As we embark on another year of celebrating the independence of our great country, we are reminded of those who worked to allow us the freedoms we have today. Some will take the opportunity to celebrate with friends, family, a trip to Summerfest or all three.  Whatever the case, there are a few staples to a quality 4^th of July celebration that embody the day.  What’s interesting is these staples bear a striking resemblance to a portion of the Milwaukee Brewers roster.  Follow along and weigh in on your own…

SPARKLERS: Yovanni Gallardo, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder

What would a 4^th of July celebration be without some fire lit sparklers…huh?! It’s not often that a team has two MVP candidates on the same roster. Braunie and Prince are just that. Going into the weekend, both are hitting above .300, with Braun near .330. Fielder is approaching 80 RBI’s and Braun could hit 70 before the All-Star break. The inter-team battle for HR’s is pretty close too: Fielder, 20; Braun 16. Not only have these two guys carried the team on their backs to victory this season, but they have been very consistent along the way. If it weren’t for a guy named  Pujols, Fielder and Braun would be atop the first half MVP list. Pujols is disgusting.

In his first full season, Gallardo has been nothing short of the ace he showed signs of being in 2007. What’s truly impressive is how the moment never seems too big for the young right hander. The 24 year-old has shown excellent command of the strike zone, a fearless mentality, and the ability to rise above the noise and clutter of an intense situation and deliver. With a 9-5 record and 2.76 ERA, Gallardo should be receiving a call to the All-Star team this season.

TACO DIP: Craig Counsell, Trevor Hoffman

A solid and consistent dish…a must have for any 4^th of July picnic and a must have for any Major League team with eyes set on the post season. Every team needs steady, veteran play and leadership and the Brewers are fortunate to have one in the dugout and one in the bullpen. The closer situation was a bit dicey at the beginning of the year as Hoffman worked to overcome an injury. Since then, he has been a remarkable thrower of strikes and, like Gallardo, the moment is never too big for Hoffman. He’s had a couple hiccups as of late (similar to the acid reflux caused by black olives), but overall, 18 saves and a 1.93 ERA deserves more pats on the back than swigs of Pepto Bismol.

In his second stint with the Brewers, Counsell is showing the young bucks that his veteran legs still have some tread on the tires. After Rickie Weeks went down with an apparent season ending injury, Counsell has been versatile, consistent, willing, productive and professional – he’s been taco dip. Counsell has logged nearly 200 at bats and maintains a batting average of about .300. Couple that with steady infield play and it’s no secret why he is one of the reasons the Brewers own one of the best records in the National League.  He may not have the pop that Weeks displayed at the top of the lineup, but take a count of how many poor at bats he’s had this season and you’d be hard pressed to get to your second hand.

SALSA…THE KIND YOU LIKE: Todd Coffey, Mark DiFilice, Mitch Stetter, Casey McGehee

You know how it is – you see the salsa on the table and the first question in your mind is whether it’s hot, mild, medium or blazing. You don’t want to be a wuss, so you dive in, hope for the best, and are awarded with the results.  Ladies and gentlemen, your 2009 Milwaukee Brewers bullpen.  Coffey (3-1, 2.77 ERA), DiFilice (4-0, 1.78 ERA) and Stetter (2-0, 2.39 ERA) have been nothing short of unexpectedly outstanding for the Crew this season. With the departure of Mike Maddux, Brewer fans were nervous about the ability of the bullpen to rise to the level necessary to hold teams down. Credit the work ethic of the players and the coaching of Bill Castro for easing the minds of the Brewer faithful.

McGehee is an interesting story. Castaway from the Chicago Cubs before spring training, he hit the ball very well for the Brewers in Arizona. He was rewarded with a roster spot but unable to crack the lineup on a consistent basis until Rickie Weeks went down. Still, McGehee’s at bats were limited when the Brewers brought up Matt Gamel. Now that the season is nearly half over, all McGehee has done is hit anywhere from 2 – 6 in the lineup, hit the snot out of the ball (.322 as of 7/2), and play solid defense (sans one play against the Mets which he atoned for with a grand slam in his next at bat). He has earned the respect of his coaches and teammates and has developed a confidence that is palatable. He is quickly becoming a fan favorite.

That’s some good salsa friends.

SMORE’S: J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart, Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, Mike Cameron

Ahhh the smore – sweet, gooey, crunchy, mushy, messy and held over an open fire to achieve perfection. Well, at times each of the players categorically listed have been sweet. Each has shined and delivered when it matters. Unfortunately, each has also been a mess at times. Whether it’s an O-fer streak at the plate or the inability to get through 4 innings on the mound. Inconsistency is the name of the game with these players thus far. But regardless of how messy or gooey a smore gets, there’s just something about these little delights that makes one crave for more.  I think this mirrors the mentality of Brewer fans toward each of these players. We have all tasted the successes of these players and it makes us crave more…even if it gets messy at times. Not a lot has been made of it, but Mike Cameron is mired in a slump that has taken his batting average from .288 on June 1^st to .240 on July 1^st.

PINNEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE: Bill Hall

He’s hitting .203, but has the talent to be hitting .302.

His OBP is .263, but it should be .362.

He has 37 hits, but 73 is where he should be.

WATERPROOF STRIKE ANYWHERE MATCHES: Jason Kendall

The guy is tougher than super glue, but you get the feeling his legs are just gonna snap off one day. Even after that happens, he’ll be irritated to be out of the lineup.  His average is in the .230’s, but I’m convinced that Jason Kendall has made at least five game changing plays behind the plate.  The guy is a warrior.

BOTTLE ROCKET: Mat Gamel

He may not get as many starting assignments now that interleague play is over, but you just get the feeling that the guys bat will explode one of these days and we will understand why he is a part of the Brewers’ plans for the future. His sweet yet powerful swing is effortless, and his discipline will develop. Some bottle rockets are duds, but I don’t think this is one of them.

Now I need your help.  Can someone come up with a 4^th of July staple that resembles Braden Looper?   Special prize for the best case.  E-mail me at matzek@620wtmj.com with your thoughts.