Brian Shouse

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<a href=http://www.addictsports.com/baseball/showthread.php?p=463726#post463726 target=_blank>Brewers Acquire left-hander Brian Shouse</a>

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<b><font size=4>Full duty</font></b>

When the Brewers acquired left-handed reliever Brian Shouse last month, he was talked about almost exclusively as a specialist who would face one or two left-handed hitters and then exit.

But lately Shouse has come in and thrown complete innings.

Shouse struggled initially after being acquired on May 13, but has pitched five consecutive scoreless outings, including an inning Wednesday.

"He made a little bit of a mechanical adjustment about a week ago, and it's really paid off," Yost said before the game. "It's added a lot more sink to his ball."

Shouse said he had gotten too upright in his delivery.

"I realized I was starting to stand up too much, so I had to get bent back over like I used to," Shouse said. "Since then it's been better for me.

"It allows me to get through the ball better and get the sink and reaction I want and a little bit better control."

Shouse entered the game in the top of the seventh with lefties Adam Dunn and Scott Hatteberg due up. He struck out Dunn but walked Hatteberg. Yost kept him on to face right-handed Brandon Phillips, and after falling behind, 3-1, Shouse induced a double-play grounder to short.

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<b><font size=4>Lean to the left</font></b>

Despite the recent flurry of trade activity, one of the best pickups of the season for the Brewers remains left-handed reliever Brian Shouse, who was acquired from Texas on May 13 for minor-league infielder EnriqueCruz.

Shouse, 37, had some rough outings in early July but overall has gotten the job done as a late-inning specialist facing left-handed batters. Entering play Wednesday, he had a 1.42 ERA (three runs in 19 innings) over his last 28 appearances and had not allowed a run in eight outings.

Only seven of 29 inherited runners had come around to score off Shouse, who retired the first batter he faced on 25 of 35 occasions.

Shouse was considered extraneous in Texas but already has made 36 appearances for the Brewers.

"I'm catching up for lost time," he said. "I like pitching a lot. It doesn't bother me.

"I pitch better when I'm used a lot. You get a little wore down and it makes your sinker more effective. If I feel too strong, I'll take extra time in the bullpen to warm up. You've got to know your limits, when you're feeling too strong or not. It's not so much physical as it is mental."

Shouse has done such a nice job that the Brewers are looking for a second situational lefty for the bullpen to provide a second option for late match-ups.

"Once you use Shouse, if the situation comes again you need another (lefty)," said assistant general manager Gord Ash. "We're looking around."

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Player: Brian Shouse
Date: 11/28/2006
Action: New Contract
From Team: Milwaukee Brewers
To Team: Milwaukee Brewers

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<a href=http://www.addictsports.com/baseball/showthread.php?p=502414#post502414 target=_blank>Shouse signs one year deal</a>

[645]

Around the Horn: Bullpen (http://www.addictsports.com/baseball/showthread.php?p=509524#post509524)

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Bullpen delivers high heat index (http://www.addictsports.com/baseball/showthread.php?p=509694#post509694)