Coming off back-to-back 20-20 seasons, Hart appeared right on track when he led the Brewers in Spring Training homers. But the regular season was another story, as Hart was dogged by inconsistency and spent roughly one month sidelined because of an appendectomy. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has a theory about Hart's down year, according to manager Ken Macha. "Doug thinks that in a way we were trying to get him more disciplined at the plate and to not swing at the sliders going out of the zone, and we accomplished that, but we took away a little bit of the aggressiveness," Macha said. "That maybe sapped him of his power." In other words, going back to the basics could revive Hart's sagging stock. If he continues to falter, the Brewers have a capable replacement in Jody Gerut.

It was initially feared that Hart had suffered a pair of compression fractures in his hand after sliding awkwardly on Sept. 29, but X-rays revealed that he had in fact only suffered a sprain to two of the metacarpals in his right hand. Still, Hart doesn't expect to play any of the Brewers' remaining games. This wraps up a frustrating season for Hart, who followed up two straight 20/20 campaigns with a .260 batting average, 12 home runs, 48 RBIs in 419 at-bats and 11 stolen bases in 17 attempts. Jody Gerut will likely fill in for Hart over the rest of the season.

Gerut has quietly put together a very solid month of September and is earning increasing playing time in Milwaukee's outfield. He's hitting .326 (16-for-49) this month, with three homers and nine RBIs, and a .377 on-base percentage. Those numbers could conceivably put him into the mix for Milwaukee's starting center field job in 2010 if Mike Cameron moves on, but Gerut is probably best cast as a fourth outfielder. For the moment, though, he looks like a nice late-season booster in deeper NL-only leagues.

The grand salami accounts for Gerut's seventh jack of the year and came off Cubs rookie hurler Randy Wells. Still, the veteran journeyman is safe to avoid as he entered the contest hitting just .219 for September with nary a home run.

Hart, who has been on the DL since undergoing an emergency appendectomy in early August, will step into a somewhat diminished role when he returns. "He's going to play," manager Ken Macha said. "But it's not going to be on an everyday basis." Frank Catalanotto, Jody Gerut and Jason Bourgeois have been receiving time in Hart's old stomping grounds in right field, and they figure to share the duty in that part of the outfield on days in which Hart is relegated to the pine.

Cameron sustained the injury while making a pinch-hit appearance on Sept. 5. It's unlikely he will return before Sept. 11. "If I'm out, you know it's bad," Cameron said. "It's not good. It's spasming right now." Until his return, Corey Patterson, Jody Gerut and Jason Bourgeois will remain in the mix to cover center field.

The 27-year-old outfielder has been with the Brew Crew for a little over two weeks now, but had only logged 12 at-bats entering Friday's tilt. Bourgeois posted a .354 on-base percentage and swiped 36 bags in Triple-A before getting the call, suggesting that he could prove useful for owners in need of runs and steals. With Frank Catalanotto and Judy Gerut his only competition while Corey Hart is on the shelf, the speedy outfielder could be worth a gamble in most formats.

Gerut hit leadoff for just the second time since April, and it paid dividends with his second homer in three games. Keep him in mind for NL-only formats if the leadoff role becomes a more common occurrence.

Gerut notched multiple hits the last time he started, which came all the way back on July 26. Since then, he's hit an adequate .273 in 11 at-bats in a pinch-hit role. That lack of consistent playing time hardly merits fantasy attention outside of deep NL-only leagues.

Braun was hurt on a wild throw back to the infield in the seventh inning. He told Brewers manager Ken Macha that it didn't bother him to hit, and Braun proved it with a single in the top of the ninth. Still, Jody Gerut took Braun's place in the bottom of the inning. Braun, a Los Angeles native who would hate to miss any games at Dodger Stadium, seemed sure he would be back in the lineup when the series continued Tuesday night. "We didn't want to take any chances," Braun said of coming out early. "We'll be all right."

Back tightness has dogged Braun both this season and last season, when a strained muscle between his ribs sapped his power stroke down the stretch. The issue returned in Spring Training, though Braun has mostly been able to play through it, starting all but three of Milwaukee's games in left field. He was replaced by Jody Gerut Wednesday. Be advised that Braun might miss a game or two.

Cameron will be re-examined on Tuesday before the Brewers continue their four-game series at Land Shark Stadium, and will make a decision then on whether or not he'll play. The 36-year-old missed a handful of games last season with a similar injury. "It sparked up more than normal in the outfield," Cameron said. "It 'pressurized' more than normal. It's something I can deal with. I just irritated it pretty good." If Cameron sits, Jody Gerut will likely start in his place.

Gerut was hitting .227 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 37 games with the Padres. His departure opens up everyday playing time for the hot-hitting Scott Hairston, who sports a .343 average with five homers and five stolen bases. Gwynn will be used primarily as his backup. It's unlikely that Gerut will amount to more than a fourth outfielder in Milwaukee, which already boasts three capable starters in Ryan Braun, Mike Cameron and Corey Hart.

Gerut has shown decent power throughout his Major League career, but with Scott Hairston overtaking him in center field, his value is limited.

While the Padres wait for outfielders Jody Gerut (.230) and Brian Giles (153) to start hitting, Hairston is forcing his way into the lineup. He now has a .377-4-15 line in just 53 at-bats this year. NL-only owners might as well take a chance on him in the hopes that at some point his production -- and his cohorts' lack of the same -- earns him more frequent playing time.