2026 World Series Thread: News/Notes/Predictions/Miscellaneous. What's on your mind?

[OldSchoolSnapper]

2 minutes ago, Turning2 said:

I agree they mishandled this, but half a million isn’t significant in MLB revenues. 

It's quite significant on an initial investment of $1 million which is the revenue from the initial offer. They can't claim a loss when this had 12 years to vest. That's the point, not how much $500k is to them. It was a promo, it worked, they made money from it. They want even more, so they did not honor it.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

12 minutes ago, dlk9s said:

Don't look at 2026 as a whole. Look at Freddy the Ray. He's clearly a different pitcher than he was on the Mets.

Since being traded to the Rays, he has a 3.80 FIP. He's done about that in the small sample postseason, posting a 3.76 FIP. Henderson's is 3.32 overall and 3.89 in the playoffs.

I'm not saying Freddy isn't looking great. He is! Like a lot of people, I have such a strong positive emotional response to the guy, and, if he wins a World Series, it'll be a genuine consolation, even though it happened against us. Others can feel differently, but I appreciate Peralta that much. He was always an excellent, durable starting pitcher who just never reached the Cy Young levels that some unrealistically expected.

What I am saying is that Peralta's not been the unstoppable postseason force that it appears. He and Henderson are really, really close, even when you just throw out everything Freddy did with the Mets and count every single Henderson start. Freddy might dominate us! Henderson could have a massive blow up! My eyes and the numbers, though, tell me I'd rather have our top two guys and that Henderson vs. Peralta is at least a wash and only that if you give Peralta's results the most generous possible interpretation.

EDIT: The thing that makes the Rays scary, for me, is their defense. They can make guys like Peralta and Rasmussen look even better than they are. If we lose, I think it'll be because the starters went deep, aided by the Rays giving them bonus outs, and their bullpen held up, benefitted by having to cover fewer innings.

[MrTPlush]

15 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

But that's kind of disingenuous. We can't use today's secondary market to determine the kind of value they're getting for something they bought 12 years ago without any certainty it would be worth that. I guarantee you that if you approached the Brewers in 2015 and said "So if we make the World Series I can submit this for a seat on the first level?" The team would have said absolutely, you can! They lied. No gray area to me. They have high public support right now because they are in the World Series and everyone is happy. They would be getting so much more flack for this in any other circumstance. The many comments acting like these people are spoiled for being ticked off about it is shocking to me. 

Brewers changed the rules when they saw how much they could make. This is like one of these people asking for $7500 refund in 2055 when they never get a WS game. And like I said, the Brewers conservatively made $500k (likely much more) by investing these funds for 12 years. That should have been their gain from this, not marking up prices this week to stiff them.

Why not? It is the value they are gaining. That’s the whole point of buying the ticket in the first place. I do wonder how many people who bought these were SSHs then and still are. The timeless ticket really wasn’t for a SSH and I ponder if that is who is upset. Face value nosebleeds aren’t exactly a win for them.

The vague terms were probably intentional and thankfully the man to blame is still around (Rick Schleshinslinger or whatever), so hopefully he gets grilled for it. This timeless ticket fiasco is par the course for the Brewers since ‘18. More success, more greed, worse experience for the fan. Surprised the watch party is only $15.

 

[SeaBass]

39 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

I don't think that's making them whole though. These people got ripped off, they have a legitimate gripe. The entire purpose of this program is an interest-free loan to the Brewers made in good faith that you will get the best available seat. 

I keep seeing this issue get misrepresented on social media. The issue was not that the Brewers sold all the tickets. There WERE in fact better seats available than what was offered to these folks. People keep pointing to the "subject to availability" line. They were available. The Brewers simply didn't want to give away seats they were planning to sell for multiple thousands. Except they weren't giving it away, they were paid $1k for them 10 years ago. 

What they did to "fix" it doesn't come close to what these people bought in for. They spent $1k without ANY guarantee of a World Series game, ever, and waited patiently, then got slapped in the face at redemption. I think they deserve much more sympathy than what they've been given. The team should be bending over backwards to make this right. They can't now with the tickets sold out, but they can do better than this. I am pretty disappointed with the Brewers on this.

I think the concession to allow people to keep their golden ticket for future use is fair while still giving them access to seats for this WS. They messed up, they got called out, and they responded.

Now it's on them to do better next year when the Brewers return to the WS for a repeat championship and the golden ticket folks try again.

Honestly, even if they don't get a WS ticket again could they still get front row seats to a Brewers regular season game? That would still be fun in my mind. I'm sure the people that held the tickets this long will keep holding for another chance at a WS though.

[MrTPlush]

4 minutes ago, SeaBass said:

I think the concession to allow people to keep their golden ticket for future use is fair while still giving them access to seats for this WS. They messed up, they got called out, and they responded.

Now it's on them to do better next year when the Brewers return to the WS for a repeat championship and the golden ticket folks try again.

Honestly, even if they don't get a WS ticket again could they still get front row seats to a Brewers regular season game? That would still be fun in my mind. I'm sure the people that held the tickets this long will keep holding for another chance at a WS though.

