MILWAUKEE -- How tough was it on Giovany Gonzalez after an ankle injury relegated him to observer status in the National League Championship Series?
"It's not tough anymore. Are you kidding? This is awesome," Gonzalez said after the Brewers forced a Game 7 and a chance to go to the World Series. "That's what I was kicking myself about. I didn't want to be that distraction."
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Gonzalez required a change of perspective after suffering a left high ankle sprain in the second inning of Game 4 in Los Angeles. He declined to comment after the game, a 13-inning Brewers loss that necessitated a roster move the next day. When the Crew added Zach Davies in Gonzalez's place, it made him ineligible for the rest of the NLCS -- and for the World Series should Milwaukee advance.
Gonzalez didn't find out about the second half of that rule until the next day, adding to his disappointment.
"It's unfortunate what happened, but it's time to move past that stage," Gonzalez said. "It's not about me. There is a bigger picture. We're here."
Team doctors told Gonzalez his injury would require two to three weeks to heal, and while he anticipates a faster injury, an MLB doctor concurred with the diagnosis and approved the Brewers' roster request. Such procedures are in place to prevent teams from manipulating the roster midway through a series; changes are only allowed in the event of legitimate injuries.
For Gonzalez, 33, it meant he had almost certainly thrown his final pitch for the Brewers. Acquired on Aug. 31 in a trade with the Nationals, he will be a free agent after the season, and the Crew's depth of young pitchers makes a reunion unlikely.
Gonzalez joined other injured players like catcher Stephen Vogt as chief cheerleaders.

"I'm here to keep the music going, keep guys upbeat, keep things as normal as possible," Gonzalez said. "If there's a celebration, I'm riding a scooter out there to be part of it."