Murray Chass likes the Brewers chances:

TOM HICKS and Mark Attanasio have conducted business deals with each other, but it is a deal Hicks did on his own for which Attanasio owes Hicks a large thank-you. Hicks, the Texas Rangers’ owner, fired Doug Melvin as his general manager in 2001, three and a half years after Hicks bought the team. Melvin became the general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers in September 2002 and was in that position when Attanasio bought the Brewers in January 2005.

While Hicks’s Rangers continue to flail and founder in a sea of uncertain leadership, Attanasio’s Brewers are headed in the right direction. After a franchise-record 12 consecutive losing seasons, the Brewers last year won as many games as they lost. This season, they won their first five games before losing three of four.

“We’re more settled and we have more stability than we’ve had in the past,” Melvin said. “We know our players better. Two, three years ago, we weren’t sure. I think we have a club that has a chance to grow on the fans. I feel we have enough experience to contend.”