The Timeless Ticket was for 10 games of use. I believe 9 games had to be regular season…can’t remember if Opening Day was exempt. One game was the ‘golden ticket’ for any game. I believe all 10 games you redeemed you got that ability for the 3 additional tickets.

Had I not been in college at the time, this timeless ticket was a no brainer. I figure you make $900+ back simply redeeming 9 games for $100+ infield tickets. I actually recall these taking awhile to sell out at the time, kinda crazy. Even back then you knew a WS ticket was likely going to be minimum $1k if you had to buy secondary.

[tmwiese55]

I'd wonder how the communications were handled on this too.  Basically I get some of the gray area or issue if someone waited ot redeem until almost all tickets were sold.  Or if there was a reach out 2-3 weeks back or at the beginning of the playoffs to get the ball rolling on them to say "yes I do want it game X of the WS so hold my spot".    That's my guess as to where the disconnect came, there was no system or plan in place on it proactively 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

2 minutes ago, MrTPlush said:

The Timeless Ticket was for 10 games of use. I believe 9 games had to be regular season…can’t remember if Opening Day was exempt. One game was the ‘golden ticket’ for any game. I believe all 10 games you redeemed you got that ability for the 3 additional tickets.

Had I not been in college at the time, this timeless ticket was a no brainer. I figure you make $900+ back simply redeeming 9 games for $100+ infield tickets. I actually recall these taking awhile to sell out at the time, kinda crazy. Even back then you knew a WS ticket was likely going to be minimum $1k if you had to buy secondary.

Because the team was crap, won 60ish games that season. Only real fans would have gone for this, which makes the whole thing that much worse to me. They were probably sweating bullets in '18 when they thought they might already have to redeem these. 

I don't think using current secondary market price is fair as it was unknown at the time of purchase and using it against the initial buyers just feels wrong. They clearly bought it for the experience of a World Series game, whether that ticket is $100 or $100,000 I don't think is relevant. It's not why they bought it. Using that to calculate what the Brewers give them 12 years later doesn't make sense to me. 

This is the same concept as building your dream home, then 15 years in a developer finds out there is oil under your property and you are forced off the land by the government for only market value. I am glad you agree though that this is poor service and greed at work. 

Interesting story but one nobody will care about in a week and a half.

[gypcasino]

7 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

Interesting story but one nobody will care about in a week and a half.

Guaranteed. A huge part of this is manufactured Twitter outrage. The average citizen couldn't care less. 

[BrewerFan]

3 hours ago, dlk9s said:

Don't look at 2026 as a whole. Look at Freddy the Ray. He's clearly a different pitcher than he was on the Mets.

Ok, compare just his time with the Rays vs Henderson. 

Edge still goes to Henderson... on paper. 

[homer]

Pat Murphy is 15 years older than Harvey Kuenn was when the Brewers went to WS in 82.

 

 

[MrTPlush]

41 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

Ok, compare just his time with the Rays vs Henderson. 

Edge still goes to Henderson... on paper. 

Yes, because you are including tough starts before the Ray adjusted his mechanics etc.

He hasn’t given up more than 1 run in an outing since August.

 

 

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

Friday needs to hurry up and get here, because all these scenarios for this series bouncing around my noggin are entirely unhelpful and unproductive. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

2 minutes ago, Marc Newfield of Dreams said:

Friday needs to hurry up and get here, because all these scenarios for this series bouncing around my noggin are entirely unhelpful and unproductive. 

I am enjoying the period of knowing we are in the World Series before anything has the chance to go wrong.

[RobertCrawley]

It's Wednesday, and I feel an uptick in nerves.

[BrewerFan]

3 hours ago, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

Since being traded to the Rays, he has a 3.80 FIP. He's done about that in the small sample postseason, posting a 3.76 FIP. Henderson's is 3.32 overall and 3.89 in the playoffs.

I'm not saying Freddy isn't looking great. He is! Like a lot of people, I have such a strong positive emotional response to the guy, and, if he wins a World Series, it'll be a genuine consolation, even though it happened against us. Others can feel differently, but I appreciate Peralta that much. He was always an excellent, durable starting pitcher who just never reached the Cy Young levels that some unrealistically expected.

What I am saying is that Peralta's not been the unstoppable postseason force that it appears. He and Henderson are really, really close, even when you just throw out everything Freddy did with the Mets and count every single Henderson start. Freddy might dominate us! Henderson could have a massive blow up! My eyes and the numbers, though, tell me I'd rather have our top two guys and that Henderson vs. Peralta is at least a wash and only that if you give Peralta's results the most generous possible interpretation.

EDIT: The thing that makes the Rays scary, for me, is their defense. They can make guys like Peralta and Rasmussen look even better than they are. If we lose, I think it'll be because the starters went deep, aided by the Rays giving them bonus outs, and their bullpen held up, benefitted by having to cover fewer innings.

Yes, and that turf. That's tough. That Wells though, he is a stud. I didn't appreciate how good he was. 

