by ANTHONY WITRADO, Staff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Chicago - Milwaukee Brewers manager Ken Macha spoke Tuesday with a little more honesty and candor than he has all season regarding his relationship with players and not always seeing eye-to-eye with them.

Over the course of a disappointing season that started with high expectations, times haven't always been happy, and issues have crept up.

This season has been a learning and growing experience for Macha and the players, he said. There has been talk of some players not always being on the same page as Macha, and the clubhouse not entirely embracing the first-year manager.

"I think on any club you have one-third that really enjoys playing for you, another one-third that just goes out and plays and another one-third that are disappointed in playing time or how they're being used," Macha said. "That's just the way it is.

"This is professional Baseball. They're getting paid a lot of money to go out and perform regardless of liking somebody or not liking somebody.

"You have a lot of learning to do with personalities and people. These guys are a fairly tight-knit group. They're used to their structure. Sometimes their structure isn't exactly the structure I use."

Earlier this season, centerfielder Mike Cameron took issue with Macha not telling him the day before that he was not going to be in the lineup, although that off-day was a day game after an emotional walk-off victory the night before and Macha said he forgot to alert Cameron.

More recently, Ryan Braun left room for speculation and interpretation after Macha told the media his leftfielder wasn't in the lineup because of a sore shoulder. When Braun was asked about the shoulder later that day, he told a reporter, "I don't know what he (Macha) is talking about."

Macha also used the running game as an example, saying some players wanted to run more freely. But when given the green light during the last series in Pittsburgh, the team ran into outs in the first inning of all three games with Prince Fielder looming in the order. The Brewers were swept in that series, pretty much dashing their postseason dreams.

Macha has an open-door policy, and players with a beef are welcomed to bring the problem to him, but not everyone takes advantage, something Macha would like to see change.

"I get to the stadium early. The door is wide open," Macha said. "I want them to come in. I want them to tell me what's going on with them. I'm there to help them."

Parra to see Raasch: Left-hander Manny Parra will see team physician William Raasch on Wednesday morning to have a magnetic resonance imaging exam on the stiff neck that kept him out of his last start and has put his next start in jeopardy.

Parra threw a bullpen session Monday, but it wasn't all-out and he had a spasm afterward. Left-hander Chris Narveson is the leading candidate to take Friday's start, as he did when Parra was scratched Sunday.

Assistant general manager Gord Ash said Parra wouldn't start Friday, but Macha wouldn't totally rule it out. But to hear it from Parra, it seems unlikely he'll start as his frustration with not being 100% grows.

"I feel like there's small progress, but at the same time I think we expected more," Parra said. "It's not something I thought would last this long.

"It baffles me. It's stupid. For me it's just stupid. It's one of those things where I wake up everyday and wonder why the hell I'm not pitching."

DiFelice to DL: Right-hander Mark DiFelice has been placed on the 60-day disabled list with the right shoulder strain he suffered Sunday. The team purchased right-hander Josh Butler's contract from Class AA Huntsville to replace DiFelice.

The late-season timing of the injury is why the Brewers put him on the DL instead of waiting for it to get better.

"Because of the time of the year and because it's uncertain as to when he will pitch, we'll put him on the 60, which buys a roster spot for Butler," Ash said.

DiFelice had been one of the more reliable arms out of the bullpen earlier this season. He had a 1.64 ERA after a July 22 outing, but he struggled from that point. In his 20 outings since after that, DiFelice had a 9.45 ERA.

Butler was acquired last season in the Gabe Gross trade with Tampa Bay. This season Butler went 9-3 with a 2.97 ERA between Class A Brevard County, Class AAA Nashville, rookie level for a rehabilitation stint and Class AA Huntsville. He struck out 96 and walked 43 in 118 1/3 innings and will pitch in the Arizona Fall League.

Butler probably won't start Friday for Parra, but if Parra's neck issues continue beyond that, Butler could get the ball.

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