11/21/24
September 29, 2008
Milwaukee Brewers return to the postseason after a 26 year absence.: The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the postseason for the first time in 26 years after clinching the NL Wild Card spot yesterday.
en.wikipedia.org As a St. Louis Cardinal fan I remember that series well.
posted by m8nsman at 04:45 PM on September 29, 2008
If this doesn't make the case for Sabathia getting the NL Cy Young, nothing will.
posted by mkultra at 05:23 PM on September 29, 2008
It's also been 26 years since the Phillies last made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. What an unbelievable ride for both these teams to displace the NY Mets this year. If only it was the Phillies that got Johan (or C.C.) I'd be feeling a lot better about their playoff chances. But still, you never know.
posted by DudeDykstra at 06:04 PM on September 29, 2008
Congratulations to the Brewers. my second team.
posted by budman13 at 06:19 PM on September 29, 2008
The Brewers were so good in the early 80's, they were in another league altogether!
Not only were the Brewers good in the early 80's, so were the Orioles. Wow, that was long ago and far away.
Actually, didn't the 1982 Brewers clinch on the final day, sending Earl Weaver into retirement (for a while anyway)?
I went to the same bar to watch every game of the 82 Series. Drank Milwaukee-made slosh for the Brewers' home games and Anheuser for the Cards' games. Just to be fair minded. The Series went seven games and it took me weeks to work off that all-American weight gain.
posted by beaverboard at 06:22 PM on September 29, 2008
I was 2 months old the last time they made the playoffs and have been waiting my entire life to see them make the playoffs. I'm so excited. I officially peed my pants (yes on purpose) for them yesterday. Part of a pact I made last year and decided to stick to it this year. Woo hoo for C.C.
posted by amatzek at 07:10 PM on September 29, 2008
I hear Yovani Gallardo may go game 1 against Cole Hamels. Man I'm excited....
posted by DudeDykstra at 07:32 PM on September 29, 2008
I'm actually happy about this. Other than the Red Sox- well, and to a certain extent the Cubs- I didn't have any favorites this year. It's nice to see teams make it who don't do so as as regular event; Milwaukee is long overdue for some October excitement. And while I think CC for Cy is a long shot having only half a season with guys like Webb and Lincecum in the mix, the guy pitched as good as a man can pitch, for Milwaukee: he was the rare trading deadline (or near deadline) pitching acquisition who was completely worth it. He was the singular reason they made the playoffs, and the bad-ass mo'fo' is even saying he can pitch on 3 days in the playoffs!
Even if he doesn't win a Cy Young, the Sabathia Sweepstakes this fall is going to be one enriching affair for the dude: turns out that playing your heart out and pitching the hell out of the ball works better than contract-year games. I'd sure like to see the Dodgers bounced quickly so a certain dreadlocked slugger better understood this dynamic.... :)
posted by hincandenza at 05:21 AM on September 30, 2008
If this doesn't make the case for Sabathia getting the NL Cy Young, nothing will
You're right, nothing will!
Let's get one thing clear, C.C. was clutch for the Brewers since being traded from the Indians but he's not going to win the NL Cy Young award. The award that he's more likely to win is the NL MVP award but not the Cy Young.
What's sad is that the reason the voters are going with in not voting for C.C. to win this award is because he didn't play the whole season in the NL. I agree that he should win the Cy Young since it's not his fault for being traded but the voters decision is the only one that counts and they would rather give the award to a pitcher that played the whole season in one division.
posted by BornIcon at 07:21 AM on September 30, 2008
This might be a good time to unload my quadruples of Robin Yount's rookie card I have.
