RHP Ben Sheets, who has been on the disabled list since April 21 because of an inner ear infection, threw 75 pitches - 53 strikes - in an extended spring training game in Peoria, Arizona on Monday. The 2004 All-Star allowed four runs - two earned - and four hits while striking out five and walking two.
The Milwaukee Brewers, who have been without the services of their ace right-hander since he began experiencing dizzy spells after pitching a game April 20 in Houston, will welcome Sheets back to the mound when they face the Astros tonight at Miller Park.
"For me, it will be like that series (in Houston) never ended," Sheets said, laughing before the game Friday night. "It'll just be like one long series."
The hard part was finding a spot for Sheets on the roster. In the aftermath of their 3-0 victory over Houston, the Brewers sent reliever Mike Adams to Class AAA Nashville. Adams, who had been bothered by shoulder soreness earlier in the season, was surprised by the news.
"I didn't think I was going bad enough for it to be me," said Adams, who had appeared in 13 games and had a 2.70 earned run average. "It's a business. What are you going to do?"
When you consider the performance of the pitching staff, which entered the weekend ranked third in the National League in earned run average (3.51) and first in opponents' batting average (.237), the Brewers' hesitation was understandable. Adams was the only reliever who would not have to be placed on waivers in order to go to the minor leagues.
Sheets, who threw 75 pitches in a game at extended spring training Monday in Arizona and then completed a bullpen session on Wednesday, was cleared by team doctor Craig Young but is still feeling some effects from his bout with vestibular neuritis, an inner-ear disorder that also sidelined him for a start last year.
"It's not getting worse," Sheets said. "It's kind of stayed at a stalemate the last week and a half. Actually, I woke up today and felt a lot better than I have in the last week and a half. That was encouraging.
"The dizziness is gone. I'm just a little foggy."
What's the difference?
"If you'd have it, you'd know," Sheets said.
Sheets, who said his condition worsens when he gets tired, was asked if he was worried about long-term effects or frequent recurrences of the disorder.
"I don't like it," he said. "I don't have to like it. It is what it is. Whether it's there or it ain't there, (whether) it's going to go away, who knows? I don't know.
"But I have the ability to see where I'm throwing and (to) focus and concentrate and move around freely. I don't know what else I need to play baseball. As long as I don't close my eyes, I'm great. I don't close my eyes when I play, so that's a good thing."
"For me, it will be like that series (in Houston) never ended," Sheets said, laughing before the game Friday night. "It'll just be like one long series."
The hard part was finding a spot for Sheets on the roster. In the aftermath of their 3-0 victory over Houston, the Brewers sent reliever Mike Adams to Class AAA Nashville. Adams, who had been bothered by shoulder soreness earlier in the season, was surprised by the news.
"I didn't think I was going bad enough for it to be me," said Adams, who had appeared in 13 games and had a 2.70 earned run average. "It's a business. What are you going to do?"
When you consider the performance of the pitching staff, which entered the weekend ranked third in the National League in earned run average (3.51) and first in opponents' batting average (.237), the Brewers' hesitation was understandable. Adams was the only reliever who would not have to be placed on waivers in order to go to the minor leagues.
Sheets, who threw 75 pitches in a game at extended spring training Monday in Arizona and then completed a bullpen session on Wednesday, was cleared by team doctor Craig Young but is still feeling some effects from his bout with vestibular neuritis, an inner-ear disorder that also sidelined him for a start last year.
"It's not getting worse," Sheets said. "It's kind of stayed at a stalemate the last week and a half. Actually, I woke up today and felt a lot better than I have in the last week and a half. That was encouraging.
"The dizziness is gone. I'm just a little foggy."
What's the difference?
"If you'd have it, you'd know," Sheets said.
Sheets, who said his condition worsens when he gets tired, was asked if he was worried about long-term effects or frequent recurrences of the disorder.
"I don't like it," he said. "I don't have to like it. It is what it is. Whether it's there or it ain't there, (whether) it's going to go away, who knows? I don't know.
"But I have the ability to see where I'm throwing and (to) focus and concentrate and move around freely. I don't know what else I need to play baseball. As long as I don't close my eyes, I'm great. I don't close my eyes when I play, so that's a good thing."
