First let me say this,

I really want the Brewers to win the series or even split the series, and yes I think it is possible.  There is something about this match up that makes it like no other.   

 Now even though I'm fired up about this series, I'm not going too get too upset if the Cubs win the series or even sweep the series.  Why?  

 Here are my reasons,

 1.) This is a 162 game season and there is still another half season left. 

 2.) It is early July and things happen around this time that can really change a ball club and propel them to the playoffs.  They don't call it the trade deadline for nothing.

 3.) The Brewers play the Cubs 7 more times in September!  

 4.)  Let's say the Cubs sweep the series..  The Brewers will only be .5 games back.

 I'm not trying to suggest that this Brewers/Cubs series is meaningless or unimportant.  Just saying it isn't as important in the grand scheme of things.

brewerfanx1:

First let me say this,

I really want the Brewers to win the series or even split the series, and yes I think it is possible.  There is something about this match up that makes it like no other.   

 Now even though I'm fired up about this series, I'm not going too get too upset if the Cubs win the series or even sweep the series.  Why?  

 Here are my reasons,

 1.) This is a 162 game season and there is still another half season left. 

 2.) It is early July and things happen around this time that can really change a ball club and propel them to the playoffs.  They don't call it the trade deadline for nothing.

 3.) The Brewers play the Cubs 7 more times in September!  

 4.)  Let's say the Cubs sweep the series..  The Brewers will only be .5 games back.

 I'm not trying to suggest that this Brewers/Cubs series is meaningless or unimportant.  Just saying it isn't as important in the grand scheme of things.

This is all true enough. The flip side, though, is that IF the Brewers get swept in this series they will have established that the Central is a 5 team race in which the Brewers have one glaring weakness that is going to keep them from pulling away from anyone.

More importantly, though, it would be nice at some point for the Brewers to show that they aren't the Cubs whipping boys any time after the first month of the season. If the Cubs sweep the Brewers AGAIN in a ballyhooed 4 game series in July, they will be reinforcing the perception that they have the Brewers number.  For all of the Cubs' problems scoring runs, they looked last night like they could score pretty much at will against the Brewers beleaguered pitching. The game was all too reminiscent of first games of other series (Cubs, Phillies, Twins) in which Brewer opponents come out pounding and don't let up until the Brewers slink away.

I'm trying to keep from being unnecessarily negative, and said on Wednesday that I would be looking at this series (and the other 6 before the All Star break) as a good test of the current state of the team. Obviously, the first game was an unqualified failure. Hopefully today will be better.

wisblue:

brewerfanx1:

First let me say this,

I really want the Brewers to win the series or even split the series, and yes I think it is possible.  There is something about this match up that makes it like no other.   

 Now even though I'm fired up about this series, I'm not going too get too upset if the Cubs win the series or even sweep the series.  Why?  

 Here are my reasons,

 1.) This is a 162 game season and there is still another half season left. 

 2.) It is early July and things happen around this time that can really change a ball club and propel them to the playoffs.  They don't call it the trade deadline for nothing.

 3.) The Brewers play the Cubs 7 more times in September!  

 4.)  Let's say the Cubs sweep the series..  The Brewers will only be .5 games back.

 I'm not trying to suggest that this Brewers/Cubs series is meaningless or unimportant.  Just saying it isn't as important in the grand scheme of things.

This is all true enough. The flip side, though, is that IF the Brewers get swept in this series they will have established that the Central is a 5 team race in which the Brewers have one glaring weakness that is going to keep them from pulling away from anyone.

More importantly, though, it would be nice at some point for the Brewers to show that they aren't the Cubs whipping boys any time after the first month of the season. If the Cubs sweep the Brewers AGAIN in a ballyhooed 4 game series in July, they will be reinforcing the perception that they have the Brewers number.  For all of the Cubs' problems scoring runs, they looked last night like they could score pretty much at will against the Brewers beleaguered pitching. The game was all too reminiscent of first games of other series (Cubs, Phillies, Twins) in which Brewer opponents come out pounding and don't let up until the Brewers slink away.

I'm trying to keep from being unnecessarily negative, and said on Wednesday that I would be looking at this series (and the other 6 before the All Star break) as a good test of the current state of the team. Obviously, the first game was an unqualified failure. Hopefully today will be better.

Another perspective; they really got beat by one guy. D. Lee had a monster night. Not saying we played well, but it was evident that the guys didn't give up. there were chances in the eighth and ninth were we could have pulled this off. Maybe just looking at the score says we got spanked, but if a pitch or two had gone the other way...who knows.

I know we don't want to be watching comeback baseball all the time and we are probably not considered a serious threat right now with our pitching situation, but we are not exactly a laughing stock. We've got a good team base, we just need to shore up the starting rotation and keep battling.

wisblue:

This is all true enough. The flip side, though, is that IF the Brewers get swept in this series they will have established that the Central is a 5 team race in which the Brewers have one glaring weakness that is going to keep them from pulling away from anyone.

I actually disagree with this opinion.  All that it takes is a hot streak at the right time, and the Brewers could pull away.  I believe that this could happen even with a Rotation of Gallardo, Looper, Suppan, Burns, Bush (When he comes back).  The Brewers are going to score runs.  

