SHEETS READY FOR REHAB STINT THE BREWERS' ACE WILL MAKE THE FIRST OF AT LEAST TWO MINOR LEAGUE STARTS SATURDAY.(SPORTS)(BREWER NOTES)(Column)

Byline: VIC FEUERHERD vfeuerherd@madison.com 608-252-6175

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers have a plan to put their roster back together. All that remains is to find out if the plan will work.

The Brewers announced a rehabilitation program Wednesday for pitcher Ben Sheets, one that if successful will put him on the same recovery track as fellow injured starter Tomo Ohka.

Sheets, who has been out since early May because of shoulder tendinitis, is coming off an encouraging 45-pitch simulated game session Tuesday. He will make the first of at least two rehab starts this Saturday for Class AAA Nashville, with a limit around 70 pitches.

Ohka, out since May because of a slight tear of the right rotator cuff, is scheduled to make his second rehab start the same night for Class A Brevard County.

The two are then scheduled to rejoin the Brewers in Arizona next Thursday, the last day of the All-Star break for the team. Ohka is scheduled to throw a third rehab start that day with the Brewers' team in the Arizona Rookie League. Sheets is slated to make his second rehab outing the following day.

The Brewers also announced that left-hander Jorge de la Rosa (finger blister) will make four more rehab starts for Class AA Huntsville starting Saturday.

Making moves

The Brewers announced two roster moves after their 6-5, 13-inning win over Cincinnati.

Milwaukee designated backup catcher Chad Moeller for assignment and purchased the contract of catcher Mike Rivera from Class AAA Nashville. Moeller, a popular player in the clubhouse and reliable defensive catcher for the past 2 1/2 seasons, finally saw his offensive liabilities catch up to him. He was hitting just .184 and had only five hits in his last 52 at-bats (.096).

The Brewers also sent rookie pitcher Carlos Villanueva, the right-hander who started Wednesday's game, to Nashville. However, with the upcoming All-Star break, his spot in the rotation won't come up for 13 days. To take his spot, Milwaukee recalled left-hander Dana Eveland from Nashville to help its taxed bullpen.

Getting the vote out

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that Brewers left-hander Chris Capuano was a "close" second behind Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra in the fan voting for the final position on the National League All-Star team.

Online -- at MLB.com or milwaukeebrewers.com -- and text messaging voting ends at 5 p.m. today.

"If he was within 125 this morning, he's got the lead now," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "I (voted) until my fingers were numb."

The Brewers have some positive history in the vote, having orchestrated a campaign that saw Geoff Jenkins win the spot in 2003.

Capuano (9-4, 3.45 ERA) will try to become the third NL pitcher to reach double digits in victories tonight against the Cubs. After spending the past couple of days making the television and radio show interview circuit, Capuano was ready to shut down the campaign.

"It's getting to the point where I need to start focusing on the Cubs," he said. "I'm not going to think about the All-Star Game or talk about it (today). No more interviews, at least until after the game."

CAPTION(S):

Photos of Ben Sheets, Chris Capuano

SHEETS READY FOR REHAB STINT THE BREWERS' ACE WILL MAKE THE FIRST OF AT LEAST TWO MINOR LEAGUE STARTS SATURDAY.(SPORTS)(BREWER NOTES)(Column)

Byline: VIC FEUERHERD vfeuerherd@madison.com 608-252-6175

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers have a plan to put their roster back together. All that remains is to find out if the plan will work.

The Brewers announced a rehabilitation program Wednesday for pitcher Ben Sheets, one that if successful will put him on the same recovery track as fellow injured starter Tomo Ohka.

Sheets, who has been out since early May because of shoulder tendinitis, is coming off an encouraging 45-pitch simulated game session Tuesday. He will make the first of at least two rehab starts this Saturday for Class AAA Nashville, with a limit around 70 pitches.

Ohka, out since May because of a slight tear of the right rotator cuff, is scheduled to make his second rehab start the same night for Class A Brevard County.

The two are then scheduled to rejoin the Brewers in Arizona next Thursday, the last day of the All-Star break for the team. Ohka is scheduled to throw a third rehab start that day with the Brewers' team in the Arizona Rookie League. Sheets is slated to make his second rehab outing the following day.

The Brewers also announced that left-hander Jorge de la Rosa (finger blister) will make four more rehab starts for Class AA Huntsville starting Saturday.

Making moves

The Brewers announced two roster moves after their 6-5, 13-inning win over Cincinnati.

