The special edition of the Brewers podcast features for an extended interview with former Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, the architect behind the 2008 team celebrating its 10th anniversary. Thanks in large part to his midseason acquisition of CC Sabathia, the Brewers snapped a 26-year postseason drought and won the National League wild card that season. Melvin talks about the machinations behind the trade -- including the other team that thought they had its own Sabathia trade lined up. He also discusses the other maneuvers during the 2008 season (including acquiring Salomon Torres), the controversial non no-hitter, the team's decision to fire manager Ned Yost in September, the memorable final week of the season and the legacy of the 2008 team leading into the 2011 playoff run and beyond.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

The Cubs are headed into town, hovering within a half-game of the Brewers for first place after an uneven Milwaukee road trip. Brewers beat reporter Todd Rosiak chats about the team's recent struggles (and successes), with news of a trade breaking Sunday swapping Ji-Man Choi for infielder Brad Miller. What does it mean for Orlando Arcia? Todd also talks about Chase Anderson's struggles, the return of Eric Thames, Lorenzo Cain's excellence, Jonathan Villar's bounceback and a brief look back at the Brewers' 2018 draft. Then, former Brewers pitcher and current TV announcer Jerry Augustine (31:15) chats about his late friend and colleague Davey Nelson, leading UW-Milwaukee baseball, his role today and what Milwaukee baseball fandom was like in the 1970s.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

Brewers pitcher Brent Suter (32:00) chats about Harvard, raptors, working fast and homering off Corey Kluber on the Journal Sentinel Brewers podcast this week, and Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt swings by to talk about the ups and downs of Orlando Arcia, the "gut-feeling" call made by Craig Counsell in a big win over the Cardinals, the struggles of the team's top starting pitchers, the looming Thames-Aguilar quandary and more.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt joins host JR Radcliffe and chats about the first-place Brewers. Just how close were the Brewers to not breaking camp with Jesus Aguilar, who has become the team's linchpin on offense? Could Josh Hader win Cy Young? Will the team explore outside options behind the plate? What to make of Ryan Braun's injury and offensive struggles? Haudricourt discusses that, plus Freddy Peralta, Dan Jennings, Jeremy Jeffress and the looming MLB Draft, after the Brewers' 7-3 road trip.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

Brewers beat reporter Todd Rosiak joins host JR Radcliffe to chat about Freddy Peralta's remarkable Major League debut on Sunday for the Brewers. The guys also discuss Milwaukee's recent rash of injuries, the hot-hitting Travis Shaw, Todd's recent trip to Appleton to chat with Brewers prospect Gilbert Lara and the struggles of Jonathan Villar. Then, JR sits down with Waukesha's Jarred Kelenic, a Waukesha West product who has been projected as a top-10 pick in the forthcoming Major League Baseball draft (37:00). Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt joins JR Radcliffe to discuss the narrative that the Brewers are beating up on bad teams and struggling against good ones (namely, the Cubs), plus discussion on Wade Miley, The Incredible Josh Hader, Junior Guerra, Eric Thames and Eric Sogard. Then, JR is joined by Brewers reliever Taylor Williams (24:00), who missed back-to-back seasons after Tommy John surgery but has made it to the bigs, where's he's a key member of Milwaukee's marvelous bullpen.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

In a special bonus episode of the podcast, host JR Radcliffe runs down the five best moments of the season thus far for the first-place Brewers. Plus, check out the full interview with Marlins pitcher Trevor Richards (11:45), who worked at the MillerCoors gift shop in the winter of 2016-17, then wound up on the Miller Park mound 14 months later. Also, Lewis Brinson (20:00) -- traded from the Brewers to the Marlins in the offseason -- chats with reporters prior to Thursday's game (and hitting three home runs in the series against the Brewers).

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

Host JR Radcliffe chats with Journal Sentinel Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt (2:30) about the team's propensity for one-run games, whether or not the team should be using the 10-day disabled list more often, if we should close the book on Josh Hader as a closer or starter and what we can expect from 21-year-old Freddy Peralta, who has started fast in 2018 pitching at Triple-A. Plus: is the infield defense something to be concerned about for the whole season, and has Jonathan Villar turned a corner? Then, a chat with Brewers Director of New Media Caitlin Moyer (19:00), one of the driving forces behind the Brewers "Sandlot" shot-for-shot remake video that went viral in the final weeks of Spring Training. She goes behind the scenes to describe the elements that helped the video come together.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

The Cubs head to town for a four-game set. Journal Sentinel Brewers beat writers Tom Haudricourt and Todd Rosiak join host JR Radcliffe to discuss the injury to Christian Yelich, the starting pitching struggles and relief pitching successes and recall some recent great walk-off moments in the wake of Tuesday night's thriller. Whether or not "clutch" is a real thing, is Ryan Braun the guy you want at the plate when the Brewers need a big hit in the ninth?

After that: an interview with left-handed reliever Josh Hader, from his start in Maryland to getting drafted by the nearby Baltimore Orioles and the machinations that led him to the Big Leagues last season. And yes, his hair.

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.

Host JR Radcliffe looks back at the first four games of the season, including the opening series in San Diego and the home-opener loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, offering his five favorite things from the first four games (and five concerns). Hear from Brewers slugging first baseman Eric Thames after the home opener and the full audio from team owner Mark Attanasio and general manager David Stearns when they met with media prior to the April 2 game. 

Music intro: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music. Sound effect: WALLA Ballpark Cheer William Tell Overture Organ by AshFox on freesound.org.