I've always liked the Brewers. Yount, Cecil Cooper, Ben Oglivie, Paul Molitor, Gorman Thomas. Those were some classic players a few years back. Hopefully for Milwaukee fans they capture the World Series title this year, because C.C. will be flooded by money from other teams next year. I fully expect the Mets and Yanks (throw in Boston, too) to go abolutely CRAZY bidding for his services (and the Mets to empty the vault for K-Rod, too).
posted by dyams at 06:50 PM on September 30, 2008
Right- some writers say CC took risks pushing his body all during his time on the Brewers since he is universally seen as a "rent-a-player" (perhaps unfairly; Milwaukee isn't Selig's team anymore, so they might loosen the purse strings to keep him- they've actually got a good nucleus there and could be an Oakland-style small-market success story if they play things correctly), but those risks will pay off huge for Sabathia. He will be hands down the most desired free agent this off-season, with every team looking to improve their stock seeing Sabathia as the #1 anchor of their staff. He's a proven ace pitcher, innings eater, healthy, and willing to take the ball on any given day.
I'm not sure if Boston will be in the hunt; between Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, they already have 3 bona fide #1 or at least #2 type pitchers, and a 4th would be overkill; the Boston farm system is too deep to spend greatly on another pitcher no matter how good. They'd be better spending that money to retain their soon-to-be-very-expensive right-side of the infield in Pedroia and Youkilis. Those two guys, with Mauer's 0-3 today in the Twins' failed attempt to make the playoffs, might end up being the #1 and #2 MVP vote getters.
posted by hincandenza at 11:21 PM on September 30, 2008
I agree, Hal. I don't really think C.C. would be a priority for Boston, but it just stands to reason that if the Yanks are pushing hard for the guy, I don't see Boston just sitting back and being a spectator. They'll be in the conversation, whether it's for real or just as a diversion.
posted by dyams at 06:51 AM on October 01, 2008
I agree. If for no other reason than gamesmanship, one-upsmanship, or screw-you-ship. The Red Sox could certainly force the Yanks to pay even more for C.C. than he would've gotten already.
Probably the best thing that can happen to a player these days (financially, anyway) is to become the object of affection in a bidding war between Boston and New York.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 08:08 PM on October 01, 2008
Hal said this:
"but those risks will pay off huge for Sabathia."
I think that it is still a bit too early to tell on that. If he shows a lot of visible signs of wear and tear in the postseason due to this year, you may see teams back off him a bit. Guys who push so hard like this often fall apart soon after. I think he is more of a risk than many think.
Don't get me wrong; great pitcher no doubt, but i wonder if the strain he put on himself will become evident before his big payday.
posted by brainofdtrain at 12:40 PM on October 02, 2008
Don't get me wrong; great pitcher no doubt, but i wonder if the strain he put on himself will become evident before his big payday
Highly doubtful. C.C is going to get his "big payday", don't get that twisted. Regardless if it's with the Angels, Yankees or any other big spender in the MLB, C.C. is going to be the most sought after free agent this offseason, besides Mark Teixeira.
posted by BornIcon at 03:28 PM on October 02, 2008
BI,
This is from a review of tonight's game:
"Pitching on three days' rest for the fourth consecutive start, Sabathia had his worst outing since joining the Brewers in a trade with Cleveland on July 7.
The burly left-hander allowed five runs and six hits -- all for extra bases -- in 3 2/3 innings. He walked four, his second-highest total of the season."
I know that the article also says he'll be highly sought after in the offseason, but you can't argue with how what he's done this last couple months will take a toll long-term. Tonight's start may be a misnomer, but in the long run i think Sabathia's career will take a hit.
You're probably right about one thing; whether or not his longevity takes a hit, his pocketbook won't. My guess is the Yankees will land him after the Red Sox drive the price up for him, where his stuff will erode at a decent rate. And somewhere in the distance, Theo will be laughing.
posted by brainofdtrain at 12:57 AM on October 03, 2008
As a longtime Brewer fan, this is an extraordinarily happy day. It's also noteworthy since we sacked our head coach within the past two weeks as well. A win over the Cubs and a loss by the Mets helped us clinch this wild card spot, but 26 years of unwavering fandom certainly didn't hurt either. I was 7 the last time we made the postseason and I'm just amazed it took so long, but so pleased it finally did.