2004–2006: Building a winner History of professional baseball in Milwaukee

1 2004–2006: building winner

1.1 2004
1.2 2005
1.3 2006

2004–2006: building winner

on january 16, 2004, selig announced ownership group putting team sale, great relief of many fans unhappy team s lackluster performance , poor management daughter, wendy selig-prieb, on previous decade. in september 2004, brewers announced had reached verbal agreement los angeles investment banker mark attanasio purchase team reported us$223 million. sale attanasio completed on january 13, 2005, @ major league baseball s quarterly owners meeting. other members of attanasio s ownership group include private equity investor john canning, jr., david uihlein, harris turer , stephen marcus, of whom involved previous ownership group led major league baseball commissioner bud selig. since taking on franchise, attanasio has worked hard build bridges milwaukee baseball fans, including giving away every seat final home game of 2005 free of charge , bringing classic ball , glove logo of club s glory days on retro friday home games, during wear versions of team s old pinstriped uniforms.

2004

the brewers caused stir in first half of 2004 season, when team had winning record in first half of season, briefly being in 1st place in nl central. however, lack of productive offense doomed brewers , club sunk last place, finishing season 67–94. brewers did have bright moments during season pitcher ben sheets striking out 18 atlanta braves in 1 game , brewers coming 9-run deficit beat cincinnati reds.

after 2004 season, mark attanasio in control of franchise, brewers able spend money on free agents. brewers first significant free-agent signing in many years veteran catcher damian miller, wisconsin native, , address need better run production, brewers traded speedy outfielder scott podsednik , relief pitcher luis vizcaíno chicago white sox in exchange slugging outfielder carlos lee. arrival of lee gave brewer fans higher hopes better seasons on way brewers.

rickie weeks , prince fielder @ spring training, 2005


2005

in 2005, under attanasio s ownership, team finished 81–81 secure first non-losing record since 1992. true form, carlos lee provided brewers needed run support, hitting 32 home runs , driving in 112. starting pitcher chris capuano had stellar season, going 18–12 3.99 era, wins brewer pitcher since pete vuckovich won 18 games in 1982.

with solid base of young talent assembled on past 5 years, including prince fielder, rickie weeks, j. j. hardy , corey hart, brewers showed renewed competitiveness. further encouraging sentiment, brewers had hired former stars yount (bench coach; resigned in november 2006) , dale sveum (third base coach), both popular players brewers in 80s.

2006

in 2006, brewers play disappointed fans, players, , management. began season 5–1 , had 14–11 record @ end of april. on mother s day bill hall hit walk off home run mother in stands, play shown on espn throughout summer. however, starters jj hardy, rickie weeks, , corey koskie lost injuries, , brewers forced trade veteran infielders david bell , tony graffanino. suffered setbacks when losing starting pitchers ben sheets , tomo ohka substantial amount of time, forcing triple starters ben hendrickson, dana eveland, carlos villanueva, , zach jackson starting roles @ different points in year. shortly before star break brewers climbed 1 game above .500, lost next 3 chicago cubs , never return .500. after star break closer derrick turnbow blew 4 straight save opportunities. led brewers being far enough down in standings management decided trade free agent-to-be carlos lee texas rangers closer francisco cordero, outfielder kevin mench, , 2 minor league prospects. cordero replaced turnbow brewers closer , had immediate success, converting first 13 save opportunities. on august 24 brewers completed sweep of colorado rockies climb less 5 games out in both nl central division , nl wild card races, milwaukee went on 10-game losing streak ended postseason hope. brewers did rebound , play in september including four-game sweep of san francisco, little late. brewers ended season 75–87 record.

at end of season, attanasio stated , general manager doug melvin have make decisions returning players 2007 season. young players waiting in minor leagues, during off-season key additions starting pitcher , 2006 nlcs mvp jeff suppan, starter claudio vargas, reliever greg aquino, catcher johnny estrada, , returning brewer craig counsell. brewers parted ways 2006 starters doug davis , tomo ohka, fan favorite jeff cirillo, wanted more playing time team.