By Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Apr 24, 2010 at 6:04 AM

Welcome to Saturday Scorecard, where we are anxiously awaiting the "Regis and Kelly" interview with "Mr. Irrelevant."

If you aren't too burned out from watching the NFL's never-ending draft -- how many times can you hear the word "upside," anyway -- here are some Bucks, Brewers Admirals and other assorted items to keep you busy.

Game on: The schedule indicates that tonight is Game 3 of the Bucks' best-of-seven, first-round series with the Hawks.

But, don't kid yourself... this is an elimination game.

If the Bucks lose to Atlanta tonight, their only realistic hope will be to avoid a sweep. When Andrew Bogut went down with that horrific elbow/wrist/hand injury, nobody expected the Bucks to win the series. Being on the wrong side of a sweep would take some of the steam out of what has been a successful season.

On the other hand, a victory tonight will make things interesting on Monday. If the Bucks could hold serve on the home court, they could make Josh Smith another trip to explore some of Milwaukee's finer points.

Bottom line: In order for the Bucks to win, Brandon Jennings is going to have to score 25 points and make a majority of his shots. He'll also need someone else to help carry the load. Carlos Delfino is one candidate, but he's been outgunned in this series and hasn't really been the same player he was before Miami's Udonis Haslem stepped on his neck a few weeks back. John Salmons has looked a little slow against the Hawks.

Cold Soup: The Brewers have a dilemma. Here they are, on the heels of a monster series in Pittsburgh, facing a bitter rival that just put its highest-paid starter (Carlos Zambrano) into the bullpen.

Lou Piniella told Zambrano that the team needed help in the eighth inning, which is true. What's also true is that Zambrano's four starts were shaky. This is not a "help the team" assignment, but a straight demotion.

In any event, the Brewers could be in the same boat with Suppan. One or two more hopeless starts and that could be the end of his run in the rotation.

To the brink: The Admirals are a victory away from a stunning comeback over Chicago. Milwaukee's Ryan Maki scored 4 minutes 22 seconds into overtime to lead his team to a 5-4 victory over the Wolves Friday night at the Bradley Center. The series is tied, 3-3, with Game 7 slated for 7 p.m. Monday at the All-State Arena in Rosemont, Ill.

Hey, man! Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman included two Brewers-related items in his collection of 20 observations the first three weeks of the season:

No. 12 -- The Pirates might be the worst 7-8 team ever.Their run differential is a negative 55. Yet if they win tonight they'll be 8-8 and might be the most undeserving .500 team ever. In getting outscored 36-1 in a three-game sweep against Milwaukee, including 20-0 on Thursday, the Pirates didn't even look like they belonged on the same field with the Brewers, a much better team that's somehow only one game over .500 at 8-7.

No. 13 -- Rickie Weeks is finally living up to his billing. The former No. 2 draft choice overall came to camp determined to have a big season after an injury spoiled his fast start last year, and he is making the most of it. He's hitting .327 with three homers and 11 RBIs, and it looks like Brewers coach and former All-Star Willie Randolph is helping to turn him into a very good second baseman, too.

Caught in the draft: The Packers plugged holes on the offensive line, defensive line at at safety in the first three rounds of the National Football League draft.

The picks may not have been sexy, but did anyone turn cartwheels when general manager Ted Thompson picked Greg Jennings in the second round a few years ago? What about when Aaron Rodgers slipped into the Packers' laps?

It's virtually impossible to evaluate a draft until two or three years down the road. But, the Packers deserve credit for finally addressing the need to replace Chad Clifton/Mark Tauscher at tackle. Bryan Bulaga was a "safe" pick for the offensive line. Second-round choice Mike Neal of Purdue won raves from Saturday Scorecard confidant Craig Coshun, who covered some Boilermakers games this year for the Big Ten Network. The Packers traded up to get safety Morgan Burnett of Georgia Tech.

If all three of the players chosen end up playing significant roles -- or starting -- we'll think the draft was a success.

Braves dinner: The Milwaukee Braves Historical Association will honor Stan Lopata and Felix Mantilla at a testimonial dinner May 13 at Potawatomi Bingo Casino. The evening will include a question-and-answer session with Mantilla and a unique multimedia presentation of the life of Hall of fame third baseman Eddie Mathews. Tickets cost $75, which includes one free drink during cocktail hour (6 p.m.) with dinner to follow. Attendees must be 21 years to enter. Mail a check or money order to treasurer Tom Kaminski, 2614 E. Bottsford Ave., St. Frances, WI, 53235.

Just checking: There are fewer than 50 days left until the World Cup. Are you excited yet?

 

Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.