RobDeer 45

I got back from Tampa today. The game yesterday was great. A lot more people are coming MSP. Definitely go to Ferg's for the pregame. It was a blast with all the Brewers fans there. The whole central ave scene is pretty cool. Lots of bars and restaurants to choose from.

When I saw this post, I put it off. I think I’ve mentally put off thinking about what this all means to me because it feels overwhelming. Many of us have been waiting for a Brewers World Series for a long time, so I think we all get that. I’m going to focus on what the Brewers and baseball mean to me. I was born in 1980, so I don’t remember the 1982 World Series, but some of my earliest memories are of the excitement about the Brewers in the seasons after. I grew up in a baseball home. My dad was still playing town baseball when I was young, and he also coached fast-pitch softball, so we spent lots of days at a ball field. Baseball was my first passion. I had my glove with me at all those games, and after the game my mom or dad would throw me pop flies and ground balls. My grandparents would say, “When you were little, all you wanted to do was hit baseballs in the yard all day.” You can bet that every time I was out there, I was pretending to be my heroes, the Milwaukee Brewers. I remember telling people Cecil Cooper was my favorite player when they asked, but I honestly don’t remember much about him. My first real love was Paul Molitor. I once asked my grandpa if Paul Molitor was chewing tobacco. He told me, “No, he puts cheese curds in there to give him extra power!” Of course, I started wadding up cheese to put in my mouth as I played Wiffle ball in the backyard. Speaking of my grandpa, the main thing I remember from my dad’s speech at his funeral is that he thanked him for teaching him a love of baseball. My dad was from Milwaukee, and we lived in northwest Wisconsin. Every summer, when we went to my grandparents’ house to visit, we got to go to a Brewers game. We didn’t get to go to many professional sporting events, so that annual tradition was a huge memory for me. Walking around County Stadium was a dream. We’d get there super early to watch batting practice, and we’d be the last ones to leave after the game. Maybe we’d get a plastic helmet or a T-shirt from the pro shop. We’d also always find the speed gun to see how hard we could throw. I still remember the day I threw harder than my dad! It was special going there. I still feel like a kid whenever I get to go to a baseball game, and I’m glad I get to share that with my wife and kids. Speaking of my wife, I have so many great memories of Brewers games with her, too. She’s always the one who reminds me the Brewers are on when it slips my mind. Like so many of you, I grew up with the Brewers on the radio. It was my summer then, and it still is. If we were in the car and they were on, we’d be listening. Sometimes I even prefer the radio to watching the game. We were spoiled to have Uecker. We’ve been spoiled to have all his broadcast partners, and the TV announcers we’ve had. All of those people have been a big part of our summers for years. When I describe to non-baseball fans why I love baseball and the Brewers so much, it always comes down to this: it gives me something to do almost every day. Whether I’m watching, listening, reading the box score, or catching the postgame show or a podcast, there’s something to look forward to each day. My grandma was never a huge Brewers fan. She followed them, but she preferred the Packers and Badgers. Later in life, though, my dad convinced her to start watching the Brewers. She was living alone in Milwaukee after my grandpa passed, and slowly but surely, she became hooked. We talked about how fun it was to have a game to look forward to each day. She even started to dislike the off days! She loved the Brewers. She passed away a few years ago, and I always hoped she would get to experience a Brewers World Series, though her anxiety would have been through the roof! I’m jumping around here, but one of my favorite Brewers memories is from 2018. My youngest son was less than two weeks old, and we were watching Game 1 of the NLCS. My mom was sitting on the bed holding him while my wife sat next to them. I was sitting next to the bed on an exercise ball. When Brandon Woodruff hit his famous home run, we went crazy… in silence, so we wouldn’t wake the sleeping baby! What a moment. I’ll never forget it. I could keep going about all my memories, but I’ll stop here, since I’m writing with tears in my eyes (part of the reason I’ve been putting this whole exercise off). What does a Brewers World Series mean to me? It means family. It means all the memories of my family associated with Brewers games, all the conversations, and all the excitement and heartache we shared over big moments. The Brewers have become an extension of all our families. So I hope they win this thing: for us, for our family members, for our friends, for the ones we’ve lost, and for the players themselves, our extended summer family.

Amazing post Hawing. I always appreciate your posts!

