Braves (Perez) vs Brewers (Henderson): 8/22/26, 1:10pm

[Day]

It’s been a good weekend for us so far. We are looking strong in the pitching department and if we can continue that, even with mediocre batting we will be tough to beat in a playoff series

[formerlybis]

5 hours ago, yourout said:

I don't know the ages of most of the posters here but speaking as one now in the third act of life(63) I find myself more easily agitated watching games and I think it is the fact I really want to see a WS win in my lifetime and the next 3-5 years are the best window of opportunity since 82 and who knows how many more I will get to enjoy.

Not sure how many other old timers here struggle with being patient with the team.

A WS win would be a high similar to the 93 Rose Bowl. Something you don't think would ever happen.

I’m of a similar vintage and while I agree with the sentiment about what a WS win would mean for our souls, I don’t get nearly as intensely upset as I did when I was younger. I humbly think I’m a bit wiser,

The recent example was some posters going crazy over Senzatela being left in and almost blowing a thin lead. Like everyone, I wanted him to succeed, was getting nervous, and would have preferred pulling him. But I also understood the bigger picture of why having Senzatela stay in was defensible and really the best managerial choice, given the state of the bullpen. I’d have been miserable if we blew it, but mutedly so because I do understand that sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.

[willie key]

10 hours ago, BCF said:

Mariners have no fight or heart though! 

It’s too bad the brewers had no place to put arozarena too

[Frisbee Slider]

4 minutes ago, willie key said:

It’s too bad the brewers had no place to put arozarena too

Arnold strategically left Arozarena in Seattle to devastate the Cubs this weekend. ♟️

[TrackCoach]

1 hour ago, formerlybis said:

I’m of a similar vintage and while I agree with the sentiment about what a WS win would mean for our souls, I don’t get nearly as intensely upset as I did when I was younger. I humbly think I’m a bit wiser,

The recent example was some posters going crazy over Senzatela being left in and almost blowing a thin lead. Like everyone, I wanted him to succeed, was getting nervous, and would have preferred pulling him. But I also understood the bigger picture of why having Senzatela stay in was defensible and really the best managerial choice, given the state of the bullpen. I’d have been miserable if we blew it, but mutedly so because I do understand that sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.

As a coach of two decades, I relate differently to some of the moves Murph does than some on these message boards.  In a long season there are going to be times when as a coach you need to inset certain players into crucial positions with the game on the line with the understanding that there is a possibility that you may lose the game in exchange for giving your players a chance to show what they can do.  The successes and failures of those players in the regular season will pay off dividends at the end of the year when it matters most.  Letting Senzatela continue was a perfect example of this and I recognized it.

With a 7-game lead now, I can see some more of these opportunities coming up and some of them will lead to some heart wrenching losses.  I am ok with that because I want to be fully aware of how my athletes are going to handle the heat when it matters in October.  As a fan I would love to enter the playoffs with a 7-game lead and home field advantage over everyone, but I have learned that sacrificing some regular season success while putting my athletes to the test has led to more post season success.

[Playing Catch]

1 hour ago, formerlybis said:

I’m of a similar vintage and while I agree with the sentiment about what a WS win would mean for our souls, I don’t get nearly as intensely upset as I did when I was younger. I humbly think I’m a bit wiser,

The recent example was some posters going crazy over Senzatela being left in and almost blowing a thin lead. Like everyone, I wanted him to succeed, was getting nervous, and would have preferred pulling him. But I also understood the bigger picture of why having Senzatela stay in was defensible and really the best managerial choice, given the state of the bullpen. I’d have been miserable if we blew it, but mutedly so because I do understand that sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.

I have this "fear" that if the Brewers win a World Series, that I'll forever be less enthused about next year. I still remember fondly the last two Packer Super Bowl wins, but those wins mean little compared to the Badgers Final 4 runs or Rose Bowls. There's just nothing like winning when the odds are stacked against you. Anyone in the NFL can win a Super Bowl any season. If the Mariners go on an amazing run and lose a heartbreaking 7th game to the Dodgers in the World Series, will they remember the destination or the journey? I'll bet they'd remember it far more fondly than Sam Darnold's masterclass last season. But perhaps that's part of the distinction. The journey or the destination? I'm definitely a "journey" > "destination" guy.

[jw5511986]

11 hours ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

There's a reason the Brewers are 7 wins better than the Cubs at this stage of the season, whether cub fans admit it or not...

 

The brewers are a better team.

Tbf it hasn't just been Cub fans refusing to acknowledge that.

[formerlybis]

46 minutes ago, TrackCoach said:

As a coach of two decades, I relate differently to some of the moves Murph does than some on these message boards.  In a long season there are going to be times when as a coach you need to inset certain players into crucial positions with the game on the line with the understanding that there is a possibility that you may lose the game in exchange for giving your players a chance to show what they can do.  The successes and failures of those players in the regular season will pay off dividends at the end of the year when it matters most.  Letting Senzatela continue was a perfect example of this and I recognized it.

