By Gregg Hoffmann Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Jun 22, 2001 at 2:51 AM
If this weekend series with the Cubs isn't big enough already, two Brewers will make their debuts as TV stars during it.

Brewers sluggers Geoff Jenkins and Richie Sexson will host This Week In Baseball at 11:30 p.m., this Saturday, prior to FOX's Saturday Game of the Week. Their appearance will mark the first time that two players have co-hosted TWIB.

During the show, Jenkins and Sexson take viewers on a unique tour of Miller Park and discuss how it has helped to usher in a new era in Milwaukee baseball history. Jenkins shares his thoughts on the recognition he has received for his strong defensive play while Sexson will discuss his trade to the Brewers last season and the immediate impact he made in taking the Brew Crew's offense to a higher level.

Major League Baseball Productions and FOX Sports partnered to bring the legendary television series This Week In Baseball back this season for a new generation of baseball lovers. Presented by Pepsi, the show features a different Major League Baseball superstar host each week. The 30-minute show is the lead-in to the FOX's Saturday Game of the Week and is repeated throughout the week on FOX Sports Net.

The new show debuted on June 2 and hosts have included Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, Jim Edmonds and Brian Giles. Other Major Leaguers expected to appear as hosts this season include Doug Mientkiewicz, Benny Agbayani, Preston Wilson, Bobby Higginson, Dave Winfield, Trevor Hoffman, Mike Sweeney, Buck O'Neil, Troy Glaus, Sean Casey and Cal Ripken.

Major League Baseball Productions is the in-house television and video production division of Major League Baseball. Created to promote the game worldwide, MLB Productions provides network specials, home videos, commercials and other specialty programming to growing global audiences.

While the debut of Jenkins and Sexson on the tube is big, it should not overshadow the fact that the Brewers and Cubs are actually in the National League Central race. In fact, the Cubs lead the race. The Brewers need to take two of three to remain within striking distance.

Let's not forget it is still very early in the season, but these games count just as much as those in September when they total the standings.

Kerry Wood will make yet another start against the Brewers on Friday in Wrigley Field. Jamey Wright and Kevin Tapani hook up in a 3 p.m. game on Saturday. Ben Sheets starts for the Brewers in the series finale Sunday.

The Brew Crew Review will be at Wrigley Field. See short summaries on the Message Board and a summary of the weekend action in Monday's column.

Player of the Week

Richie Sexson gets the honor, not for his TV debut, but for hitting home runs in three straight games and generally breaking out of a season-long slump. The Brewers need this big guy to consistently produce if they are going anywhere.

Plays of the Week

Infielder Mark Loretta's strikeouts of the Reds' Chris Nichting and Ruben Rivera when he was pressed into action on the mound, so the Brewers wouldn't waste any more relievers in their 11-3 loss Wednesday.

Reliever Curtis Leskanic reported called the dugout during the inning and said the Brewers had better get Geoff Jenkins up in the bullpen because "this kid Loretta is throwing a lot of pitches." But, Loretta did not give up a run in the inning.

Goat of the Week

Brandon Kolb was clobbered for nine runs in 1.1 innings against the Reds and promptly was sent back to Indianapolis (AAA). Pitcher Mike Buddie was called up to take Kolb's place.

Review and Preview

The Brewers did take two of three from the Reds enjoy their day off on Thursday one game above .500 at 35-34. Now, they have to move a little closer to those Cubbies by playing well at Wrigley this weekend.

Gregg Hoffmann publishes The Brew Crew Review column on Mondays and Fridays and maintains a special Message Board on OMC.

Gregg Hoffmann Special to OnMilwaukee.com
Gregg Hoffmann is a veteran journalist, author and publisher of Midwest Diamond Report and Old School Collectibles Web sites. Hoffmann, a retired senior lecturer in journalism at UWM, writes The State Sports Buzz and Beyond Milwaukee on a monthly basis for OMC.