Question of the week: what's your biggest postseason concern?

[Brock Beauchamp]

10 hours ago, Team Canada said:

How is that an actual concern "by far"? What are you actually suggesting would happen?

Snipers, obviously.

[BruisedCrew]

11 hours ago, markedman5 said:

Randomness/ luck ……..the better team many times doesn’t win in short series.

i hope it doesn’t happen to us this year……we are overdue for a little good fortune.

 

This begs the question of who is the better team in a given series.

As others have mentioned, playoff baseball is a significantly different animal than regular season baseball, and the team with the better record in the regular season might not be better structured to win a postseason  series over an opponent that won fewer regular season games.

With injuries to key players or trade deadline moves a team's playoff roster might be significantly different than it was at times during the regular season. And a team with multiple veteran superstar  and future HOF players might be more potent in a short playoff series than one that scrapped and clawed its way through the regular season with several relatively inexperienced players.

Despite having the best regular season record in MLB, I'm sure the Brewers would be underdogs against several teams (such as the Dodgers and Phillies) and only slight favorites at best against any  playoff team.

Maybe the randomness of baseball will prove to be a good thing for the Brewers.

[RobertCrawley]

My biggest concern is having to listen to Joe Buck. 

[adambr2]

11 hours ago, markedman5 said:

Randomness/ luck ……..the better team many times doesn’t win in short series.

i hope it doesn’t happen to us this year……we are overdue for a little good fortune.

 

I think this is a good thing.

We wouldn’t have a chance against the Dodgers and Phillies of the world if it weren’t for randomness/luck. Especially with the injuries piling up.

Hopefully the luck will swing in our favor for a change.

[adambr2]

22 hours ago, formerlybis said:

I'm sad for all the people that feel this way. One bad week shouldn't negate 6 months of joy, but I know for many it will (should it occur). 

I think it’s awesome to have a consistently competitive ballclub that always gives us something to play for in September, usually in October, and gives us many fun regular season moments along the way. I think that absolutely has value, I think the experience, the journey, has value.

I also can sympathize with those who won’t be satisfied until the ultimate goal of a World Series is achieved, who feel the massive disappointment of heartbreaking postseason exits like last year, and want so badly for the team to take the big step into the limelight and no longer have a stigma attached to the Brewer name of being the team with great regular seasons who can’t get it done in October.

I won’t invalidate either of those viewpoints and I don’t think that either needs to be wrong for the other to be right.

[formerlybis]

39 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

I think it’s awesome to have a consistently competitive ballclub that always gives us something to play for in September, usually in October, and gives us many fun regular season moments along the way. I think that absolutely has value, I think the experience, the journey, has value.

I also can sympathize with those who won’t be satisfied until the ultimate goal of a World Series is achieved, who feel the massive disappointment of heartbreaking postseason exits like last year, and want so badly for the team to take the big step into the limelight and no longer have a stigma attached to the Brewer name of being the team with great regular seasons who can’t get it done in October.

I won’t invalidate either of those viewpoints and I don’t think that either needs to be wrong for the other to be right.

No disagreement. For whatever reason, I am able to compartmentalize "regular season" and "postseason" into two different things. Of course I want them to win the World Series and of course it'll be a bummer if they don't make it out of their first series. I'll be grumpy if and when the latter happens. But it really won't have much of a dousing effect on my regular season buoyancy. Playoffs - in every sport - are a crapshoot, and things just happen.

I'm a fan of Badger hoops, and it's the same thing. People - maybe most people - judge the season (and their happiness) on how they do in March Madness (again, a crapshoot, good or bad). The 5 month journey to get there is also enjoyable, if less intense. A second round exit doesn't negate a great year for me.

[Jim French Stepstool]

I think the offense has been better in recent games than given credit for. Obviously the RISP needs to be better. That aspect of the team has been lousy, good enough, or very good, depending on which segment of the season you're talking about.

I mean, we're talking about getting to/winning a WS, right? OK, then the level we played at from the ASG through August needs to be closer to the norm for that to happen. But you can say that about pretty much everyone. For that to happen, IMO we need to get back to grinding out the ABs, fouling off tough pitches, not chasing, drawing walks, etc. The announcers have gotten on this 'woodpecker' schtick & talk as if it's a constant. It isn't. Re-discover it.

Other than that, let's hope for some better fortune afa pitching health. It sounds like things might be trending well for Megill; that would be huge. Whether he goes back to closing or not, you'd be adding him to Uribe, you have two LH throwing well out of the pen, and while I'm sure he's taken some heat after the SD series it looks to me like Mears is throwing the ball well. His biggest sin was when he got two quick outs Monday & then decided to start walking people, which he seldom does.

