{image1}The Brewers will face a familiar nemesis in the Astros' Wade Miller when they open at home Friday at Miller Park.

Miller has a 10-1 lifetime record against the Brewers and was 7-0 until the 2002 opener, when the Brewers beat him 9-3. Miller did not earn a decision against Milwaukee last season, but had a 1.93 ERA in two starts against the Crew.

Trying to beat Miller will be righthander Wes Obermueller, who went 2-5 with a 5.07 ERA in 12 appearances for the Brewers last season. Obermueller, who was acquired from Kansas City in the Curtis Leskanic deal last July, went into spring training with only an outside chance of making the rotation.

But, he threw well, posting a 3-1 record with 5.50 ERA in six appearances, and earned the fifth spot.

"You work your butt off to make a rotation, and then be able to pitch a home opener in front of a home crowd," Obermueller said. "That's going to be an experience."

UW basketball star Devin Harris, high school All American Rhyan Anderson, Special Olympics medalist Molly Teitgen and Little Leaguer Paul Puglisi will share the first pitch honors. The Klements Sausages will carry the balls for the first pitches from their factory.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet will perform the national anthem. Moments of silence will be held for Earl Gillespie, George Bamberger and Warren Spahn.

The Brewers responded well to the hoopla for their overall season opener at St. Louis on Monday. Playing before President George W. Bush, who threw out the first pitch, and a partisan crowd at Busch Stadium, the Brewers beat the Cardinals, 8-6.

Scott Podsednik and Ben Grieve homered. Podsednik is trying to prove that his rookie performance as a reclamation project last year. Grieve, a one-time Rookie of the Year, hopes to be this year's reclamation project.

"I think Ben's going to have a great year for us," manager Ned Yost said after the opener at St. Louis. "I've got no doubts in my mind he's going to play a big part and be real successful for us this year, get his career back on track."

The Brewers followed that win up with a 7-5 win over the Cards on Tuesday. They weren't supposed to hit for power after trading away Richie Sexson, but Craig Counsell, Chad Moeller and Lyle Overbay, all who were acquired in that deal, homered.

In addition to the home opener on Friday, the Brewers will host the Astros at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A special kids' Easter celebration will be held on Sunday.

Goodbye Bambi

George Bamberger, who died over the weekend of cancer, was the first manager this writer covered in the major leagues. Bambi was like a grandpa to this then young reporter and always had time to answer questions or swap stories.

While Harvey Kuenn managed the Brewers' pennant winner, it was Bambi who got the team headed in the winning direction. He will be missed.

Hot Tix

While baseball and other spring sports are starting, some leftover winter sports are getting into their playoffs.

The Bucks have clinched a playoff spot in the NBA Eastern Conference, but are still battling for home court advantage. They meet one of their competitors, the New Orleans Hornets, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Bradley Center. Fox Sports Net is telecasting the game if you can't get there in person.

The Admirals also will go into the playoffs in the American Hockey League next week. First, they wrap up the regular season with two games against their I-94 rivals, the Chicago Wolves.

They host the Wolves at 7 p.m. Friday at the BC. They then travel to Chicago for a 7 p.m. contest Saturday.

Three other items of interest for local hockey fans: Admirals' defenseman Curtis Murphy earned first team All Star status in the AHL, Admirals' coach Claude Noel was named Coach of the Year in the league, and negotiations with Craig Leipold, the owner of the Nashville Predators, reportedly continue for the purchase of the Admirals. Team officials already have announced that the team definitely will return for next season.

The Wave has ended its regular season and earned a bye for the first round of the Major Indoor Soccer League playoffs. Milwaukee opens playoff action at 7 p.m. April 16 at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

Before that, the Wave will hold a playoff rally from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Champps in Brookfield Thursday and appear before Saturday's Brewers game. Coach Keith Tozer will throw out the first pitch that day.

Look for an update on the playoffs for all these teams as the lead section of Weekend Sports Buzz next Thursday.