PHOENIX - The stench may finally be lifting from Miller Park.
Literally and figuratively.
Two weeks ago, workers at the Milwaukee Brewers' ballpark repaireda misconnected sewer line that had been sending waste down river intonearby Lake Michigan for more than six years.
And on the field, Manager Ned Yost says he believes the team is alegitimate playoff contender after mostly stinking up the Majors -figuratively speaking - by going 14 consecutive seasons without awinning record, tying them with the Pittsburgh Pirates for thelongest streak of futility in baseball.
"Finally we've got enough depth and enough talent to be able tocompete," Yost said, leaning back in his office chair days beforewrapping up his fifth spring training camp with the Brewers. "That'swhat we've been waiting for ... to get expectations, to be able tohave a team that can compete. Now we've got them, (and) we're excitedabout it.
"People want to think that you're scared when you getexpectations. What planet are you from?"
The Brewers will begin trying to live up to those ambitions thisafternoon when they open the season by hosting the Los AngelesDodgers. And like the Dodgers, pitching - especially startingpitching - will go a long way toward determining how successfulMilwaukee will be.
Opening-day starter Ben Sheets, who won at least 10 games in eachof his first five seasons but spent much of the last two summers onthe disabled list, is healthy again and tops a deep and talentedrotation that includes left-hander Chris Capuano, an 18-game winnerin 2005, and free-agent addition Jeff Suppan, who won 44 games thelast three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Dave Bush and new addition Claudio Vargas, who each had a career-high 12 wins a year ago, fill out the rotation.
Infielder Craig Counsell said this year's Brewers team reminds himof the world champions he played on in Florida (1997) and Arizona(2001).
"If there is a common ingredient, it's pitching," Counsell said."It's a deep rotation, and one through five is really good. (But)it's about performance ultimately. It's not like everybody has tohave a career year. If guys, just for the most part, do what youexpect, that should put us right there."
Suppan, who has pitched for playoff teams in each of the last fourseasons - including the World Series winner last year - agrees.
"Every team you play on, there's some common denominators," Suppansaid. "On our team this year, it looks good. If we play the way we'recapable of playing, good things will happen.
"That's a pretty general statement. But it's a true statement. I'mexcited because you're going out there with a group that wants towin."
To make that happen, however, the Brewers will have to avoidinjuries in the field and stop avoiding the ball at the plate. Abalky right shoulder limited Sheets to a career-low 17 starts lastseason, and half of Milwaukee's starting infield had its season endedin an operating room. The lineup J.J. Hardy and Rickie Weeks leftbehind struggled without them, finishing second in the Majors instrikeouts for the second consecutive season.
If either problem persists this season, Yost says the Brewers'great expectations could turn to hard times faster than you can sayOliver Twist.
"We've been dying for expectations for the last four years," hesaid. "We could hardly wait to get them. (But) you've got to live upto them. That's the challenge."
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