For years I saved the Monday after the season ended Journal mainly for the stats. This stopped at least a decade ago because the final stats I was looking for were accompanied by a somber Milwaukee Brewers story about rebuilding, another wayward season, more losing ways, etc. I think I'll buy a newspaper for the first time in five years today.
Yesterday was definitely a memorable one, in about a 30 minute span the Mets started to lose, Braun homered, Sabathia closed it out, and then the Mets finally succumbed. I don't need to reiterate how big it is for the franchise to make it to the postseason (let's leave that to the sheltered clowns in Bristol, CT), but it was a slight exorcism of the years of suffering us fans have gone through. It's a great, and strange, feeling.
Clearly this team is flawed and I had all but written off the team after the devastating loss to the Cubs a week ago (a week ago!). And, sure, this postseason birth should have been clinched much earlier, but here we are, this is the situation we have been dealt. No one could have predicted Curt Schilling's economic recovery plan, either.
It's hard to completely lay bare the agony a fan of this team has gone through for all these years. I remember in '92 how close things were and how unfair many thought the David Cone acquisition by the Blue Jays was, but it wasn't as hurtful because it appeared as if the team was still going to be good the next season. Nope, many years of futility followed without even a sniff of the post season until June 2006 and first half of last season plus the final two weeks … but they were premature. The 2008 team tried its best to follow in their 2007 footsteps, but in the end (and thanks to a moderate Mets collapse), they snuck in. Now I hope they make some noise.
I'm glad that I decided not to write about next season after the Cubs loss … believe me, it took all of my superpowers not to throw something up here about the starting staff or which hitter needs to go for a solid pitcher. Alas, I get to delay that a little while longer and I'm glad I put it off in the first place.
The term "hero" gets thrown around too much in professional sports, but the following players and situation will be fondly remembered for their clutch efforts during a lovely final week of the season:
9/21: Prince Fielder's double and homer are the difference in a rare September offensive outburst. If Fielder hadn't gotten hot this month, this team would not be in the playoffs.
9/23: Fielder again, two-run homer in the bottom of the 9th to beat Pittsburgh.
9/24: CC Sabathia shutting down the Pirates on three-days rest while striking out 11 in seven innings. The win pulled the Brewers into a tie with the Mets.
9/25: Yovanni Gallardo returning for the first time since May to strike out seven in four innings, then allowing Ryan Braun to hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning.
9/26: Seth McClung … four innings of shut out relief. Rickie Weeks hits a three-run homer in the 7th inning.
9/27: A frustrating day all around, I don't know what it is with the Brewers and soft-tossers, but the familiar situation arises again. Sheets didn't have it, so his Brewers tenure more than likely ends with a whimper. Russell Branyan almost pulled a Natural-like finale.
9/28: Sabathia and Braun, the two MVP's of the team, are the deciders. Kudos also go to Counsell, a favorite whipping boy, for earning the bases loaded walk after Corey Hart swung at three straight balls.
Overall: The bullpen's effort in a series of games … 9/17, 9/20, 9/21, 9/23, and 9/25 plus other short (<2 IP) outings in between. Dale Sveum exhibited his willingness to go to the bullpen early and often to keep games from getting out of hand … and more often than not the pen came through. Again, this team would not be in the playoffs without their combined efforts. Since Sveum took over, the bullpen has a 3.33 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP, but more importantly they shut the opponent down when needed to be shut down … since the final Cincy game, the pen has a 1.91 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. Gangsta.
The past week couldn't have been scripted any better and I'm glad I set aside everything I was doing to enjoy it and see all of the key parts. I know I'm just an interested observer in the whole process, but it was a great ride.
I think the "noise" the Brewers could make in the playoffs relies solely on the offense. The offense wasn't any better this past week than it had been all month, it was the pitching that stepped up big time, so as the offense goes, so will the postseason chances. There is no way the Phillies, Cubs, or Dodgers will go into a hitting funk. I will post more about expectations within the next few days.
Photo: Benny Sieu/JS Online
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