Brewers believe chemistry key component to success

There's a feeling when you walk into the Brewers clubhouse that these guys have known each other forever.

And in some cases, they just about have.

"I played with Rickie [Weeks] in middle school," Prince Fielder said. "We didn't talk at all then. I knew him, but he didn't talk much."

What about now?

"Now, that's all we do is talk," Fielder said with a laugh.

Dave Bush gave the Brewers more to talk about after his near no-hitter against champion Philadelphia. (Getty Images)

There's been plenty to talk about with the Brewers this week, from their slow start to Ryan Braun's description of that slow start and finally to Dave Bush coming within five outs of the most improbable no-hitter.

The Brewers, of course, were talking about all of it.

"Obviously, I haven't played for anyone else," Braun said. "But I can't imagine a team getting along better than this one does."

The Brewers believe in themselves, but they also believe in that familiarity. They've brought this group of players together, and they're not eager to tear it apart.

"How many teams do you know that have eight returning position players?" owner Mark Attanasio asks proudly.

When the Brewers lost CC Sabathia to free agency, their immediate thought was that they'd have to trade a position player or two, either to get a starting pitcher or to free up money to go get one. Instead, Attanasio and general manager Doug Melvin decided to keep this group together.

And even as the Brewers struggled early in the season (they were 4-9 before winning the final two games in Philadelphia this week), Attanasio remained confident that they had made the right decision.

"These guys were winners in the minor leagues, and now they've made the playoffs in the major leagues," he said. "We've surrounded them with guys who have won. And Ken Macha has only finished in first or second place every year he's been a manager.

"So all of a sudden these guys are going to start losing this year? I don't think so."

Attanasio said this spring that he's had to stretch to make the Brewers payroll work in Milwaukee's small market. Melvin knows that some changes will be necessary as players like shortstop J.J. Hardy get closer to free agency.

"We'll get to the point where we'll have some tough decisions," he said. "But we'd like to try to keep them all."

That would be fine with Braun.

"I can't imagine any team in baseball having better chemistry and camaraderie," he said.

Melvin, who took over the Brewers late in the 2002 season, believed that, too. But he also said this spring that he wanted to hear from Macha and new bench coach Willie Randolph.

"Willie gave them the greatest compliment," Melvin said. "We went to dinner one night, and he said this was a special group, and that they remind him of the Yankees of the late 1990s in the way they approach the game."

Macha said simply, "All the things that were said about these players have turned out to be true."

What's also true is that the Brewers lineup, at least so far, hasn't been as productive as expected. Through Thursday, the Brewers were 22nd in baseball in runs scored. The Brewers were 14th in the National League in hitting, and third in strikeouts.

One scout who watched the Brewers recently suggested that the hitters were affected by the problems on the pitching staff, and especially in the bullpen. With closer Trevor Hoffman on the disabled list to start the season, the Brewers had four blown saves before they had their second save.

Hoffman should be back soon, perhaps by the start of next week. As for the hitters, they think things will get better soon.

"It's just a matter of time," Braun said. "We all still believe in ourselves, and we believe in each other."

They believe in each other, and they like each other.

"I really can't explain it," Fielder said. "I guess we're just easy to get along with."

It's almost as if they've been together forever. In some cases, they just about have been.