With a 7-game lead now, I can see some more of these opportunities coming up and some of them will lead to some heart wrenching losses.  I am ok with that because I want to be fully aware of how my athletes are going to handle the heat when it matters in October.  As a fan I would love to enter the playoffs with a 7-game lead and home field advantage over everyone, but I have learned that sacrificing some regular season success while putting my athletes to the test has led to more post season success.

Congrats and thanks for being a coach. Even though I’m not a coach (well, maybe if you expand the definition outside sports), I can relate to what seem like common sense big-picture decisions that so perplex and vex others. Not gonna lie - the vexed seem less intelligent to me. Doesn’t make them a lesser fan, though.

[TURBO]

11 hours ago, BCF said:

Their game threads are like 5-6 pages and didn’t see that much outrageous things though 

Go hang out there then.  I think that's a good place for you and your holier than thou posse...

[82brewcrew82]

15 hours ago, 82brewcrew82 said:

Find it.  I'll wait......

Didn't think so.

[BruisedCrew]

10 hours ago, yourout said:

I don't know the ages of most of the posters here but speaking as one now in the third act of life(63) I find myself more easily agitated watching games and I think it is the fact I really want to see a WS win in my lifetime and the next 3-5 years are the best window of opportunity since 82 and who knows how many more I will get to enjoy.

Not sure how many other old timers here struggle with being patient with the team.

A WS win would be a high similar to the 93 Rose Bowl. Something you don't think would ever happen.

 

3 hours ago, formerlybis said:

I’m of a similar vintage and while I agree with the sentiment about what a WS win would mean for our souls, I don’t get nearly as intensely upset as I did when I was younger. I humbly think I’m a bit wiser,

The recent example was some posters going crazy over Senzatela being left in and almost blowing a thin lead. Like everyone, I wanted him to succeed, was getting nervous, and would have preferred pulling him. But I also understood the bigger picture of why having Senzatela stay in was defensible and really the best managerial choice, given the state of the bullpen. I’d have been miserable if we blew it, but mutedly so because I do understand that sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.

I can relate to these comments. I am an even older vintage (current age 74) and now I have a lot more time to follow and stew on a baseball season than I did during those years when family and professional responsibilities were much higher priorities. There were years when my biggest sports related concerns were  how to give 16 6 year olds equal time in a 4 inning tee ball game or how to get 3 girls to soccer games on time in different parts of the city.

Before I had all of those responsibilities I had a much more optimistic outlook for the teams I rooted for. Maybe it didn't hurt that my Dad was a native New Yorker who rooted for the Yankees. So I rooted for both the Braves and Yankees during a period when both teams were regular contenders with multiple future Hall of Famers

I am now several years past the point that I concluded that the chances of the Brewers winning a World Series in my lifetime is significantly lower than 50% because of the competitive disadvantage of the small market teams. 

Because the Brewers winning the division or just making the playoffs isn't as exciting as it was in 2008 and 2011 I am now focused on the next goal, and I critique the team from that perspective. I don't get into the daily bashing (often second guessing) of the manager and players. But I am scarred by the disappointments of the past and have a hard time getting past the "here we go again" feeling when things get rocky.

It would be interesting to know the ages of some of the posters here and what life experiences they bring. Following baseball was a lot different when you didn't have every game on TV with dozens, if not hundreds, of statistics and measurements being thrown around telling you what you should think about what's going on. That stuff might be great for professionals trying to evaluate players for their organizations. But in the hands of young amateurs they probably make them think that they're smarter than they really are. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

3 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

I have this "fear" that if the Brewers win a World Series, that I'll forever be less enthused about next year. I still remember fondly the last two Packer Super Bowl wins, but those wins mean little compared to the Badgers Final 4 runs or Rose Bowls. There's just nothing like winning when the odds are stacked against you. Anyone in the NFL can win a Super Bowl any season. If the Mariners go on an amazing run and lose a heartbreaking 7th game to the Dodgers in the World Series, will they remember the destination or the journey? I'll bet they'd remember it far more fondly than Sam Darnold's masterclass last season. But perhaps that's part of the distinction. The journey or the destination? I'm definitely a "journey" > "destination" guy.

