Milwaukee Brewers Blog - Bernie's Crew : Postseason

Round 'em Up: It's Hard to Say Goodbye (Updated)

Jim Breen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:03:00 GMT

UPDATE [4:40pm]

Sabernomics takes a look at what CC Sabathia will command this offseason. The article says it will take Johan Santana money to land the big left-hander, which means about a six-year $144 million. That's about $24 million per season. That's a lot.

If the Brewers even stay pat at a $90 million payroll (which I don't foresee), CC would still eat up 26.67% of the Crew's payroll. It will even be more if they cut the starting payroll to about $80 million, which seems more reasonable.

CC is a fantastic pitcher, but that type of commitment is just ridiculous.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2008 Offseason is officially upon us, people.

After the game yesterday, a very emotional Ben Sheets spoke to the media. He's definitely not going to be accepting arbitration from the Brewers. How do I know? He hinted that the only way he would ever see himself in a Brewers uniform again is if he came back later in his career, much like Jeff Cirillo did. Those thoughts certainly make it sound like Benny will be in the free agent waters this winter.
Right Field Bleachers says that Brewers fans shouldn't get too down after yesterday's loss. It was still a dream season and one to remember for the people of Milwaukee. It was only the sixth time in Milwaukee's franchise history that its team won 90 games in a season. This team gave something exceedingly rare to Wisconsin, October baseball and 90 wins.
The Brew Town Beat writes a letter to the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers from the state of Wisconsin. It says thank you and sums up the thoughts of most Brewers fans around the country.
The Bucky Channel says that we should do this playoff thing more often. Indeed, sir. I'm all for that idea.
Viva Cerveceros shows how strangers have bonded over the Brewers playoff run, bridging the social and generation gaps. I wholeheartedly agree with this. I cannot tell you how many times I've walked down College Avenue and had people yell, "Go Brewers" to me when I'm wearing a Brewers hat or shirt. Wisconsin as a whole had Brewers fever. Even places outside the Dairy State had it. It was a pleasure to be a part of this season.
Anthony Witrado has a down-er piece on the Brewers. Instead of celebrating the season that was, it seems that he would rather focus on the negatives of yesterday's game. He focuses on how Milwaukee has been so dependent on the home run the whole season, and the long balls were not there this week. Four games and one home run is not a good recipe for the Crew. Ryan Braun is quite correct when he says the team needs to adjust their approaches at the plate this offseason. You can lead a horse to water, but can you make it drink though, Ryan?
The Brew Town Beat lambasts Jeff Suppan for his start yesterday and his September in general. Soup is the very reason why Milwaukee should not be giving a multi-year contract to a free agent pitcher this winter. It handcuffs the team's finances, and it is very dangerous to do that with a starting pitcher. Position players can make more sense, but not free agent starters.
Two Fisted Slopper says that there couldn't be a worse way to end the season than to lose to Joe Blanton. I can think of a worse way to end the season...how about not playing in October? How about losing to Jamie Moyer on Saturday and getting swept? I can think of plenty of ways...
Chuckie Hacks quotes a Philadephia columnist who said that Miller Park was not that loud on Sunday, and he wasn't impressed with the fanbase. The post then quotes a Phillies fan that was actually in the stands who said that Brewers fans were "too loud." He couldn't make his cheers heard over the deafening noise. I completely agree with the latter. I was at the game yesterday (and had a blast, minus the bad basball), and the crowd was electric. I couldn't even talk to the person next to me over the noise.
MLB Trade Rumors says that CC Sabathia is open to all teams this offseason. Doug Melvin, please don't cripple the team's future by offering up too much money to get CC. He's a fantastic pitcher, yes, but he'll never throw the ball as well as he did this second half. Cut your losses and take the two draft picks.

The Hawaii Winter Leagues have started up over the past week. I wasn't sure how I was going to cover it, but I'll just add it in the end of the Round 'em Up.

Box Score
West Oahu fell to Honolulu yesterday, 7-3. Caleb Gindl had a nice day, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. His batting average is now up to .250 for the Winter League. Logan Schafer went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Mike Ramlow took the mound yesterday and got tabbed for a run on two hits in two innings. He's been throwing the ball well so far in the league, as his ERA is only 1.50 following the outing. Mike had thrown four scoreless frames prior to yesterday's game.

A Bittersweet Ending

Jim Breen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:35:00 GMT

The ending to the 2008 season for the Milwaukee Brewers could best be summed up in the final moments of the game.

Sunday afternoon's crowd was absolutely electric. The "thunder sticks" were booming all over the stadium, deafening fans and players alike. Every single fan in Miller Park was trying to will their Milwaukee Brewers to a Game 5 in Philadelphia. The fans poured their heart and soul into Sunday's contest, standing and cheering like wild in the ninth inning like it was a tie game.

It wasn't. It never would be in the ninth inning.

