The Milwaukee Brewers, the financially strapped, low-budget, small-market team that many “experts” regarded as a certain loser, looked like a playoff contender with the 39-37 record it carried into a weekend series against the 31-44 White Sox.
The Brewers recently won seven games in a row, and they’re 13-5 in July. All-Star third baseman Kevin Seitzer, trying Friday night to explain his team’s surprising success, started with manager Phil Garner.
“He’s a players’ manager,” said Seitzer. “He doesn’t put undue pressure on players. We have young players, more maybe than we’d like to have, but . . . they’ve performed above expectations.”
What about being a small-market team, unable to afford to pick up an expensive star for a stretch run?
“We make do with what we have,” said Seitzer. “If we can’t afford to make a real deal, we won’t whine and cry about it.”
Righetti’s role: White Sox manager Terry Bevington clarified (sort of) the current role of 36-year-old lefty Dave Righetti. “Right now he’s in the bullpen, but there’s a definite chance he may be a starter, not a spot starter but in the rotation.”
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Strange bedfellows: On June 29, Sox reliever Rob Dibble hit Brewers infielder Rusty Listach with the pitch that caused Listach to charge the mound. Both benches emptied, and Dibble was subsequently suspended for two games. Friday night Dibble and Listach shared side-by-side lockers in the visitors’ clubhouse in Comiskey Park. Dibble, released by the Sox and trying to catch on with another club, worked out with the Brewers before the game.
Into the community: Sox outfielder Tim Raines and former Sox great Minnie Minoso took part Friday in the Inner City Games “Day of Champions” in Grant Park.
Farm notes: Rod Bolton improved his record to 11-3 for Triple-A Nashville with a six-hitter in a 5-1 victory over the Iowa Cubs.