I think a really underrated part of this series will be... the Brewers adjusting to playing in the Trop and the defense. It's INSANE to think the Brewers have played sloppy defense at times and are STILL 7-1 in the post-season vs SD and the LAD. I think they'll play cleaner this series... and Pratt seemed to be better as the series went on.. showing off that CANNON on a couple plays. Not short hopping one because he was trying to aim it or tightening up. 

Still, with that great defense, Junior Camienero is their 3B. I want Hamilton, maybe Sal or Turang putting some bunts down, looking to take some easy bags perhaps? Though I suspect they'll do the same thing vs Hamilton... 

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, MrTPlush said:

Yes, because you are including tough starts before the Ray adjusted his mechanics etc.

He hasn’t given up more than 1 run in an outing since August.

 

 

He's been the same guy for years now. They got him back to where he was with the Brewers. 

If you want to just narrow it down to the smallest sample size... and cherry pick, ok. Then how far do we go? 

I think the Brewers had the edge in that matchup. The Rays did crazy things like... pitch from the stretch, move a bit toward 3rd, had him throw more changeups... basically tried to get him back to the same pitcher he'd been with the Brewers. 

And his FB velocity went from 94.2 with the Mets to 94.4 IF you whittle it down further to when his start on August 16th with the Rays. 
He was at 94.8 last year with the Brewers. This isn't some pitcher who was totally revamped everything. He made some small tweaks and it seems like the biggest difference was defense. 

Even going to that point, when Peralta's FB took a very modest jump Henderson had a 1.93 ERA, 3.27 FIP in 42 IP facing the LAD, the Cubs twice(back to back), the Braves, Phillies, all teams playing for the post-season. 
Peralta went 45.3 IP and had a 1.97 ERA and a 3.47 FIP facing Baltimore twice in a row after they sold, the Tigers, Mets... the .500 Astros and then Boston and also ATL. 
Even in the playoffs... where Henderson faced just objectively better lineups, Henderson has a better FIP. 
So... you really have to reach to find a way to give the Rays the edge.... you might actually have an easier time going with Rasmussen over Mis... but then MAN do we have a big edge with Gasser(just using the last 6 starts HE'S made+2 playoff stats that account for 10IP and 1 ER) over everyone then!

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

I have no idea what's going to happen in 48 hours, but here are some random thoughts:

1) We're the favorites in this series, and we've earned that. It doesn't mean much, but we will have the better overall roster, and, if we play our best baseball, it'll take bad luck (or outstanding Tampa defense and sequencing) for us to lose.

2) I fully expect the Rays to win at least 2 games here and to be trailing at some point this series. Championships are almost never won without having to endure some serious sweat. Plus, Tampa is really good. Both of these organizations deserve to be here. It might be full of terror and anxiety, but it'll also be fun.

3) I have a feeling Dustin May is going to throw 3 scoreless for us at some point. It might explode the in-game thread.

4) I also have a hunch we're going to put up a massive crooked number in one of these first innings. It may well be game one. I'm thinking this team comes out the way it did against the Cubs in last year's NLDS. 

5) We're going to get to Tampa's bullpen and score on Baker at some point. It might not be for a walk-off or comeback win, but I think he's running low on energy.

6) I have no idea what the outcome will be. I do know that this team will give the fanbase an all-time memory, and I'll be hoping like heck it ends in powder blue and gold confetti.

[jason21nl]

I’m super nervous already

[Recovering Chicagoan]

I hope we win (of course!), but if we’re going to lose, I’d rather we lose in five or six games instead of losing 2 - 1 in game seven.

[BrewerFan]

We just... cannot get to this point and lose! 

I know we have no impact on it, but to be here... to go through what we've gone through, to finally get hot at the right time, be healthy(mostly, healthier than a lot of teams)... the Brewers cannot lose to the Rays! They're 'the better team. They've beaten two teams who are better teams. 

They need to jump on this team, win 2 in Milwaukee and then hope that Gasser can exploit the Rays weaknesses vs lefties. 

[Brewers Downunder]

If we can go to Tampa 2-0 up, I would expect the mental acuity of the Brewers to really turn the screws.

Heck, if we're 2-0 there's a real possibility we might sweep again.

Two sleeps to go for me (10.30pm Thursday night here right now, telecast starts 10.30am Saturday) and given all I've been through with sports over the last 50 years (the highest of the highs and of course the crushing lows) I'm as nervous as I've ever been 😂

If our lads are OK between the ears I can't see them getting beat. Challenged maybe, but not beat.

[Brewers Downunder]

I reckon Ashby is vital to the outcome of this series.

He very well could be a massively significant factor. Ice in the veins and all that.

[igor67]

I was amused to find a chatbot/ AI slop post Promoting Turang for MVP. The kicker is that its on another message board that had no direct WI or Brewers connection and it has nothing to do with sports.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I am expecting this to be 2-2 after 4 games.

[Frisbee Slider]

If we minimize walks allowed, we should be well-positioned to win.