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Brewers welcome Sabathia

MILWAUKEE — With 12 seasons under his big-league belt, Jason Kendall has been around the baseball block a few times.

Yet, in his own quiet, understated way, Kendall was pumped when he heard the Milwaukee Brewers had acquired CC Sabathia from Cleveland.

“We’re talking about the (2007) Cy Young winner,” the veteran catcher said. “There’s definitely a buzz in the clubhouse today.

“We already had a very good team. You get somebody of that caliber, that’s something. It’s very cool.”

That was the general reaction Monday in the home clubhouse at Miller Park as the Brewers, already one of the hottest teams in the National League, wrapped their collective minds around the idea of having the biggest catch on the pitching market on their side.

All-star right-hander Ben Sheets didn’t seem to mind one bit going from ace to co-ace overnight.

“What’s not to like?” Sheets said. “This is good for us, good for the fans.

“We were fine as we were. This makes us that much better.”

No one seemed happier to have Sabathia than first baseman Prince Fielder, who got to know the 6-foot-7, 290-pound left-hander during off-season commitments together.

“He’s awesome,” Fielder said. “He’s kind of like me, a big dude. That’s cool to have another big guy in here. I can get some more XXXL T-shirts. I can go in his locker and get some, I guess.

“I’m just happy to have him. He’s a funny guy. That’s what I like about him. His wife and my wife talked and got along, so that’s pretty cool. It’s a big plus for us.”

The Brewers had to give up a lot to get Sabathia, including top prospect Matt LaPorta and minor-league pitchers Zach Jackson and Rob Bryson. The “player to be named” will be a solid prospect as well, believed to be either outfielder Michael Brantley or third baseman Taylor Green, depending on Cleveland’s eventual choice.

But no one wearing a Brewers uniform was worried about the future price paid to acquire Sabathia. With the best record in the league over the previous six weeks, players allowed themselves to dream about the possibilities for the remainder of 2008.

“I’m not worried about five years from now. I’m worried about right now,” said Sheets, who like Sabathia will be a free agent after the season.

Reliever David Riske, who played five seasons with Sabathia in Cleveland, planted a bug in the ear of general manager Doug Melvin a few weeks ago. Riske suggested that it might be a good idea to pursue his former teammate.

“I just told Doug that he’s a great person, obviously a great pitcher,” Riske said. “He’s very intimidating and has overpowering stuff.

“I’m really excited that we got him. He’s a horse. He eats up innings. And one thing people don’t know—he can hit. He hit a 440-foot homer this year in Dodger Stadium (off Los Angeles’ Chan Ho Park).”

Fielder saw film of that titanic shot by Sabathia and laughed.

“It went as far as any ball I ever hit,” he said. “When you’re that big and you run into one, it’s going to go a long ways. “

Pitching coach Mike Maddux has never seen Sabathia pitch in person. But he planned to spend a good portion of his day reviewing videotape of some of Sabathia’s performances to get a feel for his repertoire—mid-90s fastball, sharp-breaking slider and knee-buckling changeup.

“It’s a boost to the team and to morale,” Maddux said. “It shows the conviction of going forward by the organization. Now, we just need to keep pushing and see what CC brings to the table.

“Like any veteran guy, he has a track record of what he does successful. All pitchers of his stature have more than one way to get you out.”

Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron is much like Sabathia, choosing to do his leading in a quiet manner. Asked what he thought of the Brewers’ big move, Cameron’s eyes brightened.

“It’s a blessing to get a guy like that,” Cameron said. “Milwaukee’s starting to turn up the dial.”