Wait 'til next year...
Many across Wisconsin went to bed last night and woke up this morning with a feeling of disappointment in their bellies. While we as Brewers fans are used to being disappointed in our team, we certainly are not used to feeling it in October.
In 1982 the Brewers held a 3-2 series lead heading into St. Louis for the final two games of the best-of-seven series. You know the story: The Cards came back and won both games for a World Series victory, while Brewers fans suffered through two of the most disappointing games in franchise history, not experiencing the postseason again for 26 years.
I was 5 years old and my only memory of that series is an ’82 World Series collector’s edition belt buckle a relative gave me, a prize I proudly wore for several years a la John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever." I probably wasn’t the coolest-looking third-grader, but I don’t think the buckle was the defining factor.
In 2008 the Brewers clinched a playoff birth on the season's final day, in what has become known as "The Clincher". I have a very vivid memory of that day and that playoff experience. I was in attendance for Game 3 of the NLDS versus the Phillies, which became Milwaukee's first playoff win since 1982 and was our only win of that series. While that was frustrating, it wasn’t as disappointing because a) we were just happy to be in the playoffs, and b) we knew the deck was stacked playing the Phillies.
This season, it was different. From the time General Manager Doug Melvin uttered, "We're all in," after acquiring Zach Greinke last January, this was "our" year. All the pieces were in place and seemed to fit perfectly. We were going to ride Prince and Ryan's bats and Zach and Yovani's arms all the way to the World Series. A division title and NLDS series victory over Arizona made the glass slipper feel even more comfortable.
Hindsight being 20/20, you certainly could question a few of Runnin' Ron Roenicke's moves -- for example, why didn’t Narveson start Game 5 in St. Louis so you could hold Greinke back for Game 6 at Miller Park, where he didn’t lose all year? -- but that discussion solves nothing at this point. Ron deserves a tremendous THANK YOU for getting us as far as he did.
Between the starting pitchers and the lack of defense, the Crew did themselves no favors during the series. You REALLY have to hand it to Tony LaRussa and the entire St. Louis Cardinals organization. They were literally on life support, 10.5 games out of the playoff picture in early August. But they continued to play as if they deserved to be in the postseason and ultimately got there. Now, for the second time in recent history LaRussa has managed his wild card team to a World Series berth.
There are many things to discuss regarding the Brewers, from what happens this off-season, to whom, if anyone, they will sign from the free-agent market, to who will be on the field behind Yovani Gallardo when those very same St. Louis Cardinals come to Miller Park to open the 2012 season. I’ll get to those, but this blog is just to say congratulations and good luck to the Cardinals and their fans.
For us Brewers fans, pitchers and catchers report to spring training in less than four months. Like every year of my life, I am confident the pieces will fall into place and we will be World Series champs. Just wait til next year…
Tim Thompson is a car salesman and huge fan of the Milwaukee Brewers. He lives in the Newville area with his fiance and two children. Tim is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.
Oct 19, 2011 at 10:09 p.m.
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Go Cards!! Eat em up!! Card in six.
Oct 19, 2011 at 9:09 p.m.
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Next Year Never Comes, Just jump on another bandwagon.....
Oct 19, 2011 at 2:15 p.m.
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When Fielder leaves and everyone can simply pitch around Braun, next year looks to be a bit of a bummer for ya--should've struck while the iron was hot.
Oh well, another 29 years will just fly by--don't worry about that.
Oct 19, 2011 at 10:24 a.m.
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oldtimer
I read that article too and didn't think much of it. The crew was hot in August and had a great year overall and all systems were go.
But the playoffs saw Murphy's law as I stated in my first post. As in all sports, there does need to be some tweeking. But what do I know, I would have kept Posednik a while longer as he became an All Star and went to the WS with the White Sox after that.
And the Crew traded away Nelson Cruz. Go Rangers
Oct 19, 2011 at 9:30 a.m.
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TT I hope you read "New Brew" by Michael Hunt in todays Gazette sport page, He hit the nail on the head,
Oct 19, 2011 at 3:41 a.m.
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No doubt you have to give MAJOR kudos to Mark Antanazio.
What a magnificent owner, and person! I picture him as the fantasy baseball geek in high school, who won the lottery later in life! He's just a glorified baseball geek-fan, who the Milwaukee community has really embraced. Many initially thought he only bought the team to move out of WI, and cash in big. Now the community sees his passion and love for the game, the fans and the city...The Brewers could have not asked for a better person to take over from the CURSED Selig regime! Pretty much everything Selig touched as owner of the Brewers was a disaster...He passed on that great skill with him to the commissioners office. As pretty much everything he has touched there has been a complete disaster as well..
Oct 18, 2011 at 7:44 p.m.
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They got cold at the wrong time unfortunately ,I think they have better talent than the cards but it doesn't matter now. They were blown out and, as far as Fielder goes ,just look at Labron James, karma at it's finest. Greed is a powerful thing,and it can kill a career. Off to bed night night.
Oct 18, 2011 at 3:02 p.m.
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Yup. I totally understand man, I've had only a couple of years in my life where the Crew was even competetive in Sept. It's a woeful life, but thats just one reason why we can say we:)
Oct 18, 2011 at 2:53 p.m.
