Coming into the series with a four-game lead in the Wild Card race, Philadelphia swept the Brewers in four games to pull even in the standings and manager Ned Yost was fired the Monday after.
The biggest difference, according to Sveum, is the increased confidence gained over the course of two weeks. During that span, the team experienced every possible high and low imaginable.
"We didn't come in with a lot of confidence," Sveum said. "When you come into a place like this with four days with not a lot of confidence playing, you're going to get swept like we did."
Since that point, the Brewers went 7-5 and took the playoff race down to the wire, needing a dramatic victory on the season's final day ... and still had to wait for a Mets loss in order to clinch a postseason berth.
That final week, especially with a pair of walk-off victories, gave the team momentum heading into the playoffs, unlike the last trip here, when the team came to Philadelphia having lost five of seven, including two of four to the woeful San Diego Padres.
"We're a completely different team as far as momentum, as far as the burden (is) off our back and these guys are relaxed and ready to go now," Sveum said.
The Brewers will also benefit from starting CC Sabathia in Game 2 of the series tomorrow. Sabathia has been nothing short of amazing during the final two weeks of the season and didn't face the Phillies in the teams' last meeting.
Fewer faces: General manager Doug Melvin says Sveum will need to adjust to a different roster. He'll have 25 players to work with, compared to the 35 the team carried after rosters expanded on Sept. 1.
He'll also have to get used to not using players like reliever Todd Coffey or pinch-hitter Mike Lamb. A pair of waiver-wire acquisitions, both players made significant contributions down the stretch.
"You had extra pitchers out there," Melvin said. "When you're managing 10 less players, it's a different ballgame."
More on 1982: It seems like anywhere you go in Milwaukee; people want to talk about the 1982 Brewers who, of course, were the last group to appear in the playoffs.
The 2008 team, with all due respect to their predecessors, are glad the drought is over and are hoping the focus will shift to the present.
To a man, the players haven't exactly been fond of the "retro" uniforms worn on Friday nights this season and on Sundays the year before. They'd prefer to make their own name under the team's current logo.
Sveum says the players respect the 1982 team and players, but are ready to write their own chapter in the history books.
"Obviously, they have to hear about the 1982 team quite often," Sveum said. "And they respect all those guys.
"Don't get me wrong, there was some phenomenal players on that team ... my bench coach, Robin Yount, was on that team, (who) the players respect more than anybody."
Melvin sees similarities in the makeup and experience of the two teams, both of whom endured a managerial change, a late swoon, picked up veteran catchers and traded for big-game pitchers for the stretch run.
Still, he would also like see talk revolve around what the team is doing now, while giving appropriate credit to the past. Winning a championship, something the '82 Brewers didn't do, would be a good way to do that.
"You want to have your own identity," Melvin said. "They want to make a name for themselves. I think they have by getting here. They have a chance to go further."
Fallen officer honored: Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Bowes throughout the first pitch at Wednesday's game.
Bowes was shot in the hip while on duty last month. His colleague, Officer Patrick McDonald, was shot and killed during the same shootout and was laid to rest Tuesday in Philadelphia.
Fans observed a moment of silence prior to the national anthem in honor of McDonald.
Wild thing: Also throwing out a ceremonial pitch was former Phillies reliever Mitch Williams.
Better known as "Wild Thing," Williams served up the game-winning home run to Toronto's Joe Carter in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series.
Living up to his nickname, Williams' pitch went to the backstop.
