Dusty Baker isn't one of those managers who sits in the dugout with his fingers crossed every time he sends out a young pitcher to start a game.

"Sometimes," Baker said the other day at Miller Park, "you sit there with your fingers crossed with the old guys, too."

In 15 seasons as a manager, Baker has never been afraid to use -- or even overuse -- young arms. Still, for him to feel comfortable, a young pitcher must meet certain requirements.

"If he has the stuff, the stamina and some guts, and he throws strikes, he can go a long way," Baker said. "Just like (Detroit manager) Jim Leyland says all the time, 'If you've got a choice, you go for talent.' There's no substitute for talent."

As two of the prime contenders in the National League Central, the Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers hope that is the case this season.

The Chicago Cubs are favored to repeat as division champions and the Brewers and Reds are considered the teams that will chase them to the end. With the exception of a quick getaway by St. Louis, that is exactly how the first two weeks of the season have played out.

Unlike the Cubs, who have a veteran rotation, the Brewers and Reds are placing their faith in young arms. It's risky, but, as Baker said, there is no substitute for talent. And both teams have young starters with talent.

When the Brewers released veteran Claudio Vargas in spring training, it thrust Manny Parra (age 25) and Carlos Villanueva (24) into the rotation behind Ben Sheets and Jeff Suppan. Yovani Gallardo (22) will join them when he comes off the disabled list, possibly taking the place of struggling Dave Bush.

The Reds knew they would have a young rotation after Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, though they thought Homer Bailey (21) would be the key guy. Instead, Johnny Cueto (22) and Edinson Volquez (24) pitched so well that Bailey was sent to Class AAA.

So far, it appears both teams made the right call. Cueto and Volquez have been so impressive they are the talk of the league. Parra and Villanueva have pitched solidly, though both are 1-1.

In the gospel according to Ned Yost, it depends on the individual when determining when a young pitcher is ready to win in the big leagues. The Brewers manager said his young starters are special, the kind of pitchers that are difficult to find.

"If you look at our young pitching that we have in Gallardo, Parra and Villanueva, they command four pitches," Yost said. "They come up and throw strikes with four pitches. And a lot of (those pitches) -- two to two and a half to three of them -- are plus pitches. They 're above-average pitches. It's the same thing with (the Reds') kids. They command their stuff. That's when you know when they're ready. If they can command their stuff and attack with it and they can handle the pressures of major league baseball, it doesn't matter what age you are."

The Brewers had success with their touted young position players when they brought them up in recent years. They kept those players together in the minor leagues to ensure they were in winning environments.

Milwaukee did the same with its young pitching, though it wasn't necessary, according to Yost. He said the Brewers' young pitchers didn't benefit from a winning environment as much as they helped to create one.

"They're winners," Yost said. "You don't develop that. It's been my experience that you either have that or you don't have it. It's hard to develop it. You might have a trace of it and you can make it a little better, but it has to be a major part of your game and of your life in order for that to be a big impact on a team."

The Brewers need an impact from at least two of their three young arms this season. Gallardo and Parra have electric stuff and Villanueva rarely makes a mistake but, more than anything, they have poise. All three act like they've been pitching in the big leagues for years.

"It's going to be a great experience for them," general manager Doug Melvin said. "But this is a ballclub that they should be able to pitch for. They have the backing of a veteran catcher. They have the backing of a good offensive club. They've got the backing of a good center fielder in Mike Cameron. We've surrounded the good young pitching with some things that should help them develop here. But we're wanting them to win up here, too."

No, the Brewers are banking on it.