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Semrau: Plenty to like about this year's Brewers

Dennis Semrau  —  4/05/2008 5:44 am

MILWAUKEE -- The lineup that the Milwaukee Brewers put on the field on Friday to open the home portion of the franchise's 40th season -- and 39th overall in Brew City -- was a long time coming.

It was young and powerful, with speed to burn, and full of youthful optimism with a little bit of veteran savvy.

All that mattered to manager Ned Yost, though, was the final result: a 13-4 thrashing of the San Francisco Giants that continued the team's satisfying start.

"Our fans have been hearing a lot about our team this spring. It generated a lot of excitement, I think," said Yost, who was making his sixth Opening Day appearance as the team's skipper. "They got a chance to see what they'll be rooting for all summer long."

For long-suffering Brewers fans, who can still remember Milwaukee's last foray into the playoffs in 1982, payback time is on the horizon.

No, the Brewers aren't going to deliver on a daily basis such a masterpiece on offense -- 13 runs on 16 hits, including two doubles and two Bill Hall home runs.

However, the partisan crowd of 45,212, the third- highest in Miller Park history, was treated to an offensive outburst that combined last year's record-setting power with a sampling of the "small ball" approach that could induce nightmares for opposing pitching staffs all season long.

The lineup card Yost filled out Friday was a far cry -- and major improvement -- over the one he labored over for his debut as Brewers manager on March 31, 2003.

That club, which produced a 68-94 record and finished 20 games out of first place, was dead last in the National League Central Division. Friday's lineup card didn't include one single position player from that season's Opening Day 11-9 loss to St. Louis at Busch Stadium or the Brewers' home opener, a 7-5 loss to San Francisco on April 4 at Miller Park.

Can you remember Yost's 2003 Opening Day starting lineup?

It included: Alex Sanchez CF; Eric Young 2B; Richie Sexson 1B; John Vander Wal LF; Jeffrey Hammonds RF; Wes Helms 3B; Eddie Perez C; and Royce Clayton SS.

Just try and justify why one of those players, even Sexson, could play for the Brewers today.

Forget it. 

The only link from that forgettable lineup to this season's was 2003 starting pitcher Ben Sheets, who tossed Milwaukee's 4-3 season-opening win over the Chicago Cubs in 10 innings on Monday at Wrigley Field.

Sheets will throw again on Sunday, when he faces Giants ace Barry Zito. On Friday, the fans were treated to a solid performance by 24-year-old Carlos Villanueva, who was 2-2 with a 2.06 ERA in six starts last year. He promptly matched his career-high with six strikeouts and allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings.

The list of stars from Friday's game began with Hall, who moved back to third base this season after a year in center field. Hall handled his only chance in the field flawlessly and ripped a pair of home runs and an RBI single to go along with a career-best six RBI.

Unlike a year ago, when Milwaukee would score early and then often watch as the opposition rallied and dealt the Brewers a heartbreaking loss, the club's aggressive mentality was pleasing to Yost.

"These kids are more experienced. They've got another year under their belt. That comes with confidence and it comes with experience being able to continue to score runs," Yost said.

Hall said the offensive explosion reflects the club's high expectations.

"Everybody knew this is a team that can reach the playoffs and beyond and we feel that in the clubhouse," said Hall, whose two-run home run in the first inning staked Milwaukee to a quick 3-0 lead. "We went into the offseason with a little chip on our shoulders and ready to come to spring training to get back to work and start the 2008 season."

The 13 runs Milwaukee scored marked a franchise-best for a home opener. The previous high was set in a 12-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on April 26, 1995 when the Brewers were still in the American League.

It also included a three-hit and three-RBI effort from first baseman Prince Fielder, who hit a NL-leading 50 home runs last year but is still looking for his first of the young season.

"Prince is evolving. We saw Prince last year as a power hitter. The year's coming that we're going to see Prince as an RBI machine and a power hitter," Yost said. "He's a smart kid. He's smart enough to take what's given to him. He did in those situations. He really has an idea and a plan what to do and got up there and got it done."

What made the offensive showing for the Brewers even more impressive was the combined 0-for-9 and four strikeouts from 2007 NL All-Star shortstop J.J. Hardy and last year's NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun, who had two putouts in his new home in left field.

Yost will continue to maintain his "one-day, one-game at a time" approach.

But he was obviously pleased with his club's Miller Park debut.

"When they walk through that clubhouse door this year, you can see how hard they are ready to compete," Yost said. "Last year, they walked through the door and thought they were ready to compete. It's a huge difference in thinking you can compete and knowing in your heart that you can compete. And they know that they can. There's a bit of a peace that goes with that."

Dennis Semrau  —  4/05/2008 5:44 am