Yost of the town

Milwaukee's new skipper has a way with words

Throughout spring training, SI.com will feature regular dispatches from Sports Illustrated staffers assigned to scout camps in the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues.

By Jeff Pearlman, Sports Illustrated

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Site: Phoenix

Weather: Sunny, but cool. I'm sick of cool weather in Arizona.

Player I Saw Whom I Really Liked: Brooks Kieschnick. I've been at spring training for three weeks now, and my mind is beginning to melt. I'm desperate for anything different -- three-headed monkeys, Emmanuel Lewis impersonators, women named Steve. Alas, Kieschnick will have to do. The 30-year-old University of Texas product with 10 years' experience in the minors is on the verge of making the Brew Crew as both a pitcher and hitter. In other words, exactly what new manager Ned Yost doesn't need: yet another mediocre reliever and .230 bat off the bench. At least Kieschnick is a somewhat interesting story in this otherwise mundane time.

Around the Horn: Milwaukee has the National League's least-talented roster, but that hasn't stopped Yost from preaching positive platitudes. Several times this spring, Yost -- a longtime coach with Atlanta -- has gathered his troops and offered up powerful you-can-do-it messages. "It's too early to tell how good of a manager he is," says reliever Curtis Leskanic, "but he'd make a great motivational speaker." After three spring trainings with Davey Lopes at the helm, things are much more relaxed here. Lopes isn't a bad guy, but his can't-touch-this pseudo-tough-guy act wore thin with his players. By the time he was fired last year, Lopes wasn't on speaking terms with two of his coaches. ... Leskanic, the team's closer in 2000 and 2001, missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery. "It was the most miserable year of my life," he says. "A non-stop nightmare." In an effort to erase the memory, Leskanic turned in his uniform No. 00 and switched to 33. "It just feels different," he says. "I needed a new feeling." ... Third baseman Wes Helms came over from Atlanta with Yost, and while the infielder knows Milwaukee's talent isn't at the Chipper-Sheffield-Smoltz level, he believes the Brewers can compete. "So much is about attitude," he says. "And the attitude and work ethic here is fantastic." Helms has been working closely with new shortstop Royce Clayton, who has taken the 26-year-old Gastonia, N.C., native under his wing. ... The Brewers are expecting great things from center fielder Alex Sanchez, who impressed with a .289 average last season. One area Sanchez needs to improve upon, however, is baserunning. Although he stole 37 bags in 2002, his instincts are only average. The team believes there's great room for improvement. ... You'll be hard-pressed to find a more mediocre collection of catchers. Robert Machado, Cody McKay, Javier Valentin, Eddie Perez and Keith Osik are fighting for two -- maybe three -- spots. Where are Alex Trevino, Alan Knicely and Junior Ortiz when we need them? ... This is a huge season for outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds, a gargantuan bust since joining Milwaukee in December 2000. Hammonds is in the final year of his contract, and he's on the verge of becoming a fourth or fifth outfielder. The oft-injured 32-year-old hit nine homers last season. ... If you can't afford an ace, get the next best thing. The Brewers' new pitching coach is Mike Maddux, Greg's older brother. ... Clayton recently celebrated his first wedding anniversary to former Olympic sprinter Samantha Davies. His cousin is bobsled star Jackie Davies. ... At Yankees camp in Tampa, dozens upon dozens of writers watch Derek Jeter listen to a Walkman and Jason Giambi spit. Here at Brewers camp, there were two of us ... and it was wonderful.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jeff Pearlman will check in periodically with reports from his tour of spring camps. Click here to send a question to his Spring Training Mailbag.

 

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