The Official 'There's Always Next Year Thread' - 2008

[biedergb]

Well, as a right of passage for 20+ years of being a Brewers fan, September always brings that time of hope and fulfillment. Not for the season at hand, but for the upcoming season. You see, spring training is only 5 1/2 months away! Sure this year was a little different than others. What with winning and expectation and all that. But folks, it's time to focus your attention on what's really important... predicting the starter line-up for opening day '08. Then there's always the offseason trades... who will be this years' Richie Sexson or Lyle Overbay or Jeromy Burnitz? And let's not forget about the 2008 Draft. Which slugger will we pick? Or what HS pitcher we will abuse until he undergoes arm surgery.

 

That's right, the weather is getting colder, the Red Sox and Yankees will be playing each other every day on FOX (actually three times a day on the weekend in between football games). It's time for us to rally around, and get ready to root for the Brewers ... in '08! http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif

[homer]

I realize your post is mostly tongue in cheek, but 2008 should be a pretty special year around here. Reasons for optimism:

 

1) the experience of 2007. I think people forget just how young this team is. And even most of the important veterans (save Suppan) have never been in a pennant race.

2) the entire core is back.

3) Weeks will be healthy

4) Braun will be up the whole year

5) Hall won't have to re-learn a position

6) Parra, Villanueva, and Gallardo can pitch without worry about innings limits (for the most part)

7) Vargas will be gone

8) Since the team is so young, improvement (especially on defense) should happen naturally

[rluzinski]

It's September and the Brewers still have about a one in four chance of making the playoffs. You'll have to pardon me if I'm still holding out hope for this year.

[chuckiehacks]

It's time for us to rally around, and get ready to root for the Brewers ... in '08! http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif

Sorry to hear you're giving up with 1/6 of the season left to play. I'll continue enjoying the pennant race (and realistically the NL Central is probably the best race). If your idea of fun is a team that has a playoff spot wrapped up with a month to go, I think you might be watching the wrong sport.

Now the rest of us can stretch out a little on the bandwagon - woohoo!

[logan82]

Just thought people looking at next year might be interested in these stats from this year.

 

BA/OBP/OPS

Lee .298/.354/.878

Hart .289/.351/.874

Soriano .297/.336/.852

[logan82]

Forgot to add...

Lee $11m

Hart $395,000

Soriano $9m

[mothershipconnection]

I'm still pretty optimistic about 2007, but if they fail at least this will be the first winter in forever that "next year" will actually look promising.

However, this is our chance. Sure we have great building blocks, but you can't count on the Cards to not be awesome, and the Cubs have quite a bit of talent as well.

[biedergb]

Homer got it right. This was intended to be tongue in cheek. Just with it being the first week in September and all, and we are actually in a pennant race. Just exorcising some demons here (well mostly hoping for reverse mojo), as it felt odd to see the calendar and actually care about this year.

 

But the serious part as homer and mothership both point out is we are not only competitive now, but 2008 with a revamped bullpen should prove to be more exciting.

 

I guess when you don't post that often it's hard to pull off satire (without blue font)

[Roscoe Chill]

Sorry, I'm not buying it.

[JJHardy7]

Homer did get it right...but when will Weeks be healthy? I feel like we've been saying that for a few years. I think eventually he is what is is...which isn't bad...but probably not a long term starter at second base. If Weeks is healthy, we are easily division favorite (ex: going into this year some predictions had us second to last).

[Tbadder]

Man oh man does next year look good. I think the rotation will improve. The young guys are going to be that much better. We should have a poopload of draft choices from Cordero and Linebrink. The only thing we'll have to consciously pursue is bullpen help. Our leftover starters should bring us something interesting in the trade market. I really believe next year's gonna be better than this one. I realize this season has been fun for most (and I completely respect that) but for me it's been the most disappointing season in what little memory I have left.

 

Oh yeah, one thing I'd really like to see is the reclamation of Cappy.

 

I keep believing that Weeks will be alright--the 2nd coming of Molly? Well, not that good, but you know what I mean.

[pitchleague]

I know that no one is comparing us to Yankee fans, but why do some feel that it is our birthright that the next 5 years are going to be pennant/World Series years? I don't mean for that to sound mean, but I read that every now and then on the board and it bugs me that some seem that there is no possible way for the team to under-achieve like the Indians or Phillies or many other younger but good teams of earlier this decade.

 

Don't get me wrong. I truly think we have that potential to be very good for a while. But I'm not writing it down in ink that the Brewers are winning the division next year or any year.

 

Maybe I'm thinking too hard about this. I hear it all the time from a Yankee fan buddy of mine who makes it known to anyone who'll listen how the Yanks will never ever anymore be a non-contender. Ever.

 

And to me, I sense, just a tiny bit, that there is a feeling that there is no possible way we will be a non-contender in the next five seasons.

