Last year at this time, Brewers outfielder Gabe Kapler was retired from baseball, managing the Red Sox Class A affiliate in Greenville, S.C.

But last fall, the California native felt the itch to get back in the game. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin took a chance on signing 32-year-old Kapler to a one-year contract for $800,000.

So far, Melvin's gamble has paid off. At press time, Kapler was batting nearly .300, and had made several late-inning contributions as a starter and off the bench.

For an athlete selected in the 57th round of the draft and who has played with six teams (including one in Japan), Kapler maintains an introspective humility about his life on and off the field.

We caught up with Kapler the day after he drove in the game-winning run in extra innings against the Cardinals. Enjoy this latest Milwaukee Talks.

OMC: You've come through in the clutch on several occasions in this young season. Do you think this is why the Brewers signed a veteran player like you?

Gabe Kapler: If you want to know why the Brewers sign a guy, you have to ask the guys who go out and sign the players.

OMC: Lets talk about that. Doug Melvin had a lot of faith in you. What did it feel like to emerge from retirement and have a general manager who believed you could contribute to this team?

GK: Doug being in my corner and being behind me is special. It makes it easier to perform when you know that people within the organization believe in you and think you can do great things. That said, I believe that Doug has faith in every player that he brings in here, and believes in the guys that he has on the field. Every great leader is going to have faith in staff and clubhouse people ... there are a lot of people who make a baseball organization click. A lot of people behind the scenes that nobody gets a chance to talk to.

OMC: Fans have quickly warmed up to you this season. Are you feeling that energy from Milwaukee?

GK: I've felt very welcome here. That goes back to spring training. There are a lot of differences but also a lot of similarities between the fans here and the fans on the East Coast. They're just really into their baseball teams. They play close attention and are knowledgeable baseball fans. I've played in some cities where the fans are not all that knowledgeable. To be a part of that is exciting. I've definitely felt warmth from this city.

Downtown Milwaukee is a place I'm starting to get to know. I get out and see cities, and I don't just stay in the hotel, going from Point A to Point B. I spend time exploring. I've gotten to know a couple of local restaurants, and I've spent time driving by the lake.

OMC: That was also your experience when you played in Japan, right? You soaked in that culture during the short time you were there.

GK: Yeah, I look at all of my baseball experience as life experiences first. I guess I should say that as I get older, I'm beginning to appreciate the life experiences for what they are, as opposed to "How many hits did I get today?" What did I get out of today's experience, on the field and off the field? I try to take a more philosophical approach to the situation.

OMC: I was at a game at Tiger Stadium in 1999, and when you came up to bat, a friend told me to keep an eye on you. Since then, you've played in several cities, won a World Series and even managed -- and now you're back in the Majors. Did you ever imagine your career playing out this way?

GK: I don't think you ever have the ability to predict the real twists and turns and curveballs that life throws at you. But at the same time, I expect a lot out of myself, and I think I always had the expectations that I would have great life experiences. I have been blessed to have had great experiences in Japan and with different and historic organizations.

When I look back at some of the things I've been a part of: the last game at Tiger Stadium, being part of the World Series team in Boston, some really cool experiences with Texas and their new ballpark ... now being here in Milwaukee with a team that certainly has an extraordinary amount of energy and excitement and buzz surrounding it ...

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