Major League Baseball
Another Washingtonian blooms in Milwaukee

By Larry Stone
Seattle Times staff reporter

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The Brewers are developing a proud tradition of Washington-bred first basemen, and the latest — Centralia's Lyle Overbay, who is superbly replacing Brush Prairie's Richie Sexson — is a younger version of yet another in the breed.

"Gord Ash (the Brewers' assistant general manager, formerly with Toronto) sees a lot of a young John Olerud in Lyle," Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin said in a phone interview. "John was a well-respected hitter, and so is Lyle — pitch him outside, and he'll shoot it down the left-field line. It's amazing the doubles he's been getting."

Indeed, Overbay's emergence as a frontline run producer has changed the evaluation of last winter's Sexson trade, widely viewed as a desperation salary dump by the Brewers.

It may have been — Sexson will be a free agent after the season, and the Brewers were mandated to cut payroll. Melvin, however, did remarkably well in getting not just Overbay, a career .342 hitter in the minor leagues, but three other starters (second baseman Junior Spivey, shortstop Craig Counsell and catcher Chad Moeller) as well as two pitchers who figure prominently in their future plans, lefties Jorge De La Rosa and Chris Capuano.

"It's helped fill a lot of holes for us," Melvin said. "Obviously, Lyle has made a huge difference."

Entering yesterday, Overbay led the majors with 19 doubles, was second in runs batted in at 34 and was batting .356.

Melvin was impressed when Overbay accepted Sexson's old number 11 in spring training, despite an awareness that it would heighten comparisons between the two.

"He has a quiet confidence in himself," Melvin said. "He never brags about it, but he knows he's a good hitter."

With Olerud talking about retiring when his contract expires after this season, it's intriguing to speculate if he could be replaced by another Washington native.

Many have assumed that Sexson, a 40-homer guy, could be a Mariners candidate next year as a free agent, but Overbay may be a possibility as well, via trade. Why would the Brewers considering trading an emerging star? Because they have a potential superstar who they feel could be ready to play first base next season in Prince Fielder, Cecil's son and the top power-hitting prospect in the minor leagues.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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