Remember a few weeks ago....

...when I wrote something along the lines of: This is the kind of thing that Brett can do when he gets turned loose.

I was not writing about a certain #4 who is now a quarterback in New York. I was writing about Brett Christopherson, the prodigal beat writer at the Post-Crescent. He has come home.

'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.

And to celebrate, I send you to a couple of stories in today's PC.

Brewers' affiliation figures to give Rattlers a boost

The first part of the article is about the potential attendance boost a rehab assignment might give the Rattlers. And it uses West Michigan and a Monday night reahb appearance by Magglio Ordonez as an example:

West Michigan has served as Detroit's low-Class A minor league affiliate since 1997. So having a player the caliber of Ordonez making a pit stop at Fifth Third Ballpark in Tigers-crazy Comstock Park, Mich., on his way back to the big league lineup turned a normally quiet evening into a must-see frenzy.

"We went from 3,400 presale (tickets) to over 10,000 for that night," [Whitecap VP Jim] Jarecki said. "Just the association of having a major leaguer in your own backyard and not having to drive two hours to Detroit, that's a big thing."

Later in the article there is a bit about the switch from Oakland to the Tigers. The local reaction in Grand Rapids at the time may surprise you.

Quick excerpt here about the local reaction in Appleton since the announcement:

So last month, the Rattlers ended their longtime partnership with far-away Seattle, one that dated back to 1993, and inked a low-Class A player development contract with the home state Milwaukee Brewers — a four-year pact that will have the Crew's minor leaguers playing at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute beginning with the 2009 Midwest League season.

It was a decision that instantaneously injected enthusiasm and excitement back into the franchise. Since the announcement was made nearly three weeks ago, [Timber Rattler president Rob] Zerjav said 150 season tickets have been sold for the '09 home slate — a number that includes renewals and new business.

Last year at this time, he said those sales were zilch.

As in nil, nada, nothing, zero, the big goose egg.

Brett also gets a word with the Peoria Chiefs.

What has a Cubs association meant to the Chiefs bottom line?

"Several hundred thousand per season," said [Ralph] Converse, Peoria's GM since 2005. "But again, it's not all just because of the Cubs. A lot of things we're doing (marketing-wise) would have worked with the Cardinals. But they weren't being done, so that unfairly hurt the Cards.

"But we've had people come down for the weekend from Chicago or one of the suburbs, and they'll play golf, gamble on the riverboat and see the Chiefs. When we ask them why (see the Chiefs), they say they want to see the baby Cubs. They want to see what's coming up the line.

"And Cubs management comes down to seven or eight games a year to watch players. They'll walk through the stands and make themselves available to Cubs fans. That's a nice perk. You can get a hot dog and standing next to you is (Cubs general manager) Jim Hendry."

I'm not sure if that is a perk for Mr. Hendry in 2009. [Joke!]

There is plenty more about what is ahead, but I'll give the boss the final word on a big goal for the Rattler front office.

"I'd just like to see our Opening Day sold out," Zerjav said. "I'd like to see this place packed, for the community support for our team and the Brewers to really start the year off on the right foot and send a message. Everybody who works here, when they're out in the community, this is all people want to talk about. Nobody can wait. Everybody's so excited about the Brewers making the playoffs and winning a game in the playoffs — there's just a constant buzz. We've heard nothing put positive feedback."

Story #2 has to do with the Midwest League team that had the Brewers

Beloit gladly welcomes Brewers back home

Don't think for a moment Midwest League president George Spelius views a Wisconsin Timber Rattlers-Milwaukee Brewers partnership as anything but a positive.

"I'm really elated that they're back in our league," he said. "Boy, I'm just happy they're back."

Spelius has served as league president since 1987, but he is also a founding owner of the Beloit Snappers, who served as the Brewers' low-Class A Midwest League affiliate for 23 seasons, from 1982 to 2004.

Considering the Rattlers and Snappers are the state's only two minor league franchises, you'd expect folks in Beloit to perhaps look at last month's four-year player development announcement linking the "hometown" Brewers and Wisconsin in a somewhat melancholy way.

But both Spelius and Rattlers president Rob Zerjav insist they've heard nothing but kind words and congratulations.

...

"I just think it's great that fans in Wisconsin can come to Appleton or come down to Beloit and see (the Brewers' minor leaguers)," said Spelius, whose office is located in Beloit. "It's a great situation."

Added Zerjav: "We were at a promotional seminar and (Snappers officials) wished us all the best. They're happy being associated with the (Minnesota) Twins, and the Twins are happy there."

Milwaukee general manger Doug Melvin admitted the Brewers opted to pull out of Beloit primarily because of facility concerns. The Snappers play at the 3,501-seat Pohlman Field, which was built in 1982 and could be considered antiquated when compared to the newer minor league parks that have been constructed over the years.

Team and city leaders reportedly are trying to map out a plan to fund and build a new stadium.

Head to both links and read all of it.