[BirdWatcher]

With the Spring Training exhibition season at the half-way point, I thought we would look in on which players have been making statements, which have struggled, who looks like they are in mid-season form and who looks over-matched.

The caveat of course is that these are small sample sizes in meaningless games against varied competition. So we will leave pitching out of it entirely as those sample sizes are particularly insignificant. Other than to say that among starting pitchers Harry Lyerly and Steve Green have performed the best. Still, no reason to believe that once the season starts Cheol-han Lee and Erik Sloan, winners of the last 2 MGL Pitcher-of-the-Year honors, won't be ready.

Among veteran position players, 30-year old 4th outfielder Pat Rondeau (.429/.448/.679) and 34-year old left fielder Ryan Rodgers (.429/.515/.464) have been particularly sharp. Andrew Kennedy (.273/.385/.364) and Chad Brown (.261/.320/.304) haven't been as spectacular but appear to be knocking the rust off just fine.

Two young outfielders who are expected to enter the regular season with important roles on the Brewers, Josh Schaeffer but especially Joe McPhillips, are not putting up great offensive numbers this spring, but both are fantastic in the field, strong runners, and have shown an advanced ability to reach base via the walk. Schaeffer is hitting .200/.355/.240 while McPhillips is at .192/.364/.346.
Mike Foster, after his strong rookie season of 1972, is once again looking like a legit hitter with a slash line of .308/.333/.385. Jonathan Koch, on the other hand, got off to a weak start but has picked it up a bit lately and currently stands at .261/.320/.391.

Among players on the fence for a big league role this season, Paul Mackins has scuffled and likely will start the season at AAA Chester. Mackins has managed a slash line of just .095/.095/.095.
On the other hand, 24-year old first baseman Greg Tietz is making a strong case for inclusion on the Opening Day squad, which could happen with Bobby Erbakan on the IL. Tietz has slugged at a .368/.429/.526 rate this Spring.
Defensively gifted infielder Joe Willemse, after a slow start at the plate, has picked it up of late to put himself in the mix also. Willemse's slash line is .304/.333/.435.
The Brewers first round draft pick from 1971, shortstop Kevin Flieder, has also been a pleasant surprise in camp. Flieder, in addition to providing superb defense, has hit .320/.357/.360.
24-year old left fielder John Flores, who is believed to have good power potential, has not distinguished himself and is hitting .217/.280/.304.