Let's see what transpires w/Megill, Hall, Henderson, Quintana et al & find out who's available to work. And of course you can't have Chourio turning in the ABs he has lately. And Both 1B need to stay on the course they're on. We can be happy about the offensive production of both of our 1B options, and neither of them are named Rhys Hoskins. Who predicted that on opening day?

 

[Team Canada]

1 hour ago, adambr2 said:

We wouldn’t have a chance against the Dodgers and Phillies of the world if it weren’t for randomness/luck

We're talking about the same Dodgers team that has beaten the Brewers a total of... ZERO times this year?

We need to stop underselling this team. They are the best team in baseball. Could anything happen next month? Of course! But we're the team that others don't want to play. Sure, the Phillies are feeling great about their chances as well, and that'll be a great NLCS if it ends up that way, but the Dodgers bullpen is an absolute dumpster fire and their offense is not the '27 Yankees, even if they do have a bunch of HOFers in it.

[adambr2]

36 minutes ago, Team Canada said:

We're talking about the same Dodgers team that has beaten the Brewers a total of... ZERO times this year?

We need to stop underselling this team. They are the best team in baseball. Could anything happen next month? Of course! But we're the team that others don't want to play. Sure, the Phillies are feeling great about their chances as well, and that'll be a great NLCS if it ends up that way, but the Dodgers bullpen is an absolute dumpster fire and their offense is not the '27 Yankees, even if they do have a bunch of HOFers in it.

I understand what you’re saying and to an extent, I can’t even argue with it. It’s awesome what we’ve been able to do against the big name clubs this year.

However, the name of our game has always been able to maximize the most out of what we have. We have to, to be successful. If money were no factor, no GM in baseball would take our organizational talent over the Dodgers.

Thats no knock against us. It makes our story even better. But we’ll always have to have some luck fo our way to hold the trophy at the end of the season. We can’t win on paper. 

[Team Canada]

32 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

we’ll always have to have some luck fo our way to hold the trophy at the end of the season.

I hear what you're saying in general, but I just can't agree this year. We require no additional luck this year than any other team trying to navigate 3 series.

[formerlybis]

7 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

I understand what you’re saying and to an extent, I can’t even argue with it. It’s awesome what we’ve been able to do against the big name clubs this year.

However, the name of our game has always been able to maximize the most out of what we have. We have to, to be successful. If money were no factor, no GM in baseball would take our organizational talent over the Dodgers.

Thats no knock against us. It makes our story even better. But we’ll always have to have some luck fo our way to hold the trophy at the end of the season. We can’t win on paper. 

I don’t know if I’d use the word luck, but essentially, yes. I would say that the “A-game” of the big money teams is probably > than the Brewers at their best. Also, the “C-games”. We just need to be a letter grade higher than them. It’s doable - we did it all year. Keep pecking!

[markedman5]

2 hours ago, Team Canada said:

I hear what you're saying in general, but I just can't agree this year. We require no additional luck this year than any other team trying to navigate 3 series.

Any team that wins will need a little good fortune…….or lack of bad fortune which is sort of the same thing.

Once you get to the playoffs anybody can win if they play well and things break their way.

The margins are so thin in any given game or series most of the time. 
 

Brewers have proven themselves to be the best ( or one of the best teams this year) but over 5 or 7 games that doesn’t mean all that much. 
 

Every series we play will be close to a coin flip……or for the hold em players on the board “ A Race”………

Hope the breaks go our way this year……bloop hit at a key time…..line drive at one of our defenders…….or an umps decision….can all be the difference.

I just don’t see us dominating anybody……..but I’m very open to being wrong…..😎

[RobertCrawley]

15 hours ago, markedman5 said:

Randomness/ luck ……..the better team many times doesn’t win in short series.

i hope it doesn’t happen to us this year……we are overdue for a little good fortune.

 

Researchers have done the math on how much luck is involved with each sport. I believe MLB has around 28% luck in involved in the outcome of games. The NHL has the most luck involved (as one might imagine). The NBA the least.

[Playing Catch]

On 9/24/2025 at 8:59 AM, adambr2 said:

Oh, I don’t think they’d mind. I think especially with the Uek passing, a Brewer World Series is a good story and interesting to most of the country. 

I agree. I think that because the Brewers have been the best team, the national audience has enough of a curiosity-factor. There's a lot of heartland folks that will be rooting for the Brewers, and I'm sure there's a lot of Yankees and Dodgers fans, too, that think the Brewers are a fun story... Basically, all baseball fans would enjoy the Brewers in the World Series.

