Now I know I am TRUE Brewers fan

[Gump]

I got into baseball about 3 years ago. I wasn’t a fan of any team per se. But,I watched it. Being from Mississippi,I couldn’t stand the Braves. Always in my face and I didn’t like the Astro’s because I knew they were blatant cheaters. Had no interest the Marlins. 
 

So,I set out to find a team. Started playing MLB The Show. Played a franchise with the Brewers. Started doing research on them. Fell in love with the team. Started buying merch. Watching every game I could. Loved the team. Found the forum and began posting. 
 

I was sad when we lost to the diamondbacks last post season. But,it felt like they were the better team. THATS baseball. It happens. 
 

But,it happened tonight. When we lost…I actually teared up. Something felt different. The team to me…felt like world beaters. Felt like we could take on anyone. Then we started getting injuries after injuries…after injuries. But,we had a 10 game lead in the NL Central over the CUBS. 
 

We lost. In terrible fashion. I sat there in dismay and a teardrop fell. It actually hurt. And I knew……I am forever a Brewers fan. 
 

love yall and Go Brew Crew 🤙

[SeaBass]

Nobody wants to hear this right now but going through the hardships just makes the times they break through so satisfying. That's true for any sport. But for me 2018 was awesome even though they lost game 7 of the NLCS at home. That team was special and it was truly a joy to experience that. Look up some YouTube videos if you haven't already. It also stung to get so close to the WS but not get there. But I and many fans felt like that team was on the rise, surely they'd make another run deep in the playoffs the next year and beyond... didn't happen. That's when we started this cursed streak of playoff disappointment. But 2018 was still epic even so.

[CheezWizHed]

Love the post (and a delayed welcome to BF!) and I completely agree that this year's team felt different then the last couple of years.  I was legitimately shocked when they lost last night. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

This felt different. It looked different. That's what made the gut-punch all the harder to take.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

I can remember feeling like I feel now two other times in Brewer history. One was 2011, after Game 5 in Saint Louis. You can count Game 6 too. The other was 2018, after Games 4 and 5 in LA. I was pretty zen after Game 7 because Game 4's sleepless extra-inning loss followed by Kershaw's Game 5, afternoon dominance just drained me completely.

Obviously, the stakes were lower this time, but I just really felt like I'd be able to genuinely ENJOY a postseason series if we ended up pure underdogs, with a young roster, against the Phillies. Losing that hurt. But I also realized at some point during the insomnia that I mostly wanted this series for other people. The folks on this board. Ueck. Jackson. Murph and Matt Arnold. Even the daily writing/coverage crew. I just appreciate this organization and want those folks rewarded for their work.

I know, in a few days, this won't matter much. It'll be another scar in a collection of Brewers scars, but that's the great thing about sports. They let us experience deep, collective emotion in a way that's basically safe. I'll actually miss the terror of these last three days (not to mention the comfort of an MLB season), but not having it in my life until March/April will not really impact anything important. Plus, I have you all to talk hot stove with.

I love this quote (I think it's from John Green) about soccer being the most important least important thing. I think that applies to all sports, or any sport anyone cares about. They matter because they mostly don't. And that trivial foundation opens up all sorts of pathways for genuine emotional power.

Murph said last night that losing "feels like a tragedy." That's it, isn't it? It FEELS LIKE one, but it isn't, and it's that combination that makes the playoffs so compelling.

One of these days (soon), we'll come out on the soaring side of the human drama. For now, I'm happy this place exists. Without others to experience this with (the highs of the division title, the lows of last night's 9th), there would be no point. Let the NL Central title defense begin!

[rickh150]

I hate that we lost Game 3…..but it would be 10 times worse if it was the Cubs. I cannot fathom losing or winning that kinda thriller game at AmFam Field. You talk about all out brawls and a potential war zone after the game? That would be it. 
 

And I would literally think that winning that game would be more important than any after…….to the point of of taking the hypothetical win there and agree to literally stop playing thereafter and forfeit a shot at a WS title. Almost a sick-like feeling to win that one. Even irrational.

[SomewhereInTime]

Thing about baseball is anything can happen in a single game.  It's tough for people to accept but the results in a short series don't often match the quality of play.  The better team only has a slightly better chance to win.

[SomewhereInTime]

2 hours ago, rickh150 said:

I hate that we lost Game 3…..but it would be 10 times worse if it was the Cubs. I cannot fathom losing or winning that kinda thriller game at AmFam Field. You talk about all out brawls and a potential war zone after the game? That would be it. 
 

And I would literally think that winning that game would be more important than any after…….to the point of of taking the hypothetical win there and agree to literally stop playing thereafter and forfeit a shot at a WS title. Almost a sick-like feeling to win that one. Even irrational.

