Kinney's youth and solid outings make him the most pleasant surprise of the season.

Rule 5 lefty Matt Ford has been lights-out in limited action (0.87 in 10.1 IP), justifying his season-long roster spot in the process. Lefty starter Wayne Franklin, technically not a newcomer this season, has struggled in six starts (1-3, 6.31) but shown some ability.

Offensively, third baseman Wes Helms was expected to be the team's most effective addition. Thanks to a recent homer spurt, Helms is up to .217 with 4 dingers -- but he's whiffed 26 times against just 6 walks in 92 ABs. Yost continues to express his confidence in Helms, who he feels must work through the rough patches to become an effective big leaguer.

Catcher Eddie Perez has been better than advertised, though he has slowed down at the plate (.219) after a hot start. John Vander Wal had one huge night in Atlanta, but overall he's at .246 with 10 RBI; he's a good fourth outfielder forced to start at the moment. Keith Ginter is getting more playing time than expected with Eric Young's health issues, but he's also struggling to get untracked (.220, 18 Ks).

Scott Podsednik and Brady Clark -- two guys Yost raved about in Maryvale -- have both been pleasant, if modest, surprises. Each works the count and plays solid defense in the outfield. Keith Osik (.205, 0 RBI) appears to be little more than Perez's backup. Rule 5 infielder Enrique Cruz is hitless in 13 plate appearances.