07-13-2004, 08:18 AM
Sheets' season a true All-Star one
Gannett News Sevice
July 13, 2004
HOUSTON - Atlanta's Johnny Estrada took about a half of second and shot back a one-word answer that said it all.
"Definitely."
The question: Would he want to catch Ben Sheets' breaking ball rather than attempt to hit it?
Such is the response Sheets, the former Louisiana-Monroe standout, has been inducing this season. His reward for a 9-5, 2.26 ERA first half: a second selection to the National League All-Star team.
Sheets and his NL teammates face the American League in the 75th All-Star Game at 7 p.m. today at Minute Maid Park.
"It's a little easier the second time through," Sheets said of the All-Star routine. "You still get to come out and enjoy yourself as much as you can. The first one came so early in my career that, looking back on it, I was probably more fan than player."
Sheets is no longer a big-eyed rookie, trying to make his mark on a team like he was in 2001 when he was Milwaukee's lone All-Star representative in the game at Seattle's Safeco Field. In that game, Sheets retired the only batter he faced in the National League's 4-1 loss.
In his fourth full major league season, however, Sheets has been making opposing hitters big-eyed. The 25-year-old right-hander has limited opponents to a .194 batting average and fanned 133 in 123 1/3 innings.
In one of the first half's most impressive individual performances, Sheets struck out 18 Atlanta hitters.
"He struck out 18 against us in Milwaukee," said Estrada, who could wind up catching Sheets at some point tonight. "He had that unbelievable breaking ball and was throwing a good fastball. He's just a good pitcher. He was challenging us with his fastball early in the count and then it seemed like every curveball in the dirt, we were swinging at."
Sheets' emergence as a staff ace has been a major key behind the Brewers' surprising first half, a half in which they remained an above-.500 club for virtually the entire three-plus months.
Sheets isn't alone in taking responsibility for Milwaukee's surprising success, nor does he claim to be.
Dan Kolb has been close to perfect in save situations, which in turn has given the rotation confidence in a once-beleaguered bullpen.
"It's tremendous," Sheets said. "It's almost like an eight-inning game. If we're ahead after eight, we feel we've got the win. We're just trying to get ahead early and stay ahead."
Sheets also got to play elder statesman in his second All-Star appearance as Kolb made the trek with him.
"Pretty much what he told me was keep your eyes open and pay attention," Kolb said. "He said he was so wide-eyed that he didn't pay attention to what was going on in the game."
<a href='http://www.thenewsstar.com/sports/html/DE35817E-2BDA-41AC-8B7A-9C66341CE8A1.shtml' target='_blank'>LINK</a>
Gannett News Sevice
July 13, 2004
HOUSTON - Atlanta's Johnny Estrada took about a half of second and shot back a one-word answer that said it all.
"Definitely."
The question: Would he want to catch Ben Sheets' breaking ball rather than attempt to hit it?
Such is the response Sheets, the former Louisiana-Monroe standout, has been inducing this season. His reward for a 9-5, 2.26 ERA first half: a second selection to the National League All-Star team.
Sheets and his NL teammates face the American League in the 75th All-Star Game at 7 p.m. today at Minute Maid Park.
"It's a little easier the second time through," Sheets said of the All-Star routine. "You still get to come out and enjoy yourself as much as you can. The first one came so early in my career that, looking back on it, I was probably more fan than player."
Sheets is no longer a big-eyed rookie, trying to make his mark on a team like he was in 2001 when he was Milwaukee's lone All-Star representative in the game at Seattle's Safeco Field. In that game, Sheets retired the only batter he faced in the National League's 4-1 loss.
In his fourth full major league season, however, Sheets has been making opposing hitters big-eyed. The 25-year-old right-hander has limited opponents to a .194 batting average and fanned 133 in 123 1/3 innings.
In one of the first half's most impressive individual performances, Sheets struck out 18 Atlanta hitters.
"He struck out 18 against us in Milwaukee," said Estrada, who could wind up catching Sheets at some point tonight. "He had that unbelievable breaking ball and was throwing a good fastball. He's just a good pitcher. He was challenging us with his fastball early in the count and then it seemed like every curveball in the dirt, we were swinging at."
Sheets' emergence as a staff ace has been a major key behind the Brewers' surprising first half, a half in which they remained an above-.500 club for virtually the entire three-plus months.
Sheets isn't alone in taking responsibility for Milwaukee's surprising success, nor does he claim to be.
Dan Kolb has been close to perfect in save situations, which in turn has given the rotation confidence in a once-beleaguered bullpen.
"It's tremendous," Sheets said. "It's almost like an eight-inning game. If we're ahead after eight, we feel we've got the win. We're just trying to get ahead early and stay ahead."
Sheets also got to play elder statesman in his second All-Star appearance as Kolb made the trek with him.
"Pretty much what he told me was keep your eyes open and pay attention," Kolb said. "He said he was so wide-eyed that he didn't pay attention to what was going on in the game."
<a href='http://www.thenewsstar.com/sports/html/DE35817E-2BDA-41AC-8B7A-9C66341CE8A1.shtml' target='_blank'>LINK</a>