 

I'll shut up. I'm rambling.

[biedergb]

"But I'm not writing it down in ink that the Brewers are winning the division next year or any year."

 

I don't think people are truly assuming we'll win the division. But like the teams you mentioned, the Phillies and the Indians, the Brewers for once will have the pieces in place for them to be in contention for the next few years. Obviously not all goes as planned (injuries, slumps, etc).

 

For the first time in 20 years, we can look at the ballclub an say that they'll be competitive even if everything doesn't go exactly as planned. Look at this year -- we're in the hunt, and we've lost Sheets for a month, our "#2" Capuano lost his ability to locate and/or confidence, our bullpen has imploded, Weeks & Hall have been hurt, and Suppan has played down to career norms. In years past, that would be a 100-loss season, but we have guys that help us get past that.

[biedergb]

The game tonight gave this thread some unfortunate meaning. 1.5 games back with 16 games back isn't insurmountable, but when your momentum is in idle or reverse it sure feels like a huge deficit.

[iluvlamp]

With the pitchers and the teams we are going to face I am putting 2 tines of the fork in the Brewers. Nice to be the race I guess. I would love to see YoGa, Sheets, Suppan (face it we have to), Villy and Parra in the rotation next year. That would make me happy. I just wish the "ACE" didn't fill his pants tonighthttp://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/mad.gif.

[LUKE232323]

I'm not looking to 2008 yet, but I'm close. If we go into the road trip any further back than we are today, you can stick that third tine in.

 

The bad news is that the Cardinals appeared to have mailed it in. 8 straight losses.

[sbrylski]

There is no way this race is even close to over. The farthest I would go is preheating the oven.

[DougJones43]

Like others have said, the season is certainly far from over. But, we are 2 full games back with 16 to play. The Cubs are rolling and have shown they can win on the road. The Brewers are struggling, and haven't been able to win road games all season. We just lost to Reds at home with Sheets starting. The Cubs have scored 46 more runs than they've allowed this season. The Brewers have given up more runs than they've scored. BP currently lists the Brewers as a 27% chance to make the postseason (and that isn't counting the Cubs win today). Things are beginning to look kind of bleak, IMO.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'd put the Brewer's chances at about 20% for this year. The Cubs indeed are rolling while the Cards have rolled over. Their remaining schedule is all patsies.

 

Next year's Brewer outlook depends on one thing and one thing only and that is who is managing them.

[1992casey]

The post directly above is fine. However, if members feel inclined to get into details about the managing position, please use the most appropriate existing Yost thread.

[windiv07]

I am looking forward now to next year. After last night, I accept that any chance of us winning the division this year will be pure luck and represents only the remotest of possibilities. After a 2+ month steady diet of heartbreaking disappointment and frustration and seeing how it is now shaking out as we come down the home stretch, reality has settled in and my money to win the central is now on the Cubs (yuk). I hope the 2007 Brewers roster stays intact in 2008. I love these guys. And I think these 2007 Brewers have the capability (right now) of winning a World Series. All other things (besides the roster) being equal, I simply do not see it. Hence I look forward to the changes that intelligent ownwership will find necessary to win the division in 2008 and will welcome them happily. Best of luck to our team in 2007. If the right moves are made in the off-season, we won't need anywhere near that much luck next year.

 

So if we don't win the division, it was not a wasted effort...at least we can hope ownership's determination as to what needs to be changed will be swift and decisive and quick and merciful action takes place perhaps even on the last day of the 2007 season.

 

Past the disappointment now and living in acceptance that what needed to be done will have to wait until the off-season or next year....

 

I remain fathfully.

 

Go Brewers!

[Brewer Fever]

Yep, the Cubs bought themselves a division title. Just what the sports world needed. http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/eyes.gif

[Oldcity]

I still have hope for this season, but next year will be sweet. Especially if they upgrade from Yost.

[princeginterhallhelms04]

Yeah, while i am happy or content with how this team is playing this year. I was always saying look out for this brewers team in 08 and 09! They will grow together and this lineup could be a monster if they all proceed as expected!

[biedergb]

Well, I thought I would bump this up -- either as a last ditch effort to anti-jinx this team into some wins (they had winning streaks of 2 or 3 games both times I brought up this thread) or just to put a central thread for 2008 discussions. I'm not completely giving in yet, but as our season teeters on the brink of another Yosting, I am officially looking forward to what a Fielder-Braun combo can do with a healthy Weeks-Hart-Hardy-Hall support for an entire season. I won't touch the bullpen (there's already a full thread on that). Obviously we are still going as our starters go, and if Ben Sheets is healthy, Yovanni Gallardo is as good as he appears, or Chris Capuano regains his luck (and control and confidence) we should be in for a treat next year as well.