Cole Hamels is one of the best young pitchers in all of baseball and has a chance to be a major winner for a long time if he stays healthy.  His change-up is sick, and he mixes the breaking ball and a good fastball in with the ability to throw any of the three in any count.  He has deception in his delivery and a lot of poise too.  The Brewers had a shot at a huge first inning but had to settle for three runs when the number-eight-batting Dave Bush fanned with two aboard to end the inning.  As it turned out Milwaukee would not score again until the eighth inning when Charlie Manuel probably left him in too long and Prince Fielder lined a two-run home run to give the Brewers the lead. 

  Speaking of Fielder, can we stop the talk about the vegetables yet?  Ryan Howard is eating steak and is batting under .200 with a sub-.400 SLG and a strike out every couple of at-bats.  The season is barely underway and there is no reason to worry about anybody's numbers at this point.  Prince's two home runs tonight should calm everybody down.

  It was great to see Derrick Turnbow work a scoreless ninth for the save.  T-Bow is one of the game's most quality people.  Getting him confident and fully in form, as he appeared to be tonight, could be one of the real keys to the Brewers' season.  I know everybody in the clubhouse was really happy for him just as we were in the booth.

   I was sorry to see Gabe Gross go.  He is a really good human being, a fine athlete, and good clubhouse guy.  I think he deserves a shot at regular duty somewhere and perhaps that chance will come in Tampa Bay.  With good power and an excellent eye, Gross could put up a surprising OPS if he got a chance to play regularly.  The only black mark against Gross is that he went to Auburn.  Oh well.

  Geoff Jenkins was treated as warmly by the Brewers' fans tonight as I can remember any player being treated upon their return.  It reminded me of when Jeff Cirillo came back to town.  Jenkins played hard all the time and the fans clearly appreciated that.

 
  It was an awfully nice win with the late comeback against Hamels and now the team has a chance to sweep the brief two-game set.  Talk to you in the morning...it is a noon start tomorrow.