If I got to pick any pitcher to build my franchise around, I’m not so sure it wouldn’t be Big Ben Sheets. Mark Prior? Yeah, he’s good. Kerry Wood? Him too. But Ben Sheets has been nothing short of spectacular this year. His effort last night was amazing, as a golfed worm-burner by Vlad the Impaler and an error by Junior “Three Errors” Spivey were the only impediments to a perfect game. That, and the fact that the Brewers still hadn’t scored when Sheets left after nine wonderful innings.

Big Ben does everything well. He basically only throws two pitches, a four-seam fastball and curve, and an occasional two-seamer or changeup. But he throws both pitches well, and he can locate them with the accuracy of Greg Maddux circa 1995. But unlike Maddux, Sheets has above-average velocity that can sometimes climb into the upper 90s and an absolutely devastating hook. He doesn’t walk batters, and this year he has finally stopped giving up so many home runs. He gets a lot of strikeouts, and he is inducing more and more groundballs. Lots of Ks + no walks + no homers = a real, genuine, American-made Ace. That’s Ben in a nutshell.

If you didn’t catch last night’s game, shame on you. It was one of the most enthralling contests in recent Brewers’ history, and it gave everyone yet another chance to see Ben Sheets make great hitters look like little leaguers. Whether you want to find out what happened or relive the game for yourself, check out the Game Recap I penned for the Daily Brew at brewerfan.net.

Have you ever been experienced? Well, I have. Thanks, Ben.