FidoMcCokefiend

I think this 2024 team and the 2018 group are pretty close. Probably slight nod to this team at this point. As for best chance to win WS, I'd say the 2011 team. It was right there, and had they got past STL, I think they win it all. Don't think the 2018 team gets past Boston...

I was literally born in Wauwatosa, WI the day that this franchise was officially granted to Bud Selig and Milwaukee. I've lived and died with this franchise. I just texted my Dad this AM that while I will always be disappointed if we don't the WS - what a time. 7 straight seasons with over 86 wins, 4 Division titles, and playoffs 5/7 years... (not counting 2020 because...) Compare that to hearing my dad complain about Alex Grammas or the Davey Lopes years (hell the whole 93-2004 years)... I want nothing more in my "sports fandom" life than being with my Dad listening to Uecker call the final out of a WS win. I will never not be gutted if we don't. But damn, this franchise is in really good shape and it's a helluva lot better than it could be. NOW GO WIN THIS WHOLE DAMN THING.

That wasn't "Let's walk Marquis Grissom to pitch to Barry Bonds" but it was in the same sphere of stupidity.

Score 8, 5, and 10 runs and get swept. Good lord.

That's the one I would have said as well. The opening to that season was bananas. Opened at home vs BLT and NYY, went 5-0, grand slams in all 3 games vs BLT, and scoring 54 runs against teams that won 97 and 100 games in 77. All without Yount.

As pointed above, MLB teams in 2022 received ~$100M from revenue sharing and local TV deals before selling a ticket, a hot dog, or a jersey. Seems if these "small market" owners really wanted to win and close the gap on this "severe disadvantage", they'd at least spend that $100M free money on payroll. Let's see how they did! The payroll of the 2022 Pirates? $56M The A's? 48M. Huh. Seems that the Pirates and A's (and 6 other teams!) decided to pocket a significant portion of this money instead of looking at it as a way to close the supposed severe disadvantage and spend it on player salaries. A salary cap without a meaningful floor, which these exact "small market" owners will never vote for, won't change a thing with these owners. And even with a floor, the same cheap owners will continue to do the bare minimum and skimp everything in order to maximize profits.

It's really a shame that in MLB, owners in "small markets" are not allowed to spend whatever they'd like. Maybe they should change that rule?

I want the players to make as much as possible, so ideally, yes I am against a salary cap. The Golden State Warriors franchise was worth like $500-600M when Steph Curry joined the team. It's now worth $7.6B. It's crazy that he never made more than $12M a year until 2017-18, He should be making >$100M a year, easily, for what he's done for the owners of that franchise. While a salary cap with an actual meaningful salary floor might force some owners to spend more, the franchises that are doing nothing to improve their on field play even with today's revenue sharing (~$60M per team in 2022) aren't going to do anything other than continue prioritizing profits.

There is absolutely nothing preventing MLB owners in "small markets" from spending whatever they'd like, should they choose to prioritize winning.

Don't really buy into MLB being broken and they must have a salary cap for "competitive balance" whenever the next big player contract is announced. The perception that a salary cap makes the sport more competitive isn't really born out by facts. 6 different teams have won the World Series the last 6 years. 9 different over the last 10. And, the leagues with caps are not seeing more teams win titles. Since 2000 MLB has had 16/30 (53%) franchises win the World Series. NFL has had 13/32 (41%) franchises win the Super Bowl. NBA has had 11/30 (37%) franchises win the NBA Title.

Silly and childish statement. Wish him well and move on, this makes the organization look petty and cheap. Not seeing how that helps attract a new manager or talent if the owner bashes them on the way out.

I say this wanting it to be known that I LOATHE the Chicago Cubs. I loathe every thing about them, their fans, their TV network, their announcers, everything. I fully expected CC to leave. Mets seemed like the obvious, but I was prepared for him to leave. The Cubs is a shock, but at the end of the day I won't say anything negative about CC. There isn't a person on this board that would turn down $12.5M for some belief of loyalty or home town discount. It would be ludicrous for him not to take the job. I ain't gonna root for the Cubs ever and frankly hope they go 0-162, but I have no ill will to CC at all. Get that bag, man. I also don't know how much impact a manager really has on a day to day basis. Personally, I think the culture, clubhouse, and managing egos is a bigger issue for manager, but talent and winning covers up a lot. Losing your young respected GM and your well regarded manager I think says that legit competing for titles in this environment, with this ownership, is just unlikely if they continue on same path. So, time throw out the status quo, pull the Astros move, bottom out, move Burnes and whatever else you can and see if you can build around Chourio and farm talent in 26/27... I really wanted nothing more than to watch the final out of a WS with my Dad while listening to Ueck and that's the biggest bummer for me as that light at the end of the tunnel is getting dimmer every year.

Brewers currently 23rd in R/G Past 20 years Teams to make playoffs with 23rd or lower scoring offense 2005 - HOU (24th), SDP (27th) 2006 - SDP (27th) 2007 - AZ (26th) 2008 - LAD (24th) 2014 - STL (24th) 2015 - STL (24th) 2016 - NYM (26th) 2020***** - STL (24th), CLV (25th), MKE (27th). CIN (28th) Lowest ranked offense to win WS over that 20 year span 2010 SF and 2003 FLA (17th) Over that 20 years 190 playoff spots, 12 went to teams with the 23rd or lower offense. (6.3%) Take the 2020 weirdness out, and that's now 8 of 174 playoff spots. (4.6%)