That's why winning that one game playoff in Chicago in 2018 was such a great win.  Back when winning the division really meant something.  That's still my favorite Brewer game I ever attended, and I've attended three different NLDS wins.

[rickh150]

Part of being a true Brewers fan is being a fan in the face of a financially lopsided playing field, knowing that if players play well, their time is likely limited here. If they play meh or poorly, we can keep them  or will keep them at positions we are meh at in the farm system. We are up against it, but we show up and are invested more than most.

The great part of our next few years is that we are seemingly bursting with young players everywhere.

And although we all would prefer to win playoff series and a WS, the losses and seemingly often tough losses are what gives you even more cred as a fan…..undaunted if you will in the face of problems.

And the losses will only make the eventual big wins even bigger….so there is that if you are trying to cope.

 

 

[dlk9s]

On 10/4/2024 at 2:20 AM, SeaBass said:

Nobody wants to hear this right now but going through the hardships just makes the times they break through so satisfying.

As a Virginia alum, winning the men's basketball title in 2019 was sweeter because of what happened the year before. I can't say with 100% certainty that I wouldn't change the 2018 result if I could, but I do know that it made the following year even more magical.

[Recovering Chicagoan]

On 10/4/2024 at 10:01 PM, rickh150 said:

I hate that we lost Game 3…..but it would be 10 times worse if it was the Cubs. I cannot fathom losing or winning that kinda thriller game at AmFam Field. You talk about all out brawls and a potential war zone after the game? That would be it. 
 

And I would literally think that winning that game would be more important than any after…….to the point of of taking the hypothetical win there and agree to literally stop playing thereafter and forfeit a shot at a WS title. Almost a sick-like feeling to win that one. Even irrational.

Yeah, the game 3 loss was a terrible sting. But I agree that a loss to the Cubs in that same scenario would have been worse. 

[Recovering Chicagoan]

On 10/4/2024 at 11:04 AM, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

I love this quote (I think it's from John Green) about soccer being the most important least important thing. I think that applies to all sports, or any sport anyone cares about. They matter because they mostly don't. And that trivial foundation opens up all sorts of pathways for genuine emotional power.

Murph said last night that losing "feels like a tragedy." That's it, isn't it? It FEELS LIKE one, but it isn't, and it's that combination that makes the playoffs so compelling.

One of these days (soon), we'll come out on the soaring side of the human drama. For now, I'm happy this place exists. Without others to experience this with (the highs of the division title, the lows of last night's 9th), there would be no point. Let the NL Central title defense begin!

A very good observation by Green. For me, a loss like that triggers the past pain of other far more significant events in my life. Not saying it should -- but it does.

[Recovering Chicagoan]

On 10/4/2024 at 1:20 AM, SeaBass said:

Nobody wants to hear this right now but going through the hardships just makes the times they break through so satisfying. That's true for any sport. But for me 2018 was awesome even though they lost game 7 of the NLCS at home. That team was special and it was truly a joy to experience that. Look up some YouTube videos if you haven't already. It also stung to get so close to the WS but not get there. But I and many fans felt like that team was on the rise, surely they'd make another run deep in the playoffs the next year and beyond... didn't happen. That's when we started this cursed streak of playoff disappointment. But 2018 was still epic even so.

It would've been so nice if the 2018 team went all the way. My late father would've loved to see the Brewers win a World Series before he passed.

Edited October 7, 2024 by Recovering Chicagoan
Typo

[hawing]

On 10/4/2024 at 11:04 AM, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

another scar in a collection of Brewers scars

Hoo boy, is this apt.  😐 

I value the bf community, in part for things just like this.  

[Matt Breen]

I was at Game 5 of the 1982 World Series. I was 18. When we lost the next two, it was terrible, but I remember thinking 'we'll be back'. 42 years later I am still waiting. It's tough.

[rickh150]

On 10/4/2024 at 10:01 PM, rickh150 said:

I hate that we lost Game 3…..but it would be 10 times worse if it was the Cubs. I cannot fathom losing or winning that kinda thriller game at AmFam Field. You talk about all out brawls and a potential war zone after the game? That would be it. 
 

And I would literally think that winning that game would be more important than any after…….to the point of of taking the hypothetical win there and agree to literally stop playing thereafter and forfeit a shot at a WS title. Almost a sick-like feeling to win that one. Even irrational.

From year ago….almost prophetic.  And are my thoughts the same now…especially now after we beat Cubs in 5, Dodgers sweep Brewers, and Dodgers beat Blue Jays in tight Game 7?
Still the same….I think.