Congratulations to Corey Hart on his All Star bid and congratulations to all Brewer fans who voted. What an amazing week. Ryan Braun (an All Star starter), Ben Sheets returning to the mid-summer classic, the CC trade, JJ Hardy named Player of the Week, a 5-2 homestand and Corey Hart voted in.  Milwaukee is truly the small market making big noise! Should be fun to see Bruan, Sheets and Hart do their thing at Yankee Stadium.

Leading up to the All Star break, it’s the Brewers and the Reds…enjoy some “game prep” information to get you up to speed:

– Cincinnati and Milwaukee have split six games played in 2008 with each taking two of three away from home.

– The Reds have won five of their past seven games. In their last win, the Reds gave up seven runs, their fourth victory of the season when giving up at least seven runs.

– The Brewers have won five of their last seven contests and are 28-14 in their last 42 games.

– Milwaukee’s 28-14 record in games since May 26 is the best in Major League Baseball in this span.

– In his last seven games, Adam Dunn is slugging .731 (19/26) with four home runs, four runs scored and six RBIs.

– In his last 11 games, J.J. Hardy is batting .489 (22-for-45), slugging 1.067 (48/45) with five doubles, seven home runs, 11 runs scored and 14 runs batted in.

– Homer Bailey will start Sunday’s game replacing Aaron Harang, who was scratched with a strained right forearm.

Reds Injury update:

RHP Aaron Harang (tight right forearm) was scratched from his scheduled start July 5, but he started July 8 at Chicago. An MRI revealed a strain, and he will be placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 9.

OF Ryan Freel (partially torn right hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list June 4. He is out indefinitely.

OF Norris Hopper (torn ligament in right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list July 2. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery July 8.

SS Alex Gonzalez (compression fracture in left knee) opened the season on the 15-day disabled list, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 28. He suffered another setback June 6 when he limped off the field after trying to run. He had season-ending surgery July 7.

For the Brewers off the field, I’m proud of Mike Cameron, who treated 1,700 YMCA kids to a game on Thursday as part of the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee’s 150th anniversary. Not only did he purchase game tickets, but took care of trasportation as well. I’ve been on a few projects with Cameron and he is a first class person in the community.

See you after the break.

-BA