PHOENIX -- With a little more than two weeks left before the regular season, the competition for at least two starting spots and some bullpen roles remains intense on the Brewers.

Manager Ned Yost is not naming his starters after No. 3. Ben Sheets is a lock on No. 1 and Jeff Suppan No. 2.

If he is healthy, Yovani Gallardo is solid at No. 3. Gallardo looks to be on target, despite undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee earlier in camp.

"He's making good progress," Yost said of Gallardo. "He's a young pitcher who is well-advanced. He has a veteran pitcher's mindset. You can't teach it. They have to have it inside. It literally is one in a million who do."

Two other young pitchers, Carlos Villanueva and Manny Parra, are competing with veterans Claudio Vargas, Chris Capuano and Dave Bush for the last two spots in the rotation in a battle that could go to the final days of camp.

"Both of the young guys show a lot of poise; not much bothers them," Yost said after Parra threw four shutout innings Monday against the Cubs. "Manny is charging hard, making huge strides. But, he has to do it over the long haul. He's in the midst of a big fight right now, and shows no signs of that."

Vargas, who seemed like the odd man out at the start of camp, pitched five no-hit innings last weekend and cannot be counted out. Bush gave up three runs in the first inning against the Cubs, but then settled down to pitch three scoreless innings. Capuano has an 18.00 ERA after his first two appearances, in which he gave up 10 hits.

Yost says he has to weight past performances as heavily, or more, than how pitchers throw in spring training.

"It won't be easy to dismiss Capuano and Bush out right out of the chute," Yost said. "You hate to hang too much on results in spring training, but you can't ignore them either. It's fair and unfair. What might be fair to the group might be unfair to the individual."

Yost added, "It could make for some difficult decisions the last week of spring training. There will be some good debates among our coaching staff and myself. What you try to go is get everybody's opinions and then make a decision."

If the young pitchers fill out the rotation, you could see a veteran traded. Bush and Capuano also could be used in the bullpen as long relievers and swingmen. Vargas doesn't fit that role as neatly.

Bullpen nearly set: The Brewers' bullpen looks more settled than the rotation, although some of the relievers' stats this spring are not that impressive. Eric Gagne, who will start as the closer, had a 9.00 ERA in three appearances.

"He's been throwing just fine," Yost said of Gagne, who was slowed early in camp by the flu. "He threw nothing but fast balls in one of his outings. Why show teams what you have when it doesn't count? He knows how to get ready for the season."

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Posted by sandstorm on March 21, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (report)

the rotation as it should be- Sheets Villanueva Gallardo Vargas no. i'm not forgetting Suppan. he simply does not deserve a spot. Parra no/