It's hard to find anybody who's taken more criticism over the last two seasons than reliever Derrick Turnbow.

As quickly as his lights-out fastball ascended the right-hander to rock-star status at Miller Park, he became the lighting rod for the frustrations of a fan base desperate for its first taste of post-season baseball in a quarter century.

The roller-coaster continued for Turnbow last week. He gave up the go-ahead and winning runs in a 4-3 loss to St. Louis on Monday night.

The outing was his first after publicly expressing dismay with the fact that he had been used only sparingly this season and never with the outcome of the game still in question.

Despite fumbling in his first opportunity, manager Ned Yost expressed confidence in Turnbow, who was an all-star in 2006 before suffering a meltdown from which he has yet to fully recover. Yost feels that Turnbow will play an integral role with the team during a possible run to the playoffs.

"We're going to need this kid this year," Yost said. "We're going to need him to be the person he was when he was an All-Star pitcher and when he was successful last year.

"You don't do it by sitting down there (in the bullpen)."

Yost again turned to Turnbow two days later in the ninth inning against Philadelphia. With the Brewers leading, 5-4, Turnbow worked a scoreless inning to preserve the victory and record his first save in exactly one year.

On Sunday against Florida, Turnbow came on in relief for the seventh inning. He threw just 11 pitches, but loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single before exiting the field to a chorus of boos from the sellout crowd of 41,656.

Mitch Stetter came on to end the inning without further damage, but the Brewers went on to lose, 3-2, in 10 innings.

Turnbow agrees with Yost that he's close to returning to form, even if the stats aren't there to back up the assumption.

"The results are not there, but I feel like I'm starting to get back to where I was in '05 and early '06. I have the confidence to know I can go out there and throw strikes now. It's about maybe executing a little better, mixing it up a bit more."

Cameron to join team: Centerfielder Mike Cameron wrapped up his 25-game suspension playing five games for Class AAA Nashville and will officially join the Brewers in time for Tuesday's game at Wrigley. Cameron hit .xxx during his minor-league assignment.

To make room for Cameron on the roster, the Brewers optioned RHP Dave Bush to Class AAA Nashville. Bush had started to stabilize after a few rocky outings to start the season, but the return of Yovani Gallardo made Bush - who had a minor-league option remaining - expendable.

The Brewers made the move following Sunday's loss. Yost told the media that the decision was difficult, but necessary. The team wanted Bush to remain in his regular rhythm; something he couldn't accomplish if he was moved into a long-relief role in the bullpen.

"It's to all of our benefit, as hard and painful as a decision like this is, to go and get a couple of starts," Yost said. "If something happens, we can bring him right back.

"He's struggled in the beginning, and it's gotten to the point where he's starting to get more mechanically sound and more consistent, and I just think it's going to happen for him."

Bush was 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in four starts this season. He was done in regularly by the dreaded "big inning," as well as 12 walks in 22 2/3 innings of work.

"I don't have much of a choice but to accept it," Bush said. "I prefer not to think about how difficult is when I don't have a choice in the matter."

He had made 65 appearances for the Brewers since being acquired before the 2006 season in a trade that sent Lyle Overbay to Toronto. Bush last pitched in the minors in 2005.

"It's a situation where I had options left, and when that's the case, they can do whatever they want," Bush said. "I'm odd-man-out this time, I guess."

All eyes on Sheets: Ben Sheets is scheduled to make his first start in nearly two weeks when the Brewers face the Cubs Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. Sheets has been sidelined with a strain of his right triceps since April 19, when he left after pitching just five innings in a start against the Reds.

The right-hander threw a bullpen session on Saturday and reported feeling no discomfort.

Sheets is 3-0 in four starts this season with an earned run average of 0.96. He is eligible for free agency following the season.

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