October 11
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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When Milwaukee traded outfielder Gabe Gross to Tampa Bay less than a month into the season, he figured the Brewers were doing him a favor. He just didn't realize how big of a favor. Gross, who never found a regular niche during his two-plus seasons with the Brewers, fit in immediately with the Rays. In fact, he started 79 times, mostly in right field, and played in 127 of 141 games after the trade. "It really turned out to be a blessing to come over here and get the chance I got," said Gross, who was traded for minor-league pitcher Josh Butler. "They welcomed me pretty quickly and it's been great. You run out of words to describe what's been going on here." What has been going on is a ..."
October 10
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Had Grant Balfour not pitched so poorly in his only three games with the Milwaukee Brewers, he'd probably still be pitching for that club. Instead, Balfour is preparing to take on the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series as a key member of Tampa Bay's bullpen. Balfour, who missed the entire 2005 season with Minnesota after undergoing elbow and shoulder surgery, was on the comeback trail in Cincinnati's farm system when he was claimed off waivers by the Brewers at the end of the '06 season. The Brewers sent the hard-throwing Australian to the minors at the start of last season to allow him to continue to build arm strength and work on his command. On July 17, he was ..."
October 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Weary of listening to folks harp continually about the 1982 team, the 2008 edition of the Milwaukee Brewers set out to carve its own niche in franchise history. That meant playoffs or bust, because anything less would be considered a disappointment. And, after management went "all in" with the acquisition of left-hander CC Sabathia in early July, making it to October ball became an absolute must. It became mission accomplished when the Brewers clinched the wild-card berth on the final day of the regular season, with Sabathia tossing a four-hitter against the rival Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets completing another collapse at Shea Stadium. But no one could have seen the turbulence ahead ..."
October 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Milwaukee Brewers re-signed four of their minor-league pitchers and extended invitations to spring training. The pitchers are right-hander Joe Bateman and left-handers Lindsay Gulin, Sam Narron and Chris Narveson. AdvertisementBateman split the season between Class AA Huntsville, where he posted a 2.47 earned run average with four saves in 26 relief outings, and Class AAA Nashville, where he had a 1.60 ERA in 23 relief outings with four saves. Gulin made 23 starts for Nashville and three relief outings, going 7-7 with a 3.54 ERA, with 120 strikeouts in 137 1/3 innings. Narron went 6-1 with a 2.77 ERA in eight starts for Huntsville, then moved up to Nashville and went 9-4 with a 4.80 ..."
October 7
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Flash or substance? Experience or familiarity? Those are the questions the Milwaukee Brewers must answer internally to decide if they will remove the "interim" from Dale Sveum's managerial status or look elsewhere for a field boss for 2009 and beyond. By virtue of squatting rights, Sveum will get the first opportunity to convince general manager Doug Melvin and his staff - with owner Mark Attanasio's