hawing

This lineup is breathtaking, in a way. Either RRR is daring Strasburg to no-hit the Brewers or someone dared RRR to create this lineup. I mean, I'd love to be wrong, but there's almost nothing about this matchup that looks favorable on paper. Even the rainy forecast makes me think of wet-grounds-related injuries, or another Wholestaff game prompted by an ill-timed delay.

Perhaps Yovani secretly doesn't want to leave the Brewers, and thinks that pitching like he has the last couple of starts will dissuade other teams from wanting him. That should pretty much be in blue.

Got that right. As much as I hate to see other fanbases happy at the Brewers' expense, Pittsburgh fans must be beside themselves with joy right now. Reminds me of when the Brewers swept STL in four games in 2008. If you are ready for your big year, Pirates, take it all the way. No Cardinals.

Your Milwaukee Brewers try to avoid being swept by the team with the best record in baseball. And they try this with a new iteration of Sunday/getaway/decimated-by-key-injuries lineup: RF Norichika Aoki SS Jean Segura CF Carlos Gomez 1B Juan Francisco 2B Rickie Weeks 3B Yuniesky Betancourt C Martin Maldonado LF Logan Schafer P Kyle Lohse Pirates: LF Starling Marte 2B Neil Walker CF Andrew McCutchen RF Garrett Jones 3B Pedro Alvarez 1B Gaby Sanchez C Michael McKenry SS Clint Barmes P Charlie Morton http://www.toolsnob.com/pictures/push_broom.jpg

All full season ticket holders had an opportunity to buy ASE tickets. There were a lot of STH that stopped going to games after the ASE, but they still counted as "tickets sold". Some of the announced attendances in August and September were more than twice the number of butts in seats. Partial season ticket holders were able to buy all-star week tickets as well, and the Brewers made it clear that it was going to be the most guaranteed way to gain access to the all-star events. And yes, occupied-seats attendance plummeted by the end of that season. I also remember some speculation - and I think it was in 2003 - that the Brewers might close the terrace level for at least some games because attendance was so low (and presumably they could save some $ by not staffing the top level, which sounds pretty WSP-ish). We wondered at the time if/how we would be reseated, because our 20-pack was in the terrace box. Of course, that did not come to pass. More generally, my stance is closer to DocLuna7's. Attending a ballgame is one of my favorite activities (and the SO's too). I like seeing how each game and season unfolds. Over time we've cultivated a community of friends (online and in person, including fans and Brewers employees) who I look forward to seeing/interacting with during the season and miss every day of the off-season. It's my unscripted entertainment (I hesitate to call it "reality"). 2011 showed us how much more entertaining a really special winning season can be, and I cannot say I never have pangs for that extra level of excitement. But if it were solely about reaching the World Series/postseason/winning record for me, I'd have likely given up decades ago. Indeed, after the 1984 season ended and I realized the Brewers still mattered to me, that's when I figured I was in it for the long haul. I expect we'll keep going as long as we can manage the finances and time commitment. We don't drive as far as PrinceFielderx1 - and major kudos to you and your dad - but we probably go to more games.

We sold our tickets to Hoffman's 600th save game, months before we knew it could be significant, because it was the first or second day of UW-Madison classes and we knew there was no way we could attend. The people who went in our place really appreciated it.

Pounded by Houston. Whose arguably biggest star is 1.000 Altuves tall. (That's about 1.02 hawings tall.) http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzvyf45W691qiunvpo1_400.gif

Channel 3 in Madison has this "call for action" thing where they will investigate consumer complaints. The contact information is part of this page.

On paper (or screen) this matchup doesn't look too evenly matched. Yet, there's a reason why they play the games.

Manny was sporting some facial hair too. It was kind of like evil Manny. Wasn't he always clean shaven with the Brewers?

The official name of the outfit is On 2 the Field and it has East Towne and West Towne Mall locations (both in Madison for those not familiar). At least one other person has been unhappy after doing business with them, if not quite for identical reasons: http://local.yahoo.com/info-33014822-on-2-the-field-madison

As much as a loathe Pick 'n Save and Walmart, Woodman's is a pretty big offender of this as well in my experience. Mine as well. I'm embarrassed at how long it took me to train myself to relentlessly check expiration dates there. (I feel like I should add that I place no blame for this on burniebrewer, who I believe still works for Woodman's.)

So that was his employee's first thought? That would make me think dude has been shady in the past. Good luck.

I hate to say, but I have this vague recollection of the Braun callup thread being locked and removed. I don't remember why.

Derecho is a pretty cool sounding word. It does have a touch of villainy to it.

I suppose it's what a Florida vacation should be: a brief chance to forget your troubles and just let loose. See you in about a month, Marlins!

It's a way-alternate spelling of "woes solved."

ALL THE WOAH SOLVDD!

Does it work?

I know every game is different, small sample, blah blah, but based on Monday's game, man, the Marlins looked about as hapless as has been advertised. (May it continue.)

Now it's been 30 years and a day, but I still remember where I was when I found out about the Thomas/Manning trade: at the public library, where I had a high school job, in the Wisconsin State Journal. 1983 was only my second season of closely following baseball, and during 1982 I took a fan shine to Gorman, so I was pretty disappointed. He came back later, but it wasn't quite the same; nevertheless, I had a magazine page photo of Gorman on my dorm room wall during my undergraduate years. (And I lived in girls' dorms. By 1987-1988 my walls also sported a sweet Rob Deer growth chart.) That was my first real lesson in being a fan of the team, not just of individual players.

Yep, this is a thing: FSWI link Perhaps I should say...links. *rimshot*

He seemed to have a good time Tuesday with these people he met through the Internet. Sounds so, so creepy when you put it like that. There is a story to the genesis of his Brewers fandom, but I'll let him chime in with it.

Well, Mass, the Brewers are .500 on your personal watch this season. Some of us would be really happy with that win percentage. Don't feel you must be distant from now to 2023.

Scooter on 1st with a BB! Scoooooooooooter! (Based on the small sample I observed Tuesday night, fans enjoy saying the word "Scooter.")