You have to wonder if Doug Melvin will give him a single bullet to keep in his pocket, too:

Melvin, who made the blockbuster trade for pitcher CC Sabathia at midseason in 2008 that propelled the Brewers to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years, took offense to the suggestion that he isn't looking under every rock for pitching help.

"We all work every day from 9 a.m. to midnight, and basically 12 months a year," said Melvin, referring to his baseball staff. "I'll be glad to have Ryan help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy."

Melvin also mentioned comments he read from Braun about hitters not having scouting reports last week on San Francisco newcomer Ryan Sadowski, who shut them out for six innings in a 7-0 Giants victory. Melvin said the team had scouting reports on Sadowski, who pitched seven shutout innings against Houston in his next outing.

"I don't like criticizing players; it's out of character for me," Melvin said. "But I'm tired of it and I need to protect the people under us. Everybody's working as hard as they can to make this a winning organization.

"He's too talented a player to be doing this so early in his career. He just has to be careful about what he says."

We've had a lot of fun with Doug Melvin here at WV23 over the years, but we're really enjoying the way he has handled his precocious slugger this week.