Both have an intriguing combination of speed and power, and they showed it in the first two home games of the season against the Chicago Cubs on Friday and Saturday.

Hart, batting in the second spot in the order, was 2 for 3, walked twice and scored two runs in the Brewers' 6-5 loss to the Cubs on Saturday night. He singled off Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol in the ninth but was stranded when Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder both struck out.

Week was 1 for 5 and drove in a run Saturday, after hitting a key double in the ninth and hustling home with the winning run in the Brewers' 4-3 victory in the home opener Friday.

"I think Rickie's spring was terrific," Macha said Saturday. "If he gets on, he scores runs. That's his history.

"I know a lot of people look at, 'Well, the guy hit .230, or whatever he hit last year (.234). But, you can't do that. Getting on base and scoring runs is the name of the game.

"Coming from Oakland (as a former manager with the A's), you can't be worrying about the batting average. It's the amount of runs scored you get from the guys at the top of the lineup."

Weeks scored 89 runs last season and had an on-base percentage of .342. Macha said an on-base percentage of .360 would be OK with him, and he pointed out Weeks was above the .400 mark during spring training.

The Brewers' leadoff hitter said he likes the new combination at the top of the lineup. Hart primarily hit in the No. 5 slot last season, starting there 120 times. He did bat in the leadoff position seven times, but he never hit in the No. 2 slot as a starter.

"For the most part, we're two speed guys who can hit the ball out of the ballpark," Weeks said. "But the biggest thing is to get on base and have the guys behind us get us in."

J.J. Hardy was the primary No. 2 hitter, but he is now hitting fifth, behind Fielder.

Hart walked only 27 times last season, which gave Macha some concern in moving him into the No. 2 spot.

"In Corey's case, I said it was absolutely OK to walk," Macha said. "If he chases a breaking ball out of the zone in that situation yesterday, we're still playing.

"But he took the walk, and it was a huge walk."

Hart did not chase a 1-2 breaking ball in the dirt, a pitch that got away from Cubs catcher Koyie Hill and allowed Weeks to reach third with one out in the winning rally Friday.

Macha also was impressed with Hart's home run to right-center field earlier in the game.

"In spring training, his batting practice was geared toward hitting the ball the other way," Macha said. "He'll hit fastballs to right field for home runs, too.

"This guy's got tremendous power. Hopefully, he'll continue to have good pitch selection, swing at balls in the zone. I think with Braun hitting behind him, pitchers are going to have to put the ball in the zone a little more.

"That's when you build a lineup and you try to think what's going to best for those guys in those positions. Right now, that's the 1-2 thing. We may be talking in August, and it may be a different 1-2."

GOOD STARTS

After Friday's ninth-inning victory against the Chicago Cubs, the Brewers are 7-2 in home openers since moving to Miller Park in 2001:

Date Opponent Result

April 6, 2001 Cincinnati W 4-3

April 5, 2002 Arizona W 6-2

April 4, 2003 San Francisco L 7-5

April 9, 2004 Houston L 13-7

April 11, 2005 Pittsburgh W 6-2

April 3, 2006 Pittsburgh W 5-2

April 2, 2007 Los Angeles W 7-1

April 4, 2008 San Francisco W 13-4

April 10, 2009 Chicago Cubs W 4-3

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