But let's get there first! I'm worried about the offense, but really, I think I'm only worried about playing teams with really good defenders. The Brewers place so much value on putting the ball in play, that good defending teams could be the Brewers kryptonite. Or, that's my one concern. I probably would've voted for "none of the above," as I agree with others that have pointed out that the Brewers didn't fluke into the league's best record.

The Phillies and Dodgers don't want to face the Brewers, either.

[markedman5]

36 minutes ago, RobertCrawley said:

Researchers have done the math on how much luck is involved with each sport. I believe MLB has around 28% luck in involved in the outcome of games. The NHL has the most luck involved (as one might imagine). The NBA the least.

Yeah or it can be as simple as one play that is or isn’t made.

Yesterday if that ball that Chourio robbed the homer is a few inches higher or he stumbles a little on the warning track before he jumps…..that is 3 runs for the Padres and we likely lose that game.

[RWeeksFan23]

1 hour ago, RobertCrawley said:

Researchers have done the math on how much luck is involved with each sport. I believe MLB has around 28% luck in involved in the outcome of games. The NHL has the most luck involved (as one might imagine) The NBA the least.

Idk, with the variance of the three-point shot, even the NBA involves luck these days..

[RWeeksFan23]

5 hours ago, RobertCrawley said:

My biggest concern is having to listen to Joe Buck. 

We've been listening to Jeff Levering all season, we can handle Joe Buck now..

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, markedman5 said:

Yeah or it can be as simple as one play that is or isn’t made.

Yesterday if that ball that Chourio robbed the homer is a few inches higher or he stumbles a little on the warning track before he jumps…..that is 3 runs for the Padres and we likely lose that game.

Yep. Or the opener of the SD series. Peralta stumbles & balks in a run. In the 7th inning Mears looks very solid, then with 2 outs & none on walks Iglesias, who had homered but overall is having a very similar season to Joey Ortiz offensively. That cost him a run. Koenig & Uribe followed up with scoreless & fairly efficient frames. A series that left a bad taste in some mouths could've easily been a 2-1 series win.

[RobertCrawley]

26 minutes ago, RWeeksFan23 said:

Idk, with the variance of the three-point shot, even the NBA involves luck these days..

It does, but the percentages are lower. I didn't realize the NFL was so high. That seems wrong. Maybe because of fewer games?

https://www.cteeter.ca/blog/2023-10-22-sports-luck/

League	Season Games	Observed Variance	Random Variance	Contribution of luck
NBA	82	0.0233	0.0031	13.3%
MLB	162	0.0054	0.0015	27.8%
EPL	38	0.0210	0.0066	31.4%
NHL	82	0.0090	0.0031	34.4%
NFL	16	0.0362	0.0156	43.1%

[Jim French Stepstool]

22 minutes ago, RWeeksFan23 said:

We've been listening to Jeff Levering all season, we can handle Joe Buck now..

I don't want to dump on Chad Patrick. He's been pretty valuable for us, especially in the early months of the season, and has pitched better than some of the numbers might suggest. But early in Wednesdays' game I heard him say Patrick's been "unbelievable" this season.

I guess if he maintained that it was something that needed to be said I'd tell him "Didn't have to be".

[BrewCrewBlueDevil]

The constant batting order changes:

RHP

Frelick RF

Chourio CF

Turang 2B

Contreras C

Yelich DH

Vaughn 1B

Durbin 3B

Collins LF

Ortiz SS

 

LHP

Chourio CF

Yelich LF

Contreras C

Vaughn 1B

Frelick LF

Durbin 3B

Hoskins DH

Turang 2B

Ortiz SS

 

[tmwiese55]

48 minutes ago, RobertCrawley said:

It does, but the percentages are lower. I didn't realize the NFL was so high. That seems wrong. Maybe because of fewer games?

https://www.cteeter.ca/blog/2023-10-22-sports-luck/

League	Season Games	Observed Variance	Random Variance	Contribution of luck
NBA	82	0.0233	0.0031	13.3%
MLB	162	0.0054	0.0015	27.8%
EPL	38	0.0210	0.0066	31.4%
NHL	82	0.0090	0.0031	34.4%
NFL	16	0.0362	0.0156	43.1%

Yes, simply due to being 1 game playoffs.   

[BrewerFan]

8 hours ago, SF70 said:

Personally, not concerned about any aspect of this team entering the postseason. Since there’s no correlation between September play and October postseason play, I’m hopeful the team’s incredible depth shines through in the playoffs like it did during the regular season. But if not, Brewers fans will be just fine since we have many years ahead of top team in baseball talent with which to eventually get a title or two.

