Fresh off a satisfying sweep of the Pirates, the Brewers will host the revamped Diamondbacks at Miller Park this weekend to close their season-opening homestand. The two teams have met twelve times since Milwaukee General Manager Doug Melvin and former Arizona General Manager Joe Garagiola, Jr. worked out the blockbuster Richie Sexson trade in December of 2003 and the Brewers hold a 7-5 record including a 4-2 record at home and in 2005.

That trade, one of the most famous in franchise history, netted the Brewers backup catcher Chad Moeller, third starter Chris Capuano, and left-handed reliever Jorge De La Rosa as well as Junior Spivey (who was dealt to Washington for fourth starter Tomo Ohka), Craig Counsell (who left via free agency and has rejoined the Diamondbacks), and Lyle Overbay (who netted the Brewers fifth starter Dave Bush, backup outfielder Gabe Gross, and left-handed pitching prospect Zach Jackson in a deal with Toronto). In total, three-fifths of Milwaukee’s rotation and six of the 25 members of the team’s active roster are spoils of the Sexson trade.

The Diamondbacks opened their 2006 season on the road with a three-game stint in Denver to take on the Rockies. After dropping an uncharacteristic 3-2 pitcher’s duel in the eleventh inning on Opening Day, the Snakes took the final two games of the series 4-2 and 12-5. Chad Tracy finished the series 4-for-13 with a double, a home run, four runs scored, and three runs batted in to go along with a nifty .308/.400/.615 line while rookie Conor Jackson contributed a .571/.727/.571 line of his own while maintaining a four-to-none walk-to-strikeout ratio. Both players are expected to play a big part in the Diamondbacks’ offense this season as they hold down the infield corners.

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