{image1}Monday mornings are always difficult, but this week's was a little easier for the strangest of reasons: the Brewers were 5-0.

Sure, it's only the Cactus League standings, and, no, these games will matter not a whit come April. But for a franchise coming off a brutal winter, it was still nice to see.

Real-life and the Brewers battering crew (the St. Louis Cardinals) arrive April 5. After four in St. Louis, the Brewers open their home slate with three games against Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens and the well-stocked Houston Astros. So can you blame anyone for wishing Spring Training could last forever?

It can't. And when it's over, Ned Yost's bunch will have plenty of questions to answer. Here is just a small sample.

Will Scott Podsednik repeat his 2003 performance?

Last year at this time, no one even knew his name. This year, Podsednik could be Milwaukee's favorite Brewer. Podsednik, as most are aware, hit .314, stole 43 bases and scored 100 runs as a rookie. But do you recall the leadoff man also knocked in 58 runs?

It may be unrealistic to expect a statistical repeat, but Podsednik isn't the type to rest on his laurels. Not only did he make the team out of nowhere last March, but he proceeded to take away Alex Sanchez's starting job -- and Sanchez was considered one of the team's few bright spots from 2002.

Podsednik walked just 56 times and had 91 whiffs, so there is room for improvement. His BA might dip, but if he's healthy all season, another 90-run, 30-SB campaign (or better) doesn't feel like a stretch.

Are there any "Podsedniks" on the 2004 roster?

The search for the next rabbit emerging from Ned Yost/Doug Melvin's collective hat is underway. The most obvious candidate is new right fielder Ben Grieve, but since he actually won a Rookie of the Year Award with Oakland in 1998, an improved season wouldn't be a shocker.

The other obvious candidates reside at catcher and first base, where Chad Moeller and Lyle Overbay arrive from Arizona. Moeller may insert some extra-base pop into the bottom of the order, and Overbay could display the consistent stroke he's shown in the minors. But Wes Helms' inconsistent 2003 (in his first extended action) is a more likely result for both newcomers.

My early surprise choice is middle infielder Bill Hall. Balls seem to jump off the 24-year-old's bat (he had 16 extra-base hits in 142 AB for the Brewers last year), and he's been a hot hitter early in camp. Hall also believes he's finally ready to stay in Milwaukee this time around, which may be more important than you think.

The middle of the diamond is congested at the moment, with Junior Spivey (2B) and Craig Counsell (SS) scheduled to start. But Hall's hitting may force Yost to find him some at bats - and the Spivey trade rumors (the latest has him going to the Yankees to replace Alfonso Soriano) continue to swirl.

How will the offense fare without its most prodigious slugger?

Whether or not the Sexson-to-Arizona trade eventually bears fruit, it will be difficult to replicate the slugger's production (45 HR, 124 RBI) this season. Additionally, Sexson walked 98 times in 2003, a rarely cited improvement to his overall game.

But Melvin's theory is this: sans the big bopper, the Brewers will put more men on base, move them around more effectively and, yes, score more runs than 2003. Hopefully, that's the case, but I'm not convinced just yet.

Nearly every addition to the lineup has a history of high strikeout totals. The ex-Diamondbacks bring some skills, but Spivey (95 Ks in 365 AB), Moeller (59 in 239) and Overbay (67 in 254) also fanned a lot last year. Grieve has never whiffed less than 108 times in his five full seasons. And Geoff Jenkins (120) and Helms (131) are notorious free swingers.

If Spivey stays in town, he combines with Podsednik to provide great speed atop the order; so that's a plus. The meat of the order is likely to consist of Overbay, Jenkins, Grieve and Helms, with Counsell and Moeller sliding in before the pitcher (Counsell and Overbay could easily switch places based on early performance). Realistically, that's not a fearsome unit.

Jenkins' health is paramount, as well as consistency from Grieve and the continued development of Helms. If so, Melvin's theory about more baserunners leading to more runs could pan out -- but only if strikeouts don't destroy the equation.

When can we expect to see the kids?

If you haven't heard about the Brewers farm system by now, I assume you've reached this page accidentally. Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks, Brad Nelson, Corey Hart and the rest are probably better known (and more respected) than anyone on the parent club outside of Jenkins, Podsednik and Ben Sheets. For the most part, however, we'll have to track the future stars' progress at Indianapolis (AAA) and Huntsville (AA) this season.

Hardy has had a loud bat in camp, but it's not vocal enough to hit major league pitching come April. The Brewers love his defensive polish, so expect a courtesy call-up in September. If Counsell struggles with injuries (and he has in the past), Hardy could arrive earlier.

Some believe Weeks should break camp with the team this year, but the Miller Park infield is already busy enough. Weeks will spend at least half a season in the minors, but he should see some post-All-Star break duty in Milwaukee. Likewise, Fielder's hitting in camp has beat writers contemplating a September arrival, but considering he'll turn 20 in May, he's the least likely of the "core" group (Hardy, Weeks, Fielder) to get a cup of autumnal coffee.

Nelson, coming off a wrist injury, should spend the season in AA or High-A, while Hart is ticketed for Indianapolis. With the latter's new position (left field), he's unlikely to get called up due to injury -- he won't be ready defensively.

Finally, Jorge de la Rosa has earned starting rotation consideration with some excellent camp (non-game) outings. But Yost and Melvin both seem to favor new lefty Chris Capuano in the short-term, and Adrian Hernandez, Travis Phelps and Wes Obermueller are all in the mix for the last two starting spots. I still believe de la Rosa will spend most of 2004 at Indianapolis, though some are projecting a late spring call-up.