Looking ahead 5-10 years — this is not our most talented team. Next year’s team looks to be stronger with a trade or two from our best in baseball farm system. 

LOL... oh dude, you are so right, but also sooo wrong at the same time!

I'm not going to be able to go on X or Twitter(whatever) as Brewers fans will be the most insufferable if this team doesn't win. You're talking about the normal fan base? My buddies who call me and ask me "why the hell did we leave Hader in there," when he got into trouble vs the Nats or Braves when... he's your best pitcher and both were Lefty on Lefty.

 

I don't disagree with your outlook for the Brewers, but... fans are going to revolt if they lose a playoff series. Until they win one... that's just how it's going to be.

Nobody cares about Made and how this team is probably going to have one of the best lineup's in Baseball in ~3 years! They care about now! 

10 hours ago, SF70 said:

We are playing with house money so relax Brewers fans and enjoy this 5-10 year ride.

Ok, the last part I was speaking for the vast majority of the fan base, but even as a die hard who does appreciate and follow the farm very closely... this part doesn't make any sense to me. How are they playing with house money? 

This is a terrible way of looking at it and I'd really hope they're not. You only get so many opportunities as players. This is Turang, Frelick, Contreras' prime years, probably the end of Yelich's most productive years, the second last year you have Peralta... 

This is just one of those bites. It's been earned and hard fought for and... we don't know we'll be back here next year. I feel good about our chances to get back here, but the Reds and the Pirates are going to be MUCH better the next few years. A rotation that features Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Chandler, Barco and then Keller as the #5? And Cruz is going to figure it out one year soon and hit about 50 HRs. 

 

So I'm fired up about the future, but... this is not house money. This was earned and they should play like this is their last chance. 

[wntrtxn21]

My biggest concern is the offense. Churio in particular. He's 1 for his last 18 ABs with 8 Ks and 6 for his last 45 ABs with 2 RBIs. Yelich 3 for last 18 and two of those hits were inf. singles. Ortiz goes without saying. Monistario is 4 for 20 with three hits coming in one game. One RBI. Collins is 6 for last 41 ABs with no RBIs. Team is 13 and 12 in the last 25 games. 

Bullpen is always a concern if they don't get McGill back and throwing well. 

Batting order: Frelick          RF                                                                                                                                      Turang         2B                                                                                                                                      Contreras     C                                                                                                                                        Yelich           DH                                                                                                                                      Churio          CF                                                                                                                                      Vaughn        1B                                                                                                                                      Bauers         LF                                                                                                                                      Durbin         3B                                                                                                                                      Ortiz            SS

 

[SF70]

2 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

LOL... oh dude, you are so right, but also sooo wrong at the same time!

I'm not going to be able to go on X or Twitter(whatever) as Brewers fans will be the most insufferable if this team doesn't win. You're talking about the normal fan base? My buddies who call me and ask me "why the hell did we leave Hader in there," when he got into trouble vs the Nats or Braves when... he's your best pitcher and both were Lefty on Lefty.

 

I don't disagree with your outlook for the Brewers, but... fans are going to revolt if they lose a playoff series. Until they win one... that's just how it's going to be.

Nobody cares about Made and how this team is probably going to have one of the best lineup's in Baseball in ~3 years! They care about now! 

Ok, the last part I was speaking for the vast majority of the fan base, but even as a die hard who does appreciate and follow the farm very closely... this part doesn't make any sense to me. How are they playing with house money? 

This is a terrible way of looking at it and I'd really hope they're not. You only get so many opportunities as players. This is Turang, Frelick, Contreras' prime years, probably the end of Yelich's most productive years, the second last year you have Peralta... 

This is just one of those bites. It's been earned and hard fought for and... we don't know we'll be back here next year. I feel good about our chances to get back here, but the Reds and the Pirates are going to be MUCH better the next few years. A rotation that features Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Chandler, Barco and then Keller as the #5? And Cruz is going to figure it out one year soon and hit about 50 HRs. 

 

So I'm fired up about the future, but... this is not house money. This was earned and they should play like this is their last chance. 

It’s absolutely house money if you believe as I do that we are just BEGINNING the golden years of Brewers baseball.

We have everything we need to be able to continue to roster a top 3 team in baseball for the next decade. 

A great owner + an elite FO + elite manager & coaches + a 3-6 years controlled, mostly prime-aged playoff core + an elite infrastructure + a top farm system = a decade of winning never before seen by a small-market team.

Baseball being baseball, the best way to win a WS is roster a top 3 team for 10 straight years — that’ll get it done, and it doesn’t have to be this year.