| By Drew Olson Senior Editor Photography by Allen Fredrickson E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Drew Olson |
| Published July 15, 2008 at 6:25 a.m. |
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The Brewers underwent a major roster upgrade when they added pitcher CC Sabathia in a trade with Cleveland before the all-star break.
Now, they're upgrading their infield.
It's not that they're looking to replace J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder and the third-base platoon of Bill Hall and Russell Branyan.
They're looking to replace the entire infield at Miller Park.
Shortly after the final out Sunday, head groundskeeper Gary Vanden Berg and his crew began removing the grass from the infield. They replaced it with a new variety of bluegrass, purchased from a sod farmer near Stevens Point.
"The biggest difference is, I think, that this is grown on sand," Vanden Berg said. "Our provider really just started growing grass about three years ago and he grows great grass up there. He's the only guy in the state, and probably the only guy in three or four states, who grows on sand. Our field has a sand base to it. It's a much better match for what we have."
Vanden Berg tested the grass by planting some several weeks ago in the area behind home plate. When that trial went well, he decided to replace the entire infield.
"The varieties of bluegrass that are in here genetically altered so you can mow them really short," Vanden Berg said. "This (sample behind the plate) is at three-quarters of an inch. If I tried to mow that out there (in the outfield), I'd kill the grass.
"It's made so it's more aggressive grass than what I have out here. According to the trials, the variety is a little more shade tolerant, too. I think it's going to be much better."
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