For the first time in 26 years, the Brewers are playoff-bound with a team that bears only passing resemblance to the more veteran-stocked 1982 squad.

Like Don Sutton in '82, CC Sabathia provided the Brewers' starting rotation a midseason boost. Like the '82 team, the Brewers made a managerial change along the way to a more hands-off skipper, although Buck Rodgers was replaced very early in the year by Harvey Kuenn while Ned Yost was let go with only 12 games left in '08 and replaced by Dale Sveum. And both teams had to get hot right at the end, though the '82 Brewers lost three in a row before beating Baltimore in the regular-season finale to clinch a spot.

The '08 Brewers would be thrilled if the comparisons continue. Twenty-six years ago, the Brewers sneaked into the playoffs and then advanced all the way to Game 7 of the World Series.

BREWERS RECORD
Overall: 90-72
Home: 49-32
Road: 41-40
Day: 36-28
Night: 54-44
By month: March/April 15-12, May 13-16, June 16-10, July 16-11, August 20-7, September 10-16.

KEY MOMENTS
1. The Brewers appeared to hit bottom on May 19. They had been swept in Boston, called out by left fielder Ryan Braun for "not expecting to win" and had an off-day in Pittsburgh amid rumors that Yost was to be dismissed. Somehow, they responded by rattling off 12 wins in their next 16 games.

2. On July 7, the Brewers completed the biggest trade in franchise history, sending top prospect Matt LaPorta and three others to Cleveland for reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Sabathia, who would rattle off nine straight wins to start his Brewers career. "We're going for it," general manager Doug Melvin said. 3. On Sept. 15, the Brewers shocked baseball by unloading Yost with only 12 games left in the regular season, the Brewers one win away from their best season in 16 years and tied for the NL Wild Card lead. They had just been swept in Philadelphia and were off to a 3-11 start to September. Yost had no answers for the team's sudden swoon, so he was replaced by Sveum.

TURNING POINT
The Brewers lost four of their first five games under Sveum and were on the verge of being swept in Cincinnati when they busted out for an 8-1 win over the Reds on a three-RBI day for Prince Fielder. That win propelled the team into its winning homestand and into the postseason.

BREWERS HITTING
Team Stats
Avg.: .253
Runs: 750
HRs: 198
OPS: .759

Individual Leaders
(Qualifiers only)
Avg.: .285, Ryan Braun
HRs: 37, Braun
RBIs: 106, Braun
Runs: 92, Braun
OPS: .888, Braun
SB: Corey Hart, 23

Sveum has tried to spark things by playing small ball, most notably calling for the first hit-and-run of Braun's life in that key Sept. 21 win in Cincy (Braun singled). But this is essentially an all-or-nothing offense built on home run hitters with a tendency to strike out. The offense crumbled when Braun, right fielder Corey Hart and center fielder Mike Cameron all went cold to start September, and the Brewers cannot only count on Fielder if they want to make waves in the postseason.

BREWERS PITCHING
Team Stats
Overall ERA: 3.85
Starters ERA: 3.90
Bullpen ERA: 3.83
Strikeouts: 1,110
HRs allowed: 175
Opponents BA: .256

Individual Leaders
Wins: 13, Ben Sheets
ERA (starter): 1.65, CC Sabathia
ERA (reliever): 2.81, Brian Shouse
Strikeouts: 158, Sheets
Saves: 28, Salomon Torres
Holds: 15, Shouse
HRs allowed: 30, Jeff Suppan
Opponents BA: .227, Sabathia

Starting pitching was the Brewers' strong point during their fabulous start to the second half, to the point that Yost struggled mightily to find innings for certain relievers. But somehow that group was infected by the team-wide September slump. Sabathia lost two September decisions after his 9-0 start. Jeff Suppan and Dave Bush combined to go 9-0 in August, but were winless entering September's final week. And the team was dealt a big blow when Ben Sheets went down with a right elbow injury.

BREWERS FIELDING
Fielding percentage: .984
Errors: 101

The Brewers are excellent up the middle with catcher Jason Kendall, shortstop J.J. Hardy and center fielder Cameron, though second baseman Rickie Weeks remains a liability. Cameron, though, is probably the best defensive center fielder in franchise history, and easily the best the Brewers have had since Marquis Grissom departed after 2000.

BREWERS VS. PHILLIES
Record: 1-5

Game by game
April 23: Brewers 5, Phillies 4
April 24: Phillies 3, Brewers 1
Sept. 11: Phillies 6, Brewers 3
Sept. 13: Phillies 7, Brewers 3
Sept 14 (Game 1): Phillies 7, Brewers 3
Sept. 14 (Game 2): Phillies 6, Brewers 1

BREWERS VS. POSTSEASON TEAMS
vs. Cubs: 7-9
vs. Dodgers: 2-4
vs. Phillies: 1-5
vs. Rays: 0-0
vs. Red Sox: 0-3
vs. Angels: 0-0
vs. White Sox: 0-0

Not much to feel particularly good about here. Since the All-Star break, the Brewers are 3-12 against these teams.