It sure will be an interesting offseason. Things will be different depending on the outcome of the World Series. I always wonder how many of these guys would want to stay together or worry about going to a different club and losing the magic sauce we seem to have. Or going to another team that won't be as close as this. But of course, money talks! And when you can make big bucks on a long term deal, it's hard to say no. I hate saying this, but I think we have to stick to what has made us the organization we are. I think we need to trade William. I hate it but if we can get a big haul, including a catcher prospect, I think we have to do it. Every time we make one of these trades or let a person go, it seems like the sky is falling, but it ends up working out in the long run. How long of a deal do you think he gets in the open market? I don't know if I'd feel comfortable going over 3 maybe 4 years and I don't think that gets it done. I could be way off on that.

How do we think Greg Counsell feels?

Are we worried about experimenting in the playoffs? I think May has done well. But I guess at this point Harrison is an experiment. I think May has done a good job for the most part. I'm nervous throwing Woody out there for the first time in such a big moment. I love the guy but that feels risky. He is a bulldog, so if anyone could do it, maybe it's him. Makes me very nervous.

Holy cow what a game! I was hoping they'd stay ultra focused yesterday and keep the pressure on the Dodgers and they sure did. Don't give them any hope! I think they are a little dejected at this point. Get up on them early today and I think they will start to give in a bit. It would be hard not to. Let's go Brew Crew!

Churio all four spots! Ha! Maybe a little recency bias there. Obviously Molitor and Yount. Ability wise Braun would be next but I actually might hesitate to just put him up there. He was as stud hitter and it's unfortunate his legacy is tainted. I just don't know who you put in over him and it makes sense. Yelich Sheets Hopefully Churio at some point soon soon Prince Braun really is the guy.... people will groan either way if he's on there or he's left off.

What! A! Game! I'm still buzzing from it. That has to be immediately up there for best Brewers wins all time. I've rewatched so many highlights and at bats, I can't get enough. I've rewatched that full at bat by Churio a couple times now and I still can't believe he laid off that last slider. That was a pure superstar at bat and result. What a stud. We are lucky to get to watch him all year. Can we talk about Contreras running out and pounding the ground for Sal to get down on the slide? That was hilarious!!!! I love this team!

Wild! I can't believe they finished so strong. Nice work Ernie.

I was thinking we might let up a bit at the end of the season. After thinking about it, I actually don't think Murphy will let them do that. They win because they have an aggressive mindset and I don't think he will let them turn that off. So I'll go 15-9 as well. Go Crew!

I got one right!

Thank you for the breakdown. Love to hear the positivity out there. I too think Love should have a very good year and I honestly think there is something really good there with Golden. I'm hoping for a big step forward from him. And I agree, I think it's time to open it up a little more with Love.

I think I asked this same question last year. What are all you experts thinking of the team this year? I have had zero time to follow what's been going on in camp. Once I watch a few games I can make my own assessment but right now I'm in the dark. So let's hear how you think this team is and how the season will go.

I didn't see a new thread for this but we can delete if I missed it. We are two days late so you get a free 2 games correct. Current record 1-1. Last month they went 16-10. Congrats to Brewin, Underachiever, and Nate 82 on nailing it! Several were just one off as well. 29 games this month. I'll go 17-12. I'm pushing myself way too far to the optimistic side for my liking. Good luck!

I'm going 15-12. I think I'm a bit low but I'm going to stick with it. As always, hoping for better!

Brewers swept the Dodgers last year. They have way more resources and their team is just better. We can compete but it's a tough mountain to climb.

I'm optimistic so I'm here. Let's go get this one here today!

I can't believe I missed this and didn't realize until now. Good luck on your predictions, especially those with high win totals this month. Crew is playing well, keep it rolling.

I think this was my first time getting a monthly prediction correct!

Anything new on Jackson?

Glad there isn’t an off day today! I’m excited for this series. I love Fenway, so watching the Brewers play there is a blast. Weather doesn’t look great for baseball but that’s spring. Have a game Woody!

I’m excited for some day baseball. I’d like to see Miz pitch to contact a bit more to keep his pitch count down. I think he will learn that skill as he matures. He sure is fun to watch.

Torts! I literally thought to myself this morning, wonder when Torts will start the optimism thread, because I need it!