Food for Thought

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As any Brewer fan knows, CC Sabathia is a significant reason why the team is enjoying its first postseason appearance in more than a quarter of a century.

But since his arrival in July, he has also proven to be a big benefactor of the legal community.

No, Sabathia hasn’t spent time between starts negotiating complex commercial business deals, although at this point, some Milwaukeeans may not doubt his ability to do so.

Rather, his left arm helped provide $15,000 for Foley & Lardner’s “K’s for a Cause” program during the regular season.

Partners, associates and staff at the law firm collectively donated approximately $200 to the Hunger Task Force to every strikeout recorded by Brewers’ pitchers at Miller Park. The team fanned 590 opponents in 82 games for a total of $120,000.

With no disrespect to reliever Eric Gagne, who donated an additional $25 per strikeout out of his own pocket, in just three months, Sabathia tallied 75 strikeouts at Miller Park in as many innings, second only to the 82 posted by Manny Parra, who spent the entire season with the team.

So had General Manager Doug Melvin not made the mid-season trade which brought Sabathia to Milwaukee, the donation total would have been about 13 percent less; a pretty significant ratio when you consider how much food $15,000 can buy.

Unfortunately, for the Brewers and the program, which will enter its second year of a four-year partnership and benefit another charity in 2009, Sabathia’s strikeouts will likely come in another jersey, at another stadium next year.

But in the meantime, Foley announced that it will extend the program for as long as the Brewers are in the playoffs, which means Sabathia has a chance to add a few more dollars to the total starting tonight.

I don’t think anyone outside of Philadelphia would object to that.