In parts of six major league seasons back in his playing days, Macha - a third baseman who came up through the Pittsburgh Pirates' system before spending time with Montreal and Toronto - played in 180 games. His 49 games in 1980 with the Expos were his highest single-season total.

The year before that, he spent all but about a month in Montreal, but made only 40 plate appearances.

"Dick Williams was the manager and he just played the regular players," Macha said, adding that during one stretch he went 27 days without an at-bat. "That was it. Nobody else got in."

Duffy, Nelson and McGehee figure to see significantly more time this season than Macha did back in 1979. But it's still quite the transition from everyday player in the minors to life on the bench.

Nelson, a first baseman or corner outfielder, and McGehee, a third baseman by trade who can also play second and first and is the club's emergency catcher, both reached the majors for the first time last September - McGehee with the Cubs - while Duffy, an outfielder, got regular at-bats with the Pirates for parts of three seasons before battling injuries the past two years.

All three made the team with impressive performances in spring training, when at-bats weren't as scarce.

Now, it's a spot start here and there to go along with pinch-hitting opportunities.

Nelson, a fourth-round pick by the Brewers in 2001 and the organization's Minor League Player of the Year in 2002, was asked if people realize how difficult it is to be a bench player.

"I don't even think I did going into it," he said. "I'm like, 'Come on, so you go up there and get one at-bat? Come on, I can hit,' or whatever. It's a tough enough game the way it is. ... I'm not complaining by any means, just learning with it. ... I think we all are. It's something we've never experienced and (we are) trying to figure it out."

Added Duffy: "It's obviously not easy. You can't dwell on one at-bat if you get one at-bat a night. You've got to forget it and be ready to come in the next day fresh, not thinking about anything."

A whole new ballgame

The process has been an especially trying one for Nelson.

He's yet to get a hit in 20 at-bats, with eight strikeouts, while being fed a steady diet of breaking balls by opposing pitchers.

"I haven't had the success as far as hits and stuff, but each at-bat, the knowledge is coming," he said. "The results haven't been there. It is what it is. ... I understand my job and I do need to start picking it up and start contributing."

Duffy has seen the most extended action of the three, in part because of left fielder Ryan Braun's recent back troubles as well as his usefulness as a speedy defensive option. He's endured his struggles too, though, with three hits and 10 strikeouts in 27 at-bats.

"It's definitely different from being in a starter role, where you worry about your numbers and stuff," said Duffy, who was a non-roster invitee to spring training. "I can only base my days on a quality at-bat. Did I have a quality at-bat? If I base it on hits, I think that I'd have a tough year."

McGehee has appeared in just 10 games, with veteran Craig Counsell the top infield option off the bench and the two players McGehee primarily backs up - second baseman Rickie Weeks and third baseman Bill Hall - also being right-handed hitters. McGehee, who was claimed off waivers from the Cubs in the offseason, is batting .200 in 15 at-bats.

"It is what it is," he said, "and whenever there's an opportunity to get me an at-bat, I'll hopefully get them."

Prepare and deliver

So what makes being a bench player so difficult?

All three talked about trying to find a routine in their new roles. Barring an injury that forces them into action, their at-bats will generally come in the middle innings at the earliest - quite awhile removed from batting practice, meaning trips to the batting cage to get warmed up are essential.

So is taking extra batting practice anytime they can to compensate for the lack of at-bats, studying the opposing team's bullpen and understanding when they might hit based on the situation.

And when those situations present themselves - and a decent amount will come against tough situational relievers - they can't try to do too much, despite a single at-bat oftentimes being the culmination of their day.

"You can't go up there trying to hit a three-run homer every at-bat," McGehee said. "You've got to have a good at-bat and try to put good wood on the ball. You start trying to do more than that, I think you start kind of losing your approach as what kind of hitter you are."

Macha understands all the challenges, having lived it.

As a manager, though, he needs production.

"You've got to work a little harder, you've got to take extra (batting practice)," he said. "It takes a special person to be able to do that, and that's one side of it. The other side of it is it's the major leagues.

"You're expected to produce, too. So there's no excuses. As a bench player, you've got to do everything you can to be ready and get up there and get something done, whatever you can on that particular day to help your team win."

Better in the bigs

Their situation is obviously far from ideal from a competitive standpoint.

But the alternative for Duffy, Nelson and McGehee would be another stint in the minors.

And that prospect explains McGehee's answer when asked about his limited playing time during a recent visit with some area Little Leaguers.

"I said, 'Well, you know, sometimes we lose focus that it's pretty cool to be able to put on a big league uniform,' " he said. "And there's only 360 position players in the big leagues, and to be one of those 360 position players is definitely something to be proud of. ... "I think there'd be something wrong with you if you didn't want to get out there and play. But at the same time, I think a bad day here is better than a good day at Triple-A."

THE BENCH GUYS

Chris Duffy Age: 29.

Height, weight: 5-foot-9, 185 pounds.

Position: OF.

Bats, throws: Left, left.

Career minor league batting average: .300.

2009 spring training statistics: .311, 2 HRs, 13 RBIs.

Casey McGehee Age: 26.

Height, weight: 6-1, 195.

Positions: 3B, 2B, 1B, C.

Bats, throws: Right, right.

Career minor league batting average: .279.

2009 spring training statistics: .328, 6 HRs, 16 RBIs.

Brad Nelson Age: 26

Height, weight : 6-2, 266.

Positions: 1B, OF.

Bats, throws: Left, right.

Career minor league batting average: .269.

2009 spring training statistics: .354, 4 HRs, 19 RBIs.