Milwaukee designated backup catcher Chad Moeller for assignment and purchased the contract of catcher Mike Rivera from Class AAA Nashville. Moeller, a popular player in the clubhouse and reliable defensive catcher for the past 2 1/2 seasons, finally saw his offensive liabilities catch up to him. He was hitting just .184 and had only five hits in his last 52 at-bats (.096).

The Brewers also sent rookie pitcher Carlos Villanueva, the right-hander who started Wednesday's game, to Nashville. However, with the upcoming All-Star break, his spot in the rotation won't come up for 13 days. To take his spot, Milwaukee recalled left-hander Dana Eveland from Nashville to help its taxed bullpen.

Getting the vote out

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that Brewers left-hander Chris Capuano was a "close" second behind Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra in the fan voting for the final position on the National League All-Star team.

Online -- at MLB.com or milwaukeebrewers.com -- and text messaging voting ends at 5 p.m. today.

"If he was within 125 this morning, he's got the lead now," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "I (voted) until my fingers were numb."

The Brewers have some positive history in the vote, having orchestrated a campaign that saw Geoff Jenkins win the spot in 2003.

Capuano (9-4, 3.45 ERA) will try to become the third NL pitcher to reach double digits in victories tonight against the Cubs. After spending the past couple of days making the television and radio show interview circuit, Capuano was ready to shut down the campaign.

"It's getting to the point where I need to start focusing on the Cubs," he said. "I'm not going to think about the All-Star Game or talk about it (today). No more interviews, at least until after the game."

CAPTION(S):

Photos of Ben Sheets, Chris Capuano

SHEETS READY FOR REHAB STINT THE BREWERS' ACE WILL MAKE THE FIRST OF AT LEAST TWO MINOR LEAGUE STARTS SATURDAY.(SPORTS)(BREWER NOTES)(Column)

Byline: VIC FEUERHERD vfeuerherd@madison.com 608-252-6175

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers have a plan to put their roster back together. All that remains is to find out if the plan will work.

The Brewers announced a rehabilitation program Wednesday for pitcher Ben Sheets, one that if successful will put him on the same recovery track as fellow injured starter Tomo Ohka.

Sheets, who has been out since early May because of shoulder tendinitis, is coming off an encouraging 45-pitch simulated game session Tuesday. He will make the first of at least two rehab starts this Saturday for Class AAA Nashville, with a limit around 70 pitches.

Ohka, out since May because of a slight tear of the right rotator cuff, is scheduled to make his second rehab start the same night for Class A Brevard County.

The two are then scheduled to rejoin the Brewers in Arizona next Thursday, the last day of the All-Star break for the team. Ohka is scheduled to throw a third rehab start that day with the Brewers' team in the Arizona Rookie League. Sheets is slated to make his second rehab outing the following day.

The Brewers also announced that left-hander Jorge de la Rosa (finger blister) will make four more rehab starts for Class AA Huntsville starting Saturday.

Making moves

The Brewers announced two roster moves after their 6-5, 13-inning win over Cincinnati.

Milwaukee designated backup catcher Chad Moeller for assignment and purchased the contract of catcher Mike Rivera from Class AAA Nashville. Moeller, a popular player in the clubhouse and reliable defensive catcher for the past 2 1/2 seasons, finally saw his offensive liabilities catch up to him. He was hitting just .184 and had only five hits in his last 52 at-bats (.096).

The Brewers also sent rookie pitcher Carlos Villanueva, the right-hander who started Wednesday's game, to Nashville. However, with the upcoming All-Star break, his spot in the rotation won't come up for 13 days. To take his spot, Milwaukee recalled left-hander Dana Eveland from Nashville to help its taxed bullpen.

Getting the vote out

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that Brewers left-hander Chris Capuano was a "close" second behind Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra in the fan voting for the final position on the National League All-Star team.

Online -- at MLB.com or milwaukeebrewers.com -- and text messaging voting ends at 5 p.m. today.

"If he was within 125 this morning, he's got the lead now," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "I (voted) until my fingers were numb."

The Brewers have some positive history in the vote, having orchestrated a campaign that saw Geoff Jenkins win the spot in 2003.

Capuano (9-4, 3.45 ERA) will try to become the third NL pitcher to reach double digits in victories tonight against the Cubs. After spending the past couple of days making the television and radio show interview circuit, Capuano was ready to shut down the campaign.

"It's getting to the point where I need to start focusing on the Cubs," he said. "I'm not going to think about the All-Star Game or talk about it (today). No more interviews, at least until after the game."

CAPTION(S):

Photos of Ben Sheets, Chris Capuano