Hope, Heartbreak and Everything In Between: How Do We Assess the 2024 Milwaukee Brewers?

I don’t think I’m speaking for myself when I talk about the state of absolute shock at the events of October 3rd. A 2-0 lead entering the ninth with Devin Williams, three-time NL Reliever of the Year award winner, entering to create a procession through the top of the Mets order. We knew the script. We knew how this should go.

Then, that one swing in the dark of night. There was devastation around the stadium as Pete Alonso did his thing despite raucous calls for his head from his fanbase. Delving into the minutiae of how last night unfolded would be too soon, especially as something felt different this time.

Previous versions of the Milwaukee Brewers have gone from excitement to a sense of inevitability quite rapidly within the playoffs. Last season, it felt like they got hit with a tidal wave by the Diamondbacks, the Braves in 2021, Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers, and the Nationals. They couldn't rally back once the Brewers fell behind in these playoff games.

This time, the rookies led from the front. Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, and Garrett Mitchell contributed to a monstrous comeback in game two. Sal Frelick, who epitomizes undaunted, demolishes a baseball almost 400 feet into the second deck. Jake Bauers, this year's version of Jesse Winker, gives the Brewers a vital lead off the bench. 

We could talk about the struggles of Williams and the veteran hitters, but I'd rather focus on how this Brewers team felt different. There was a fight, a belief, a togetherness that felt special, something with the hair tingling on the back of your neck. The rise of Chourio. The electricity of a pumped-up Nick Mears and Trevor Megill. Tobias Myers dominating the Mets. Garrett Mitchell. Willy Adames, Brice Turang. Blake Perkins. They are not all household names but massive contributors to this season. This was supposed to be it. We were mentally preparing for the Phillies in the NLDS.

Then it was gone.

Yet even now, with the rawness of emotion, I’m not entirely sure this group should be pushed into the same bunch as their previous playoff failures. Those before them faltered without a punch in October. Albeit this was a series very much in the Brewers' grasp that they might feel they let themselves down from a fielding perspective, and with some bullpen arms that have carried them down the stretch, they had the fortitude to respond under the immense pressure makes all the difference.

The Brewers have been saying “next year” for a little while now, but it’s tough not to notice that 2023 marked the end of an era with the departure/injury of Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff. The rotation that led the Brewers' surge was dismantled, and in its place, a new phoenix has risen.

The quintessential dilemma of baseball is this: any team can win one game. On average, the 2024 White Sox won 1 out of every four games this year. A one-game playoff is intrinsically exciting, but it isn’t the best way to measure the quality of a team. It’s a dilemma that baseball is unlikely to solve within its current playoff format. That’s not to say if the format is right or wrong, but they may have a slightly skewed value on short-term success over longer-term results against a now-even playing schedule.

As such, judging this Brewers team by a series in which they showed more character and fight than any Brewers team in the playoffs since the start of 2019 would be a disservice. This team has brought phenomenal joy to the city of Milwaukee in 2024, not just from the rise of an icon this year.

The grind they bring each and every day is special, and it encapsulates Milwaukee and its fandom. No one will ever criticize Sal Frelick for not risking life and limb for an out. No one would question Blake Perkins's preparation before a game. The coaching staff, the buy-in of the players, and everything to form one cohesive unit is special amongst a team of 80+ coaches and players when you factor everybody who contributes into the equation.

If you’ve ever been in a room with 80 people, can you imagine any world where they all pull together so cohesively, as we’ve seen this year? Milwaukee embraced its underdog mentality and outworked everyone on the path to success this year against bigger names and higher payrolls.

This is truly not normal, and while there will undoubtedly be changes next season with the unlikeliness of Devin Williams and Willy Adames being on the roster, the players and coaches that will be here will carry on that legacy. Pat Murphy certainly won’t stand for anything else. 

Although this may be the end of 2024, it may be the start of a new era for the Brewers. We can dream of a healthy Brandon Woodruff, new and improved versions of DL Hall and Tobias Myers after an offseason with the Brewers pitching lab and Chris Hook, Christian Yelich without disc problems, a potential MVP in Jackson Chourio, Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, Craig Yoho, and full years of Garrett Mitchell. Can Sal Frelick find more of that home run pop? 

I’d also like to take a moment to thank all those this year who have come to read at Brewer Fanatic and contribute to the site. Writing for this specific fan base is an absolute joy and privilege. I’ve been asked many times why I write for a Brewers-focused group (given I’m not even American), but if I could choose any fandom in baseball to write for, it would be you. There is a genuine love of everything good about sport in Milwaukee, and the atmosphere at American Family Field in both the final two Wild Card Series games will live long in my memory. It’s been a privilege, and I hope you enjoyed the content the other contributors have put out this season.

I look forward to going through it again in 2025, and hopefully, at the end of October, I will have a sprinkling more success.

To leave you all on a positive note, I've attached some videos of some moments that left us euphoric throughout the season. I hope you'll be back to enjoy it all over again.

The Moment Jackson Chourio's Metamorphosis Began

Blake Perkins Magnificent Outfield Robberies

Brice Turang Being A Wizard

Willy Adames Loves Ducks On he Pond

Playoff Game Two

Sal Has... Power?

Christian Yelich May Be Back With A New Back

Apparently There's This Guy Called Craig Yoho

Meet Shortstop Of The Future, Joey Ortiz

What were you favorite memories of the 2024 season? Do you think it's all negative given the ending? What were the biggest joys from the Brewers this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!