For the Brewers to get that wild card spot this season, the 27-year-old Hall needs to be the everything man for this team.

As we inch closer to opening day, there is always a sense of optimism and new life in the air.

For the 25th consecutive season, fans will be saying “this is the year.” This is the year the Brewers finally get back to the playoffs.

The potential is definitely there, but the biggest area with the most questions may be the outfield. Who will be on the team come opening day? Who will play which position? Who will start?

These are just a few questions we will try to breakdown and answer.

BILL HALL

Hall is coming off the best year of his career. In 2006, Hall hit .270 from the plate, drove in 85 RBIs and hit 35 home runs. He was by far the Brewers MVP and most productive player.

This season, he will make the transition to starting center fielder, a place where he looked very natural in a couple of games last year, making some very athletic catches.

For the Brewers to get that wild card spot this season, the 27-year-old Hall needs to be the everything man for this team. Nothing spectacular, but he must be solid in center field and drive in the big runs, something that he definitely had a knack for last season.

COREY HART

Hart is coming off a season in which he showed glimpses of his potential. At 24, Hart can turn into a really good player.

He hit a very solid .283 last season, driving in 33 runs and appearing in just 87 games.

This year Hart will get the nod as the starting right fielder, where his 6-foot-6 frame will help him chase down a lot of balls and gun down runners at the plate.

KEVIN MENCH

If only Milwaukee could bring Carlos Lee back, the outfield would be looking as good as ever. Unfortunately, Lee will not be coming back and the Brewers may have to settle with Mench as their starting left fielder on opening day, which is definitely a big concern.

Mench struggled mightily after joining the Brewers, but hopefully he will get off to a good start this season. Overall in 2006, Mench hit a decent .269 from the plate but hit just .244 against lefties when joining the Brewers, compared to .333 when with Texas.

Against right- handed pitching, Mench hit .224 with the Brewers and .269 with the Rangers. The Brewers“ plan is to platoon Mench.

GEOFF JENKINS

The man who will have to platoon with Mench in left will be none other than good ol“ Jenkins. This means that Jenkins will start when the Brewers face a right-handed pitcher and Mench will start when the Brewers face a left-handed pitcher.

Well, at least that“s the plan. The latest report is that if Jenkins doesn“t start full time, he wants out of Milwaukee. Jenkins hit a horrendous .133 against lefties last season, and he thinks he should be the every day starter?

If Jenkins wants to be traded, trade him. His numbers have dropped off significantly over the years and he is not getting any younger. He“s set to make $7 million in 2007, so if some team wants to pick up his contract, let them have him.

GABE GROSS

If Jenkins doesn“t stay in Milwaukee, the man who will have to platoon with Mench in left will be Gross. Gross hit a very good .290 against right handed pitching and can also be a good utility man in the outfield for Milwaukee.

TONY GWYNN

Gwynn is definitely a young, up-and-coming outfielder for the Brewers. At just 24, he has a bright future ahead of him. It is a tough decision, but with Bill Hall as the everyday centerfielder, the best choice may be to send Gwynn back down to the minors to play because he won“t see much action on the field with the Brewers.

Gwynn is the ideal leadoff hitter and has a bright future in Milwaukee.

BRADY CLARK

Clark struggled last season and is heading toward the downfall of his career at age 34. If the Brewers keep Jenkins, they should get rid of Clark. If the Brewers trade Jenkins, they“ll probably need Brady as a fifth outfielder to give rest to Hall and Hart here and there.

LAYNCE NIX

This guy was just a footnote in the Carolos Lee trade. He only appeared in 19 games last season and hit a miserable .164. Triple-A looks nice for him this season.

DREW ANDERSON

Another guy who saw limited action last season, Anderson appeared in nine games and hit .111. He will also be headed back down to the minors.

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