Brewers Fans Cheer Selig's Delivery

Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig received a standing ovation for a strike.

Selig threw out the first pitch yesterday before Game 4 of the National League Division Series between his old team, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Philadelphia Phillies. Selig brought the Brewers to Milwaukee in 1970, and his family owned the franchise for 34 years before selling to Mark Attanasio four years ago.

Already on its feet for the national anthem, the sellout crowd at Miller Park gave Selig a raucous ovation -- complete with clattering Thunder Stix. Selig stopped a few feet in front of the mound, and overhanded a respectable throw over the plate to backup catcher Mike Rivera. Selig thrust his arms into the air and grinned as fans applauded and whistled. He high-fived Attanasio before disappearing into the Brewers' dugout.

Selig's former team lost to the Phillies, 6-2, ending its postseason.

Weeks Hurt

Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks tore cartilage in his left knee and was replaced on the postseason roster with top prospect Alcides Escobar. Weeks will need surgery to repair the meniscus tear.

Weeks appeared to jam his knee while batting in the second inning of Game 3 on Saturday, when he was narrowly cut down at first after a hard-hit grounder to third.

Ray Durham started in place of Weeks in Game 4.

A Lot of Uncertainty

The Chicago Cubs led the NL Central or shared the lead since May 11, clinched on Sept. 20 and went 97-64 -- the most wins for this franchise since 1945, when it last won the World Series.

But after being swept in their division series by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cubs face an offseason of uncertainty. In addition to potential roster moves -- the contracts of starter Ryan Dempster and closer Kerry Wood expire and there's been talk of moving Alfonso Soriano from the leadoff spot in the order -- Tribune Co. still is trying to sell the team and Wrigley Field.

Sabathia: Happiness Counts

Let the race for the ace begin.

But don't think a truckful of money will be the top factor in where CC Sabathia decides to sign.

After the Brewers were bumped out of the NL playoffs by Philadelphia, the free-agent-to-be said that happiness, not money, will play a major role. The big left-hander sure had fun in Milwaukee, too.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say this was one of the better times I had in my career," said Sabathia, who went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts with the Brewers. "Coming here, meeting these guys and being on this team, was a good experience."

Sabathia said he hasn't made any decisions on his future. But he certainly added lots of zeros to his potential pay day after Cleveland traded him to Milwaukee on July 7.