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Tim, at least you were able to say “wait ‘til next year” in October. I am pretty sure I made that statement in April this year in regards to my Cubs.
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That statement still wreaks of tortured Cubs fan.
Oct 18, 2011 at 1:27 p.m.
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please see my previous post on why we are not the cubs;)
Oct 18, 2011 at 11:31 a.m.
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"wait 'til next year"...choose your words carefully Tim. You are starting to sound like one of us (Cubs fans).
Oct 18, 2011 at 8:23 a.m.
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A highly jovial LOL, Thanks T
Oct 18, 2011 at 8:15 a.m.
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well said kay.
plus, it takes a goat to have a REAL curse;) selig is an ass;)
Oct 18, 2011 at 7:19 a.m.
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kiowamohican
I think your "curse" is laugh out loud funny. Selig has done everything possible to make the markets as fair as possible with all team and it wasn't until the Selig's daughter sold the Brewers that we are finally starting to build a good team with Attanasio. They laid dormant for so long under Wendy Selig. Big thanks for Mark Attanasio for breathing life back into Milwaukee.
Oct 18, 2011 at 2:17 a.m.
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Even with STL having home field, I can't see them winning the world series. I was dead wrong with calling Philly beating them, but I don't think I will be here. In a 7 game series Texas simply has much the better, and deeper talent. Even with STL having the Selig gift of home field, Texas remains a very large favorite (-180 at most major books). I'll call Texas in 5, and not really much of an exciting series.
Oct 18, 2011 at 2:09 a.m.
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Congrats to NVGrf and the Crads fans.
They really crushed the Brewers in every aspect of the game.
I was surprised the Brewers even won the two games they did, the way they were playing.
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Cards fans should also thank the worse commissioner in the history of baseball. The Selig CURSE lives on, even after his ties to the Brewers have been cut. The Brewers regressed to their teams of old; with horrific defense, everyone swinging for the fences, and shotty pitching.
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The Selig brilliance of adding a wild card team, and actually making an EXHIBITION game determine the home team in the world series, has given the Cards home field now despite a far inferior record then Texas. To add injury to insult to the Selig curse, it was a Brewer player who gave them home field! HAHAHA.
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My prediction is the Brewers will win a championship the year Selig kicks the can, and the curse is lifted from them!
Oct 17, 2011 at 11:50 p.m.
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All things considered it could be worse; we could be cub’s fans :-)
Oct 17, 2011 at 9:27 p.m.
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You really do have to hand it to the Cardinals, they are playing the best baseball in October, and that is all that matters now. As much as Albert took his boos, his empathetically called time out in the 8th inning really shows everyone that the game has real people with real emotions and feelings. Please Prince do not go to the Yankees or Cubs, that would be plain sickening.
Oct 17, 2011 at 3:42 p.m.
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NVgrf- They were 6 games behind the Brewers at the end of the season. Their play at the end of the regular season got them the wild card bid, not the division championship. I agree 100% they out played the Brewers in the ALCS. I am just not a fan of "wildcards" in any sport.
Oct 17, 2011 at 3:07 p.m.
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I witnessed a clear case of being out played, out pitched, out hit, and out managed. The Cards are hot, the Crew was not. Record errors in playoff series and 1 2-out hit with men on base. I will now enjoy the Packers remaining season and I will be cheering for the Rangers in with WS!
Oct 17, 2011 at 2:48 p.m.
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Sturmer....A sour grapes guy, huh?
emac.....The Cards played great ball coming down the stretch of the regular season, not just in the playoffs. Check the facts. They kicked the Brewers all over the field in the 7 or 8 games they played as seasons end.
Oct 17, 2011 at 2:36 p.m.
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The end of every Brewers season is disappointing, given that they've never won a World Series. That said, this one is going to take a while for me to shake off ... but I wouldn't trade the highs and lows of the past couple months for anything. Can't wait for that chilly day in February when I wake up and smile, because pitchers and catchers are beginning spring training. Go Brewers!
Oct 17, 2011 at 2:23 p.m.
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See Tim this is a perfect example of how the wild card teams can be a "spoiler". Not that the Cards didn't play great baseball in the play-offs, but by rights they should have been done at the end of the regular season.
Oct 17, 2011 at 1:22 p.m.
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correction "Iam 86" i said not 86
Oct 17, 2011 at 1:21 p.m.
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I have commented on this before, Iam not a Fielder or Weeks fan. The whole team looked really bad, I think they have to make some major changes. Iam not 86 and have seen a lot of baseball, my wife and I are already signed up with the Brewers for spring training next year, we had a ball last year. My first game was 1934 in Wrigley field, The local YMCA got some tickets and got some dads to drive us, we took a sack lunch, there were no interstates. and because of the despression this was a real treat, my wife and I both worked hard and now able to go to a few more games. go Brewers Go Wisconsin, Go Packers.
Oct 17, 2011 at 1:08 p.m.
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hahaha. i love you:)
Oct 17, 2011 at 12:56 p.m.
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I hate the Cardinals and refuse to congratulate Larussa and his team. They got hot at the right time though that's for sure. Their still a bunch of _______... well you fill in the blank! Go Rangers!
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