Cubs never scored after the 4th and the Brewers had a ton of chances to come back.

Those who say it's a lot more about mental attitude and a lot less about skill in the majors are right. I am more and more convinced of this over the last couple of years.

Remember Braun's comments last year about going into the Red Sox series the team had an "expected to lose" attitude. Yet people bash Braun for being cocky.

Dempster was by no means lights out. McClung is hung up on trying to prove himself a starter instead of just concentrating on strikes and he loses control out of the gate. The Cubs THINK they have our number and even tough they have been hitting like crap score all 9 runs on 3 homers.

This is a big series because if the Brewers can't mentally get past this team and whip them a couple of times it's going to be really ugly come September when we have to face them 6 more times not to mention 9 games against the Cardinals. When we started beating the Cardinals last year it snowballed into a nice stretch of beating them series after series. Because we are so much better than the Cards? No, because the Brewers became increasingly confident that we COULD beat them and thus we did.

Parra is in the minors because he's a head case just like Turnbow became one. The Brewers are a head case when it comes to the Cubs. They need to get over it and just beat them as they are more than capable even with poor pitching.

brewerfanx1:

wisblue:

This is all true enough. The flip side, though, is that IF the Brewers get swept in this series they will have established that the Central is a 5 team race in which the Brewers have one glaring weakness that is going to keep them from pulling away from anyone.

 

I actually disagree with this opinion.  All that it takes is a hot streak at the right time, and the Brewers could pull away.  I believe that this could happen even with a Rotation of Gallardo, Looper, Suppan, Burns, Bush (When he comes back).  The Brewers are going to score runs.  

That is an honest and civil disagreement. I think the starting rotation makes an extended hot streak extremely unlikely and, even if it happens, it will probably be offset by an extended bad streak. Yes, the Brewers will score runs some of the time. But they have proven that they are streaky and when they go into their next funk (if they aren't in one now) the pitching won't be able to overcome it. The Brewers could conceivably win this division if all of the other teams continue to struggle just like the Brewers have been and if the division can be won with less than 90 wins. But I don't see any way that they pull away. I could see any one of 5 teams winning the division, but I think the Cubs are the only one with enough to run away with it.

wisblue:

I could see any one of 5 teams winning the division, but I think the Cubs are the only one with enough to run away with it.

I'm actually happy you brought this up.  I don't really disagree with this.  I will say this though, that is why I think those 7 games vs the Cubs in September are very important.  More so then this 4 games series.  

brewerfanx1:

wisblue:

I could see any one of 5 teams winning the division, but I think the Cubs are the only one with enough to run away with it.

 

I'm actually happy you brought this up.  I don't really disagree with this.  I will say this though, that is why I think those 7 games vs the Cubs in September are very important.  More so then this 4 games series.  

obv the games in september are more important but you never want to loose this series and go back home vs the cards and loose that one too.  I think this series is very important.  the cubs are the best team in this divison and right now arent playing like they will be later on when they start crushing people, so we need to win at least 2 of these games and finish strong before the break.  GO CREW

This series is probably more important to Chicago.  THEY are the team trying to get back over .500...

If we can split the series I'll be okay with it, considering the mess our rotation is in right now.   Let's hope Bush can come back after the break and we can put McClung back in the bullpen where he belongs.

brewerfanx1:

First let me say this,

I really want the Brewers to win the series or even split the series, and yes I think it is possible.  There is something about this match up that makes it like no other.   

 Now even though I'm fired up about this series, I'm not going too get too upset if the Cubs win the series or even sweep the series.  Why?  

 Here are my reasons,

 1.) This is a 162 game season and there is still another half season left. 

 2.) It is early July and things happen around this time that can really change a ball club and propel them to the playoffs.  They don't call it the trade deadline for nothing.

 3.) The Brewers play the Cubs 7 more times in September!  

 4.)  Let's say the Cubs sweep the series..  The Brewers will only be .5 games back.

 

 I'm not trying to suggest that this Brewers/Cubs series is meaningless or unimportant.  Just saying it isn't as important in the grand scheme of things.

 i understand what you are saying and you make valid points,  but it still sounds like a pre-emptive damage control post.

brewerfanx1:

wisblue:

I could see any one of 5 teams winning the division, but I think the Cubs are the only one with enough to run away with it.

 

I'm actually happy you brought this up.  I don't really disagree with this.  I will say this though, that is why I think those 7 games vs the Cubs in September are very important.  More so then this 4 games series.  

no they are of equal value but i understand you point.

quicksdraw:

but it still sounds like a pre-emptive damage control post.

take it how you will.  It's truely how I feel.

quicksdraw:

no they are of equal value

Games in september mean more to fans, especially when the Division is up for grabs...

brewerfanx1:

quicksdraw:

no they are of equal value

 

Games in september mean more to fans, especially when the Division is up for grabs...

They only mean more if you are close. If you are not, they mean nothing. There are no winners crowned because of how the fans feel, except in the crazy world of All Star selections.