Welcome to Saturday Scorecard, where we wrestle with the tough questions. Like what happened to the month of July?

On to the notes...

Standing pat: Amid reports that San Francisco made a late run at acquiring Corey Hart, the Brewers did not complete a trade before the 3 p.m. waiver deadline.

Many fans see this as a bad thing. In fact, some are howling.

They're howling that Hart's value -- even coming off a wrist injury -- will never be higher. They're saying that it'll be hard to get a good return for Prince Fielder this winter, because his new team will control his rights for just one year before the big first baseman is eligible for free agency.

The Brewers were in a tough spot. There were more teams interested in Hart in recent weeks, because -- let's face it -- Fielder isn't having a standout season and most contending teams already have first base covered.

For now, Fielder stays. So does Hart.

For the Brewers, the fates of the two players are intertwined. If the Brewers trade Fielder during the off-season in order to bolster their sagging pitching staff, they almost certainly will encounter a more robust market and get a better return. The situation could be similar to a few years ago, when they traded Richie Sexson to Arizona.

If the Brewers trade Fielder, though, Hart becomes a more important piece of their puzzle. Losing both players would create a power void in the lineup around Ryan Braun, who also is struggling this season. By moving Fielder, the Brewers may free up enough money to consider signing Hart to a long-term deal and perhaps securing Rickie Weeks' future as well.

In the throes of a disappointing season, the natural impulse for fans is to scream for change. Fire the manager! Blow out the pitching/hitting coach! Make a trade now!

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin isn't prone to making rash decisions. Owner Mark Attanasio, who has surfed through a string of bull and bear markets in the financial services business, likes to keep his eye on the big picture as well.

So, the run-up to the trading deadline ended up being a giant letdown.

The general consensus in baseball circles is that the Brewers wanted a high price for Hart and didn't really get any serious offers for Fielder. So, they stood pat.

During the next month, they might be able to acquire a prospect or two if they feel like moving a player like Jim Edmonds, Craig Counsell, Trevor Hoffman or a another reliever.

The big wheeling and dealing for Milwaukee will likely take place during the winter. Fielder's future -- and by extension, Hart's -- could come into focus Dec. 6-9 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

If you thought the last few weeks were fun, frustrating, flabbergasting or all of the above, you haven't seen anything yet.

Other moves: The Brewers' competitors in the NL Central made some moves. As part of a three-team deal, the Cardinals snagged Cleveland starter Jake Westbrook and sent outfielder Ryan Ludwick to San Diego. The Indians, who sent cash to San Diego and St. Louis, picked up 24-year-old pitcher Corey Kluber from San Diego. The Cardinals got lefty Nick Greenwood from the Padres.

The Cubs moved veteran lefty Ted Lilly and shortstop Ryan Theriot to Los Angeles for second baseman Blake Dewitt and two prospects.

Houston, which is hosting the Brewers this weekend, shipped Roy Oswalt to the Phillies before the deadline and sent Lance Berkman to the Astros. Clearly, the Astros are in rebuilding mode.

Back at work: The Packers opened camp Saturday in Green Bay with the full roster of players, including first-round pick Bryan Bulaga of Iowa, who signed a five-year, $14.75 million deal on Friday that reportedly included nearly $9 million in guaranteed money.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy, whose club is being mentioned as a Super Bowl contender, plans to emphasize tackling during training camp this season. Though they improved considerably during their first year under defensive coordinator Dom Capers, Green Bay defenders did miss plenty of tackles next year.