The Best Second Place Team Ever

For years I thought that the 1982 Brewers did win the World Series the way everyone spoke so glowingly about them. It wasn't until the early '90's when I started reading baseball books that the hard truth set in, how could these people be lying to me all these years? I think it's maybe a Milwaukee or Wisconsin thing to laud the few champions or near-miss champs for eternity. It's hard to explain why the '82 team is supremely lauded, but it is pathetic for people to be so enamored with a club that is now more than 26 years in the past.

What got me thinking about this unfortunate tourette's-like subject of area Brewers fans was the Harvey's Wallbangers program aired on the MLB network over the weekend. I finally sat down and watched it, I've long passed being reminiscent about that one time the Brewers were good, so it was nice to be reminded of how great the '79-'83 teams were and the glory they narrowly missed out on.

I believe the program itself is this particular DVD, which the network mislabeled as "2009," giving me the impression that I was recording something new. I never saw it, so it was new to me, and it was a nice look back, but I was disappointed in the presentation. Obviously MLB Productions cobbled together old and new interviews, so the video and audio quality throughout the program wasn't consistent. Content wise it was nice, though the final five minutes of the Robin Yount retrospective was a strange touch. Most strange was that Bob Uecker narrated the show and sometimes his interviews were featured … so some journalistic license was definitely being taken there. I did learn that Harvey Kuenn had a fake leg, so I will be certain to bring that up at bar time.

Don't get me wrong, the Wallbangers DVD is by far the best (only?) retrospective on the team that I know of, but it clearly illustrates the difference between the way baseball and football present one another. NFL Films does a great job marketing and branding itself through the dramatic shows, showing the real plays at ¾'s speed and allowing the story develop at a natural pace. Wallbangers, along with tons of other MLB shows, is a quick hit compendium of information and action, jumping from interview to fast action and not allowing the viewer to breathe. Though they try to develop a story, it isn't as dramatically crafted as NFL Films productions even though I would say baseball has far more poignant moments. Perhaps the MLB media powers should watch Ken Burns's Baseball to find out how to tell a real baseball story.

This might have something to do with psychology, though, because all baseball fans tend to defend their favorite sport against those who say it's boring or too slow. I hope the media guys get over this hurdle and hire some story writers to write about the story that already exists.

I digress … this is much more than I wanted to write about the show, but it brings up a lot other things for me to gripe/reminisce about, like how Harry Dalton is the most under-appreciated person in Brewers history. Another ramble for another day.

Sloppy Seconds

A GM's off-season hopes are much like a CC Sabathia jersey t-shirt. One day you love it and what it represents, the next you're wearing it to the gym.

Thus goes the off-season for Doug Melvin and those affiliated with the Brewers. January is the maudlin month when you realize your best laid plans are not going to happen and you start picking up the sloppy seconds. In my informal brain racking, I figure that the Brewers are one of 20 teams who had a disappointing off-season, while five met their plans (incl. Yankees), and five others have no plan at all (incl. Royals).

By all means, the January signings are not terrible, it's just that they aren't who you wanted. Hoffman is a great example, I'm certain he'll be serviceable, but it's hardly a psychological jolt for the better that signings in November or December can get you. This month is all about plugging holes and the Brewers have a gaping hole in the starting rotation. It'll be filled one way or another, but any way will not be exciting.

Regarding Hoffman, I hope he works and the West Allis fans refrain from booing after a few rough outings. I didn't have any expectations regarding the "closer" situation because I think the "closer" who gets all those meaningless "save" stats should be the best pitcher who is not a starter and/or has the highest strikeout rate. Obviously the pickings were slim on the roster as it stands, but someone would step up and take the ball. If anything, the signing pushes those pitchers (Coffey, Villanueva, Stetter, Riske, Julio, McClungmaybe) earlier in the game, and if the Brewers aren't going to get a competent starter, they might as well bolster the bullpen.

Hoffman concerns me, however, moving to his first new team since 1993 (when I was 15) and pitching more in homer-friendly ballparks (bloggy views: 1, 2, 3). Hot summer days in all NL Central ballparks may not bode well for a flyball pitcher with a declining strikeout rate. Oh yeah, his seasonal age this year is 41 … the cold weather in those same parks could make things stiff. If spotted his projections, I'd take them, but you know the sample size is small and/or steroid inflated for pitchers of that age.

A benefit I see with Hoffman signing with the Brewers? That's right, Jake Peavy. I don't know why I'm the only one who thinks it's plausible Peavy could wind up with the Brewers, but the two teams match up and now that two of Peavy's former teammates (Hoffman, Cameron) play for the team … that, you know, could sway his decision. I am under the impression he has a no-trade clause to the Brewers, but that could be waived knowing he has buddies already on the team, a dome to play in, and a quasi-competitive team to play for (the Padres are not).

Assuming Peavy would welcome a trade to Mil-town, Melvin could deal with the logjam in the middle of the infield. The core of the team is here through 2011 … except JJ Hardy. Melvin could either move Hardy to 2B and include Weeks in a package, or go gut and move Hardy and allow the savior Escobar to take his place. It's a tough call, but that's why Melvin gets paid the big bucks. Include San Diego savior in waiting Gwynn, a random pitcher, and ask for a discount from Towers for getting fleeced in the Linebrink trade and we have a deal.

A move of this nature with its added benefits of ruining the Cubs' offseason plans, will turn the January player signing malaise into a bandwagon bonanza.

MLB Network

As I continue to gather my thoughts on what I hope the Brewers will accomplish now that the offseason has not gone their way, the MLB Network launched today on channel 122 for Time Warner Digital Cable subscribers in SE Wisconsin.

Right now they're airing the Don Larsen World Series perfect game on a loop with interspersed interviews with of Berra and Larsen with Bob Costas (which was strange after having seen him hosting the NHL's Winter Classic earlier today at Wrigley). I look forward to seeing classic, complete games and marvel at how little player mannerisms have changed through the years … though it is starteling at the rapid pacing of the game.

Of particular note for the Brewers fan, I was flipping through the Tivo schedule for the channel and there's an hour and a half "Harvey's Wallbangers" program about the '82 team airing Saturday, January 10^th at 11a. It appears to be a new program and look forward to that and whatever else MLB Network has in its vaults waiting to air.

Good times. And the Big Ten sucks.