One part of the Milwaukee Brewers' reputation has been particularly hard to accept for Mark Attanasio.

"Since I got here, I've been reading about how Milwaukee was a farm system for the big cities and the major-market teams," said Attanasio, who bought the team in 2005. "I always would bristle at that."

Attanasio can stop bristling now. The franchise-record eight-year, $45 million contract he just gave to 24-year-old Ryan Braun proved the Brewers finally have been recalled from the minor leagues.

Yes, changing baseball economics have evened the playing field somewhat for low-revenue franchises. Mostly, though, the Brewers can think about retaining some of their home-grown stars because they are on firm financial footing for the first time since at least the early 1990s.

"The team's in a very good financial position," Attanasio said. "One of the things we wanted to do from the beginning was run the business properly as a business. One of the reasons we wanted to do that is (so) when we had an opportunity like this with Ryan -- and with others -- that we can make longer-term commitments."

Attanasio had help in transforming the Brewers from a mom-and-pop operation into a modern corporation.

The residents of the five counties whose tax dollars built Miller Park and the fans who have packed the stadium are high on the list. Increased revenue-sharing in baseball helped as well. And the rising stars, some of whom were in the farm system when Attansio bought the team, have given fans real hope for the first time in years.

But Attanasio, who made his money in the financial industry, deserves credit, too. Under his business-oriented approach, the Brewers work hard at maximizing the potential sources of revenue provided by Miller Park. As for the team on the field, Attanasio believes you have to spend money to make money.

"Mark Attanasio has proven that he's very competitive and is committed to winning," Braun said.

Some wonder how Attanasio can be praised for his willingness to pay for a winning team when the Brewers let closer Francisco Cordero leave in free agency, a decision that has haunted them this season. But the Brewers were willing to pay Cordero -- as long as it made fiscal sense. They offered him $42 million over four years, a sizable commitment for them, but were trumped by Cincinnati, which gave Cordero $46 million.

Sorry, but comparing Braun to Cordero is comparing apples to oranges.

Paying Cordero that much would have been a huge risk given his age and the fickle nature of closers. Paying Braun was a sound baseball decision to ensure the team's long-term competitiveness and a sound fiscal decision since it will pay less for Braun over the life of the contract than it would have had he gone year-to-year like Prince Fielder is doing.

"I feel like if we run the business correctly, we'll have the financial wherewithal to put a good team on the field," Attanasio said.

Having the wherewithal to pay players doesn't mean you re-sign everyone. It means you have the ability to make baseball decisions without financial concerns tying your hands.

That's where the Brewers are now.