The Ben Sheets Cy Young Bandwagon Starts Here

I don't know how closely you've been paying attention, but I really like Ben Sheets. I've already mentioned a couple times that a healthy Ben Sheets could be the difference for the Brewers in 2007. If you checked out the Fanhouse predictions earlier today, you've probably realized that I think Sheets will be healthy this year because I picked the Brewers to win the Central and I think he'll be the key to that.

Of course the only way to answer questions about one's health is to take the mound and be healthy. And while one game doesn't make a healthy season by any means, Ben Sheets is certainly off to a blazing start. He tossed a complete game 2-hitter on only 104 pitches to lead the Brewers to a 7-1 season opening win over the Dodgers today. One of the two hits he allowed was a Jeff Kent homer, otherwise it would've been a shutout. While he only struck out three hitters, he didn't walk anyone, and he had the game finished in just over two hours, leaving Brewers fans plenty of time to celebrate.

At the plate for the division leading Brewers (sorry, I'll stop with the small sample size jokes already), JJ Hardy had three hits and Geoff Jenkins and Bill Hall both knocked in two runs, with Hall hitting his first homer of the year. New catcher Johnny Estrada had two hits and scored twice and silently made GM Doug Melvin chuckle to himself like an evil genius. Of course there are 161 games remaining.

Previously at the Fanhouse
Why the Brewers Are Worth Watching in 2007
Ben Sheets Is Healthy and That Scares Everyone
MLB Fanhouse Predicts the 2007 Season