Milwaukee fell to the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Sunday in embarrassing fashion. After the final out became a reality, the Crew's season was over in the blink of an eye. The fans stood in a stunned silence as the Phillies ran onto the field and mobbed their closer, Brad Lidge. Some fans hung their heads in defeat, while some simply starred head with their mouths agape. You could have heard a pin drop in Miller Park in most of the stadium.

That stunned silence was quickly replaced by a raucous standing ovation. Fans regrouped and found their voices and began to cheer at the top of their lungs. The thunder sticks came back out and engulfed the stadium in a cocoon of thunder claps. There was no way to even talk to your neighbor. It noise was that deafening once again.

The applause was not in appreciation of what the Phillies did over the past week. Brewers fans were not being polite and acknowledging the pile of Phillies on the pitcher's mound.

No. The standing ovations and ridiculous noise level was for the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers. Fans were cheering in appreciation of their team that gave them so much joy throughout the past six months. The men and women of Milwaukee showed their class by showing how much the Brewers meant to them. The town of Milwaukee and Wisconsin as a whole welcomed the team into their homes and into their lives. Countless fans lived and died with every game in the final three months of the season.

The Milwaukee Brewers became a common conversation point throughout Wisconsin. CC Sabathia and Ryan Braun became household names. Even players like Seth McClung and Laynce Nix had become household names in a span of six months. That's how much Milwaukee needed a winner in 2008. Milwaukee flocked to Miller Park in droves and literally willed their team into the postseason. The regular season was a magical ride.

The 2008 playoffs may not have ended how people would have liked, but fans should not forget to take pride in the Brewers and congratulate them for a job well done. That's what happened at Miller Park after the game. It took all of ten seconds for Milwaukee to get on its feet and cheer for their team after a defeat. Their was no booing, no heckling...just appreciation.

Thank you to the players of the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers. Thank you to Mark Attanasio and Doug Melvin for getting this team to the promised land. Thank you to Ned Yost and Dale Sveum. Most importantly, however, thank you to the city of Milwaukee and its people for giving this man the best six months of his life as a Brewers fan. I knew the day would come when Milwaukee would make the postseason, but I didn't know how it would feel.

Let me tell you, friends, it was a blast. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Let's do it again next season.

Playoff roster announced

Jim Breen — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:49:19 GMT

Dale Sveum and the Milwaukee Brewers announced their postseason roster.

In a surprising move, Brad Nelson will accompany the team over veteran Joe Dillon. I wrote earlier today that Nelson should have been considered over Tony Gwynn Jr. to leave some room for the versatile Dillon on the squad, but the team felt that Gwynn was needed to give the team another option in the outfield if it is needed.

Ben Sheets will not be on the active roster for the playoffs, which has to be devastating for the long-time Brewer. His elbow is simply not healthy, and he would be hurting the team by trying to pitch against the Phillies. He will be replaced by Yovani Gallardo on the postseason roster.

The team did reward Sheets and five other Brewers by granting them privilege to don uniforms in the dugout with the team. David Riske, Joe Dillon, Vinny Rottino, Gabe Kapler, and Russell Branyan will also be joining the team in uniform. Players like Tim Dillard, Alcides Escobar, and Mark DiFelice will be with the team, but not in uniform.

The young left-hander, Mitch Stetter, will replace David Riske on the playoff roster to give Dale Sveum another lefty at his disposal against the left-handed heavy Phillies. With Stetter, Brian Shouse, and Manny Parra, the bullpen could be much better than many believe. Salomon Torres will still have to step up in the ninth inning if the Crew is going to go anywhere in October.

Per Tom Haudricourt, here is your postseason roster:

Pitchers (12)

RHP Dave Bush

RHP Eric Gagne

RHP Yovani Gallado

RHP Seth McClung

LHP Manny Parra

LHP CC Sabathia

LHP Brian Shouse

LHP Mitch Stetter

RHP Jeff Suppan

RHP Salomon Torres

RHP Carlos Villanueva

Catchers (2)

Jason Kendall

Mike Rivera

Infielders (7)

Craig Counsell

Ray Durham

Prince Fielder

Bill Hall

J.J. Hardy

Brad Nelson

Rickie Weeks

Outfielders (4)

Ryan Braun

Mike Cameron

Tony Gwynn Jr.

Corey Hart

Round 'em Up: Monday (9/29/08)

Jim Breen — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:45:52 GMT

Brewers Nation is still on cloud nine after yesterday, so let's see what people are saying about the Milwaukee Brewers making the PLAYOFFS!

"I'm going to be a cheerleader for awhile. I ain't got no choice. It doesn't look good (to pitch again this year) but you never know. I won't stop trying."

