Plenty of experts are picking the Brewers as a pre-season favorite to win the National League Central Division title this year, but most of them are throwing in a caveat:

"If Ben Sheets stays healthy..."

Sheets, who will start the season opener against Los Angeles Monday afternoon at Miller Park, certainly is a pivotal piece to the puzzle. If the Brewers are to contend for their first post-season berth since 1982, he'll likely need to pitch more than 200 innings and win about 15 to 17 games.

But, another player hampered by injuries the past two seasons will play an important role as well: second baseman / leadoff man Rickie Weeks.

While many people attributed the Brewers' late-season offensive nosedive on the trade that sent Carlos Lee to Texas, many insiders feel that Weeks' thumb injury was as costly, if not more.

Weeks has not cracked the 100-game barrier in either of his first two full seasons in the big leagues. When he went down last season, he was on pace to score 100 runs.

Although Weeks' skills are probably better suited to a spot in the heart of the order, manager Ned Yost uses him at the top of the lineup because there aren't a lot of viable alternatives. During the final week of spring training, Yost bristled a bit when asked about Weeks' potential on-base percentage compared to those of more conventional No. 1 hitters.

"You guys are getting mixed up with what a prototypical leadoff guy is and what Rickie is," Yost said. "Rickie is not a prototypical leadoff guy. Rickie is a guy with a lot more power than you would see in most leadoff guys. He's got the ability to drive the gaps and have a big slugging percentage. Rickie's game doesn't always revolve around on-base percentage; even though he does get on base. There is much more to his game than taking a walk and stealing second."

A decade ago, the Brewers had a speedy leadoff hitter whose skill-set pointed toward the "walk and steal" approach, but who preferred to swing from his heels. That player, centerfielder Chuckie Carr, was released after ignoring a "take" sign and popping up a 2-0 pitch during a key situation in Anaheim. "That ain't Chuckie's game," Carr said. "Chuckie hacks on 2-0."

A week ago, Yost referred to an exhibition game in which Weeks worked the count to 2-0 and took a called strike.

"With a regular leadoff guy you probably want him taking strike one there, but with a guy like Rickie you probably don't," he said. "I'd rather have Rickie swing the bat in those situations than stand up there and look for a walk, because when he swings the bat he can do a lot more damage."

While many leadoff men are considered "table-setters," Yost sees Weeks as a run-producer.

"The only problem is: are the seventh, eighth and ninth guys getting on base so Rickie can drive them in?" Yost asked.

The bottom of the order has been a problem for the Brewers in recent years, with players like Chad Moeller, Gary Bennett, Henry Blanco and some weak-hitting pitchers creating outs in bunches.

"We're a lot stouter from one to eight," Yost said. "It was hard (in the past) to maintain any type of offensive sequence. Once you get past the sixth spot (makes a raspberry noise). You'd start to get something going and you'd invariably come to the sixth spot and it was like coming to a cliff. You'd drop off. It was hard to maintain any type of offensive sequence in those days. We've got nine pretty solid hitters. We should be able to maintain some kind of offensive sequence. There are not any real roadblocks there. There are no stop signs."

And, it starts with Weeks.

"I need to be aggressive," Weeks said. "I'm not a guy that's going to go up there and bunt or take pitches. I just need to get some good pitches to hit and try to take advantage."

Bon voyage: Packers fans experienced their biggest loss of the off-season Friday and it had nothing to do with the team's roster.

Cliff Christl, who was a columnist for the "Packer Insider" subscription service of the Journal Sentinel's Web site, retired after 36 years in the newspaper business.

"I just felt like it was time," Christl said.

His columns were always informed and opinionated and his post-game chats with fans were provocative and sometimes hilarious. Cliff's work ethic and relentless pursuit of truth were inspiring and he always took time to help and encourage young writers.

His work will be missed by the newspaper and its readers in Wisconsin and around the world.

First pitch: James Kimble and his grandson, Blake Kimble-Jones (11) from the Pieper-Hillside Branch of the Boys and Girls Club will throw out ceremonial first pitches before the season opener on Monday. Joe Attanasio, the father of Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, will sing the national anthem.

Magnetic personality: The Brewers will hand out schedule magnets to fans on Monday. In recent years, players featured on the magnet have shown an uncanny knack for getting hurt. That could be news for Bill Hall, who is expected to be the man for 2007.

Kudos: The Admirals, who face Iowa tonight at the Bradley Center, have surpassed their attendance total from last season with five home games remaining on the schedule.

"Admirals fans have really responded to our mission to present great entertainment both on and off the ice," said Jon Greenberg, the team's president.