Projected batting order Alex Sanchez, CF Eric Young, 2B Richie Sexson, 1B Geoff Jenkins, LF Jeffrey Hammonds, RF Wes Helms, 3B Robert Machado, C Royce Clayton, SS Rotation Ben Sheets, RHP Glendon Rusch, LHP Todd Ritchie, RHP Ruben Quevedo, RHP Nick Neugebauer, RHP Bench John Vander Wal, OF Keith Ginter, INF Enrique Cruz, INF Scott Podsednik, OF Javier Valentin, C Bullpen Mike DeJean, RHP (CL) Luis Vizcaino, RHP Valerio de los Santos, LHP Curtis Leskanic, RHP Matt Kinney, RHP Complete Brewers roster  ESPN's Take Q: Does anything give this team any hope to even get to .500? New manager, Ned Yost, will bring a lot of Braves' knowledge, but not a lot of Braves' talent. So, I doubt that even Yost can save the Brewers. All-Star Richie Sexson and Bob Uecker's Hall of Fame induction are the only bright spots in Milwaukee. For $7 million, Jefferey Hammonds hit only .257 with nine home runs and 41 RBI last season. It's too bad because Milwaukee deserves a better product. Bud, please help this team out. -- Rob Dibble The Braves got tired of waiting for Wes Helms and the power potential he's had for years, but should you? Helms is getting a chance to play every day, and based on his minor-league numbers he could give fantasy owners 20 homers, albeit with a low average. Everyone agrees Luis Vizcaino has nastier stuff than Mike DeJean, so why is DeJean still the closer? All that matters to fantasy owners are the saves, and right now DeJean's the man. His ERA was barely over 3.00 last year and he strikes people out, so don't assume Vizcaino will take his role. -- Eric Karabell Ben Hendrickson, RHP Was selected in the 10th round of the 1999 draft. He has one of the best curveballs in the minors, a spike curve with a 12-to-6 drop. Hendrickson was promoted to Double-A Huntsville midway through last season and may pitch in Triple-A this year. He could be a September callup.

Manager: Ned Yost  Home: Miller Park (42,500)  '02 record: 56-106  Team page | Schedule | Offseason moves

Catcher: Robert Machado The Brewers can live with his lack of offense. He hit a career high .261 last season, but needs to improve defensively. His .987 fielding percentage was fifth lowest in the league, while pitchers posted a 5.21 ERA with him behind the plate. First Base: Richie Sexson The big stud in the order. Coming off a 45-HR season in 2001, Sexson managed only 29 HR and 102 RBI last year. Most of that was due to the lack of protection in the order. If Geoff Jenkins can stay healthy, Sexson's numbers should return to form. He averaged 36 HR and 117 RBI the last four seasons. Second Base: Eric Young Hitting .223 in the leadoff spot just didn't cut it. His 57 runs were his lowest output since '94. Although 31 stolen bases is productive, Young is far removed from his 50 SB and 90 R scoring seasons with the Rockies and Cubs. His lack of patience and production cost him the leadoff spot and he will hit second. Third Base: Wes Helms When the Brewers traded Tyler Houston to the Dodgers last September, a void was left at third. The Brewers were hoping to pencil in rookie Keith Ginter, but after a tough spring, the job goes to Helms. Helms struggled last season with the Braves, hitting just .243. Shortstop: Royce Clayton Obtained for his glove, Clayton replaces Jose Hernandez. He won't provide the offensive numbers Hernandez did, but his .989 fielding percentage in 2002 ranked third in the majors and was a personal best. The Brewers will take the sure hands and hope he can return to his 14-HR seasons (1999 and 2000) in Texas. Left Field: Geoff Jenkins Outside of Sexson, the most valuable player in the Brewers lineup. He suffered through another injury-plagued season, missing 95 games after spraining and tearing ligaments in his right ankle. In 2000, Jenkins hit 34 HR and batted over .300. He has hit just 30 HR since and missed 152 games. Center Field: Alex Sanchez His 37 steals led all rookies and was sixth in the league last season. Sanchez can use his speed to get on base and cover ground at Miller Park. He will start the season in the leadoff spot, but has to improve on his .343 OBP. Has the potential for 40 SB and 100 R. Right Field: Jeffrey Hammonds Hasn't been what the Brewers were hoping for when they signed him as a free agent after the 2000 season, in which he hit .335 with 20 HR and 106 RBI. But that was in Coors Field of course. He has hit .254 with 15 HR and missed 147 games in two seasons with the Brewers. No. 1 Starter: Ben Sheets Has not lived up to his gold medal expectations, but his 11-16 record last year can be deceiving. He showed toughness battling back from shoulder tendinitis, going 6-2 with a 3.18 ERA in his last 10 starts. Sheets has two very good pitches, a mid-90s fastball and a hard overhand curve. Imagine if he wasn't a Brewer? No. 2 Starter: Glendon Rusch Was acquired last year in the deal that sent Jeromy Burnitz to the Mets. Although Rusch lost 16 games, it looks like the Brewers got the better end of the deal. He ate up innings for a team that should have given him more then 10 wins. Rusch relies on movement, throwing a high 80s fastball to go with a good changeup. No. 3 Starter: Todd Ritchie Is happy to be back in the NL. He had a terrible season last year after switching from the Pirates to the White Sox. He finished the year 5-15 and was pounded for a career high 6.06 ERA. Can you believe the Sox gave up Sean Lowe, Kip Wells and Josh Fogg to get him? No. 4 Starter: Ruben Quevedo Experienced a sudden drop in velocity early last year. He was very inconsistent during the first half and eventually strained his oblique muscle. His 6-11 record and 5.76 ERA were the result. Double digits in the loss column and a high ERA, fits right in. Bullpen: Luis Vizcaino, Valerio de los Santos, Curtis Leskanic, Matt Kinney A lead is hard to come by in Milwaukee, so when they have it, this crew needs to get it to closer Mike DeJean. Vizcaino is the best of the bunch and should get eighth-inning duty. Opponents hit just .192 off the mid 90s throwing righty last season. He may see some save opportunities if DeJean should falter. Closer: Mike DeJean In his first year as closer, DeJean managed 27 saves in 30 opportunities. He didn't blow a single save chance after June 8th and had a 1.46 ERA in September. He gets groundballs with a low 90s sinker, a hard slider and a splitter. This year opportunities might be hard to come by.

-- Matt Pike, ESPN The Magazine

Record: 56-106 | Finish: 6th in NL Central | Results | Statistics: Batting | Pitching 627 runs (16th) Home: 300 (16th) Road: 327 (14th) 821 runs allowed (15th) Home: 395 (14th) Road: 426 (15th) 2002 Stats Leaders   Average: Alex Sanchez, .289 Runs: Richie Sexson, 86 On-base pct: Sexson, .363 Stolen bases: Sanchez, 37 Wins: Ben Sheets, 11 Saves: Mike DeJean, 27 Home runs: Sexson, 29 RBI: Sexson, 102 Slugging pct.: Sexson, .504 OPS: Sexson, .867 ERA: Sheets, 4.15 Strikeouts: Sheets, 170