"You become a fan of an organization when you're in it for eight years. People who don't think you do are bogus. In the end, good times. It's a lot better than celebrating 106-loss seasons." -- Ben Sheets
"I've been here six years. I'm just happy for everybody that's been here. It's been an emotional roller coaster for anybody who has been part of this." -- Doug Melvin
"It's unbelievable. I came back here two years ago because I thought this was a bunch of guys who could get this done. To validate that decision and make it come true for the people of Milwaukee, it's special. I'm so happy we could do it for everybody in this city." -- Craig Counsell
"I sent Ned an e-mail. He went through 93% of the season. I backed Ned and supported him." -- Doug Melvin
"Ned did an unbelievable job for six years, got this organization back on track. It's unfortunate what happened, that ownership felt whatever it felt. Ned Yost deserves a lot of this credit. He'll always be a dear friend." -- Dale Sveum
"A total of 3,068,458 fans came through Miller Park this season, for an average of 37,882 fans per game. That's 89.3% of capacity at Miller Park and testimony to strong fan support.
What is notable is the fact that the Brewers passed the Boston Red Sox in attendance this year. The Red Sox drew a total of 3,048,250 fans this season, good for 10th place in attendance in Major League Baseball. The Brewers were ninth in the league in attendance." -- Don Walker (Milwaukee JS)
"With the effort, Sabathia completed one of the best National League pitching performances in the live-ball era. Now, it's on to the playoffs. Sabathia's postseason history is shaky, as his performance against the Red Sox in last year's ALCS was not impressive. In his career, Sabathia is 1-2 with a 7.17 ERA in four postseason starts." -- ESPN.com's Baseball Tonight
"Might Yovani Gallardo get the start for the Brewers in game one, or will it go to Manny Parra?" -- Baseball Musings
"When Ryan Church flied out to end the Mets’ season, I was moved to tears. It might just be the Wild Card and, yes, this feat only marks the beginning of a quest for something much greater. But I wasn’t alive in 1982, and I grew up cheering for a losing team. To many of us these sensations and the concept of baseball in October are foreign.

Remember today as the first time in 26 years when the last day of the season marked the eve of another season’s beginning. Savor this moment and hold it tightly, wrap yourself in it – don’t blink. I’ve never seen champagne showers in Brew City, and it may be a long time before it happens again… but I’m not thinking about that right now, I’m not thinking about the Philadelphia Phillies or Ben Sheets likely having thrown his last pitch in a Brewers uniform." -- Right Field Bleachers
"I was at the game yesterday and I can’t even begin to recount how incredible it was. I’ll certainly try, but I’m not sure I have the words to describe the instantaneous release of 26 years of frustration." -- Right Field Bleachers
"So if you're scoring at home, in 2008 the Brewers were 67-41 after Brad says they were "done" (version 1.0 and 2.0). But when he's publicly back on board with the club for 22 days, they play .350 ball." -- Chuckie Hacks
"BREWERS DO IT -- NL WILD CARD CHAMPIONS!!!" -- Brewers Bar

The Yost Infection has the Top 10 moments from Sunday's game.

How about some pictures from yesterday's game?

Viva Cerveceros says, "We Believe." It is complete with pictures from the game.
Watch the Brewers celebrate the playoff berth right after the Mets loss!
Brew Crew Ball has pictures of the aftermath.

Your 2008 Milwaukee Brewers are the NL Wild Card Champions

Jim Breen — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:32:38 GMT

It had been 26 years since the Milwaukee Brewers had played October baseball. That changed Sunday afternoon.

CC Sabathia and Ryan Braun almost single-handedly carried the Crew to a 3-1 victory and a postseason berth against the Chicago Cubs. What a fantastic day to be a Brewers fan. Let me reflect a little bit.

This win goes out to all the fans who stuck through the bad times throughout the season. The fans who were not afraid to harbor some hope after the Brewers got swept by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway. The fans who spoke reason and pulled friends back from the ledge after the devastating sweep at Miller Park at the hands of the hated Chicago Cubs. The fans who still believed in the Crew after blowing a five-game Wild Card lead in September. The fans who knew it was going to be alright after Ben Sheets came down with what appears to be a season-ending injury.

This win also is a culmination of all the great things that happened in Brewers baseball in 2008. Remember Russell Branyan's mammoth pinch-hit, game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth inning? How about Ryan Braun's walk-off grand slam against the Pirates the other day? Do you remember the controversial one-hitter thrown by CC Sabathia? The jump in ticket sales once CC officially became a Milwaukee Brewer? Gabe Kapler's walk-off home run late, late in extra innings?

The lists can go on and on, but the moment cannot. Cherish the exuberance felt by Brewers fans all over the globe. Many younger folks like myself have not even sniffed October baseball, much less experienced it in real life. I cannot even imagine what the atmosphere will be like on Wednesday.

Who will take the hill Wednesday afternoon? Can Salomon Torres revert back to his mid-season form and hold down the closer's role? Will the Brewers be able to make the postseason berth worthwhile? Or will they simply fizzle in the first round against the Phillies? Can the Crew compete for a playoff spot again next season?

Those are fantastic questions...but not right now. I don't want to think about who will pitch Wednesday, about next season. I simply want to sit back, rewind the DVR, and relive the moment again. There is a lump in my throat that won't go away. I don't want it to.

Brewers fans, clear your schedules for Wednesday, October 1. We have some baseball to watch.