{image1} Spring provides inherent reasons for optimism, but the promise of March doesn't always translate into reality come summertime. And in the case of the Milwaukee Brewers, it seemingly never does.

So this year, I've decided to become a "believe it when I see it" type. Yes, the Carlos Lee trade should improve a weak offense. And, sure, the kids -- in the form of J.J. Hardy initially -- are actually starting to arrive at Miller Park. And, it's agreed, new owner Mark Attanasio has provided valid reasons for optimism with both a new outlook and a bigger payroll. But none of those things guarantee success in 2005, with "success" being defined as 81 wins or more.

But there is one discernible and tangible fact about this Brewers team that so many before it could not claim. And it just so happens to involve the primary facet of any successful team: there is continuity and experience in the starting rotation.

With Ben Sheets, Doug Davis and Victor Santos slotted for 1-2-3 in the starting five, the Brewers enter a season (barring injury) with the same top three starters for the first time in a while. In fact, the Brewers haven't had a returning trio atop the rotation since the 1992-'94 teams featured Cal Eldred, Ricky Bones and Bill Wegman as their big three.

What's more, the tiniest bit of what appears to be starting depth (having never seen it in this form, in this uniform, I can't be certain) will slug it out for the fourth and fifth spots. Chris Capuano, Jorge De La Rosa, Gary Glover, Ben Hendrickson and Wes Obermueller all started games for the Brewers last year. Toss in non-roster invitee Rick Helling and prospect Jose Capellan and you have some legitimate competition in camp this spring.

Admittedly, the list of seven pitchers I just mentioned won't overwhelm a neutral observer (defined as anyone who didn't watch 100 or more Brewers games last year). But the difference between this season and recent ones is that that group of seven is not fighting for the No. 2 or No. 3 spots, they're fighting for No. 4 and No. 5.

OK, you're thinking, I thought this guy was talking about tempered enthusiasm a few paragraphs ago. Fair enough -- so let's look at that top three a bit closer.

Sheets is the leader. ESPN writer Buster Olney described him as one of the league's 10 legitimate aces in the second episode of the "Go Brewers!" infomer ... er, show on Fox Sports North. But at 26 years of age, it seems clear that Sheets has now arrived -- a 2.70 ERA and 264 Ks last year attest to that. Does he need to win more than 12 games for the Brewers to amount to anything? Definitely. And is his history of back trouble a concern? Yes, though it's preferable to a history of arm trouble.

In some ways, Davis' 2004 season was as impressive as Sheets'. The 29-year-old lefty went 12-12 with a 3.39 ERA, fanning 166 in 207.1 innings. Modest? Perhaps, but Davis was 9-6 at the break and fell victim to the team's second-half swoon. His personal post-break numbers were solid: a 3.29 ERA in 15 starts with an opposing batting average of .233 -- down 24 points from before the break.

At 11-12, 4.97 in 2004, Santos was a bit shakier. In fact, he was emblematic of the team's collective post-break brownout. After racking up eight wins with a 4.08 ERA in the first half, Santos went just 3-9 with a 5.97 ERA in the second half. In five September starts, the league hit .351 against him; he clearly had nothing left.

But Santos didn't pitch winter ball this off-season, and the Brewers are optimistic his arm will be stronger as a result. This will also be the first time Santos has been on the same major league club for consecutive seasons, so hopefully continuity will aid his development.

This trio isn't exactly Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano, but it's a heck of a lot better than Sheets, Wayne Franklin and Matt Kinney (2003), or Sheets, Ruben Quevedo and Jamey Wright (2002).

Unknowns appear in spades starting at No. 4. Ideally, Capuano earns a spot and becomes the team's second lefty starter, with Hendrickson or Obermueller filling out the rotation at No. 5. Perhaps the most enigmatic, Obermueller is also the team's best hitter among starting candidates. Capellan shows acres of promise, but he's likely to open the season in Nashville or in the Brewers bullpen.

Of course, a developing rotation doesn't conceal a questionable bullpen, which is nearly being rebuilt from scratch. But if you have to choose between established starters or an established bullpen, take the former and hope for the best. It's still just spring, after all.