CC Sabathia Stops Agent from Cautioning Brewers

Brewers ace CC Sabathia -- awaiting his third successive start on three days rest next Sunday -- has told his agent to stop complaining to his team's front office about his arm being overused or injured, according to baseball commentator Peter Gammons in an interview on radio station 1050 am in New York.

"Don't call them anymore," Gammons quoted Sabathia as telling his representatives at Legend Sports Group. "I want to win."

And win he has, striking out 11 in seven innings in a 4-2 victory over the Pirates, bringing the Brewers into a tie with the Mets for a wild card berth with just four games left to play.

The Brewers will start Sabathia on three days rest again on Sunday to avoid having to pitch other struggling starters.

Sabathia's most recent outing was his second in a week, a pace that has prompted concern among his representatives that he may injure his arm and undermine his attempt to enter the free agent market to gain an unprecedented, six-year contract exceeding $15 million a year.

No Chance to Escape for Brewers Billy Hall

Struggling Brewers infielder-outfielder Billy Hall has reportedly asked General Manager Doug Melvin to trade him if the team has no further use for him than as a platoon player and pinch hitter.

Sure thing, Billy. There's people in Hell that want ice water, too.

With the Brewers playoff berth still within reach, one can hardly expect Melvin to deal away a right-handed role player who is hitting better than .360 against lefties, though Hall's overall effort at the plate has been sorely lacking.

Expect Melvin and manager Ned Yost to continue to hold Hall in reserve while riding out the hot streak of Hall's replacement, Russell Branyan, currently hitting home runs at a rate of nearly one per seven at-bats for a total of nine since being called up last month.

Tony Gwynn Jr., 'Chip Off Old Rock,' Leading Team

Brewers prospect Tony Gwynn Jr. -- 26-year-old son of the Hall of Fame former Padres singles hitter -- is starting to show why Milwaukee General Manager Doug Melvin selected him as the 29th overall pick in the 2003 draft.

Gwynn's .310 average leads the Triple A Nashville Sounds among players with 75 or more at-bats, staging Gwynn's rendezvous with a major front office decision on whether the Brewers should promote or trade him.

Ordinarily, trading Gwynn might be considered unthinkable. But the possibility becomes closer to reality as Melvin must determine whether the team has a realistic shot at competing for a wild card berth this year, thus creating a need to deal Gwynn or other young players to acquire pitching for the playoff run.

Further complicating the issue is that Gwynn is blocked in Milwaukee by left fielder Ryan Braun, center fielder Mike Cameron and right fielder Corey Hart. If Gwynn continues to be held as a deep reserve, the team risks losing him altogether as he will soon be out of options and must be exposed to other teams should he be called up then sent down again next season.