While reading this I was reminded of one of my very favorite Barry Alvarez quotes-----"There's nothing like doing something that nobody thought you could do." It certainly was relative to Badger sports after the quarter-century their FB & BB programs experienced prior to the 90s. It also can relate to the situation that the majority of MLB teams are in today. What the Brewers are doing is they recognize that the 'unattainable' can be attained but it takes a well thought out plan by the FO, from personnel decisions at both the MLB & amateur levels to the sifting, winnowing & development from the DSL all the way to Nashville. And what I love about this organization is that it's working. The sobering reality is that it can 'work' & still not result in a WS champion----there's a lot of randomness to this game. Batted-ball luck (both good & bad). Health. Over a six-month plus season, playing your best baseball at the right time(s).

Despite the stacked deck---and who knows, in the next contract maybe it won't be as stacked---I suspect I'm the type of fan that gets much more enjoyment out of what this organization has built & continues to build, and whatever that may lead to, than if I was a fan of the Yankees or Dodgers, or Ohio State FB, or Duke basketball. I don't think it would be quite the same level of satisfaction for each season to be either an expected championship or a failure w/no in between.

As much as I relish the destination, maybe I hold the journey to a higher esteem since I so greatly appreciate what it involves.

[82brewcrew82]

Its not a binary choice.  The expectations exist because of what the organizaiton has done.  I think, as a whole, the off the field staff is the best in baseball.  Doesn't mean they do everything perfectly.  I'm not sure why people can't be in awe of what the org has done and still be disappointed in the ending if it doesn't meet their expectations.  One can both appriciate the journey and feel they fell short.

[formerlybis]

29 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

While reading this I was reminded of one of my very favorite Barry Alvarez quotes-----"There's nothing like doing something that nobody thought you could do." It certainly was relative to Badger sports after the quarter-century their FB & BB programs experienced prior to the 90s. It also can relate to the situation that the majority of MLB teams are in today. What the Brewers are doing is they recognize that the 'unattainable' can be attained but it takes a well thought out plan by the FO, from personnel decisions at both the MLB & amateur levels to the sifting, winnowing & development from the DSL all the way to Nashville. And what I love about this organization is that it's working. The sobering reality is that it can 'work' & still not result in a WS champion----there's a lot of randomness to this game. Batted-ball luck (both good & bad). Health. Over a six-month plus season, playing your best baseball at the right time(s).

Despite the stacked deck---and who knows, in the next contract maybe it won't be as stacked---I suspect I'm the type of fan that gets much more enjoyment out of what this organization has built & continues to build, and whatever that may lead to, than if I was a fan of the Yankees or Dodgers, or Ohio State FB, or Duke basketball. I don't think it would be quite the same level of satisfaction for each season to be either an expected championship or a failure w/no in between.

As much as I relish the destination, maybe I hold the journey to a higher esteem since I so greatly appreciate what it involves.

You and I would get along well IRL. Being good/great over the course of 6 months and 162 games is really more impressive than in 7. But that’s not how we’re set up (the EPL is arguably the most successful league on the planet and there are no playoffs, just a regular season champion).

[yourout]

48 minutes ago, formerlybis said:

You and I would get along well IRL. Being good/great over the course of 6 months and 162 games is really more impressive than in 7. But that’s not how we’re set up (the EPL is arguably the most successful league on the planet and there are no playoffs, just a regular season champion).

I wonder if that format would help or hinder small market teams.

[formerlybis]

32 minutes ago, yourout said:

I wonder if that format would help or hinder small market teams.

Well, the EPL certainly is lopsided in favor of the high-spenders - they have a similar problem to MLB in that respect. Playoffs at least offer a chance for the smaller teams, if they can even get in position

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, 82brewcrew82 said:

 I'm not sure why people can't be in awe of what the org has done and still be disappointed in the ending if it doesn't meet their expectations.  One can both appriciate the journey and feel they fell short.

I agree with this. I think some pooh-pooh the first & dwell on the second while others reverse it, while there's no such thing as the correct balance except in ones' own mindset.

I always feel disappointed when a post-season ends in a loss, and later revitalized in knowing that this is the type of outfit that'll keep coming back for more.

[formerlybis]

3 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

I agree with this. I think some pooh-pooh the first & dwell on the second while others reverse it, while there's no such thing as the correct balance except in ones' own mindset.

I always feel disappointed when a post-season ends in a loss, and later revitalized in knowing that this is the type of outfit that'll keep coming back for more.

Well, I guess I take issue with the bolded - theoretically, maybe someone is out there that isn't that disappointed in post-season losses, but it ain't me, and it ain't you. I was devastated when High Point ousted UW. But, I also don't forget about the 30-ish games before it, either.  

[Jim French Stepstool]

38 minutes ago, formerlybis said:

Well, I guess I take issue with the bolded - theoretically, maybe someone is out there that isn't that disappointed in post-season losses, but it ain't me, and it ain't you. I was devastated when High Point ousted UW. But, I also don't forget about the 30-ish games before it, either.  

The latter is certainly in the vast minority, yes.

You just HAD to bring up High Point?