Playing Catch

As Home Run Derbys go, I'll be the AZ Fall League has some doozies.

I just love that each, in their own way, will need to prove the doubters wrong. One of them is going to take off, right? I feel like this reflects an aptitude for keeping pitchers healthy, no? My two favorite stats, runs and innings pitched. Innings pitched are so underrated as a statistic, as it reflects so much of a pitcher's worth to a team, whatever the other statistics.

Traditionally, team success has impacted voting, and Turang finished 2nd in bWAR... there's no way he could win it, right? I mean if you reward points based on such things, shouldn't THIS matter (Google AI - I haven't fact-checked it)? In head-to-head matchups during the 2026 MLB regular season, Brice Turang held a slight statistical edge offensively over Pete Crow-Armstrong, though both players struggled to get hits consistently against their respective division rivals. While both players had breakthrough campaigns overall—culminating in both being named finalists for the National League MVP Award and the NL Platinum Glove—their individual execution during the 2026 Brewers–Cubs series tells a tighter story. [1, 2] A side-by-side comparison of their individual stats against each other's teams during the 2026 season shows the following numbers: Statistic Brice Turang vs. Chicago Cubs Pete Crow-Armstrong vs. Milwaukee Brewers Games Played 13 13 Batting Average .240 .163 Hits 12 8 Home Runs 1 2 Runs Batted In (RBI) 4 3 Runs Scored 9 11 Key Takeaways Turang's Consistency: Turang put together a much higher batting average (.240 to .163) across their 13 games, finding ways to turn over the lineup even when the Cubs' pitching held him in check. PCA's Power Outburst: Though Crow-Armstrong struggled to get base hits, hitting below the Mendoza line against Milwaukee, he made his hits count for maximum damage by launching 2 home runs compared to Turang's 1. [1, 2]

Just one fan's opionion, but there's plenty of other threads for this convo.

Exactly. This was why I endorsed the seemingly lopsided Danny Jansen trade last season, too. He didn't contribute with his play, but with his presence. Luis Lara helped the Brewers win the World Series, despite not contributing on the field in any meaningful way, just by being available. Dustin May pitched 4 innings in the World Series for the World Champions allowing 2 ER. Extrapolating those numbers out against a regular season opponent is the equivalent of a quality start. No small contribution.

Good points. I like having some high-floor guys signed, and that's exactly what they've done with Ashby, Pratt, and Lara. It provides roster and payroll certianty, and of course, buys out FA years. But like we've seen with the Dodgers and all of their guaranteed contracts, or a team like the Phillies, who were begging teams to take Nick Castallanos off their hands; having guys locked into roster spots also takes away flexibility. My point isn't that they should/shouldn't try to extend Made, but rather that there are reasons you don't want a bunch of guys getting paid a big league salary while they are on the IL, or spend time in AAA. The risk-factor with extending Made for $150M, compared to extending Lara for $30M is pronounced, and yet currently, their floors are about the same. That is expected to change pretty quickly, of course, otherwise this wouldn't be a topic. I guess what I'm saying is that signing Ashby, Pratt and Lara to their extensions is risky because you need to roster them, but signing Chourio and/or Made means not only rostering them, but starting them every day. I don't think Made is there, yet, for the World Series Champions.

Thanks to all of them that contributed to being World Champions. Blessings.

This thread should forever be a unity thread with the Positivity thread. The two gravitational forces of Brewerfan.

https://www.mlb.com/brewers/fans/parade

As some have mentioned, I feel so much lighter this morning. Last night, just a feeling of "job's done," followed by fatigue. This morning? Lighter than a feather. Walking on air. I wasn't around in the beginning, but It's hard not to feel like this was 57 years in the making, or maybe 62 years, going back to the Braves leaving. It's hard not to feel like the whole journey was to get to this point. And they did it our way.

What an unbelievable opportunity.

I always thought Melvin was credited for being one of the leading voices in the front office for needing to overhaul the entirety of the organization. That while his GM activities certainly seemed to focus on the "now," he was fully aware of the need to invest a TON into the scouting and development if Attanasio was serious about winning consistently.

I just read another article citing his recent performances about Peralta being the best pitcher the Brewers have faced in the playoffs. Didn't we already hear that about King, Morejon, Miller, Skubal, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Snell, Martinez, and Rasmussen? There's not many "best" pitchers left. I wouldn't quibble with anyone talking about the Brewers 'pen as being the "reason" the Brewers have won their playoff games, but IMO, the reason is that the Brewers keep scoring more runs than the other team.

The series isn't over until one of these teams wins the 4th game. We don't believe the Brewers could rip off 4 straight if they started 0-3 (which they won't)? Of course they could. They're the best team in baseball over 162, and they'll be in this series all the way until it's finished.

That disappoints me. I like a little fall in my Fall Classic.

He's such a rare beast, it would be hard to piece together the "right" value for him when one considers the crater that would be left in the bullpen. And because of the inherent risk with relievers, both in terms of unreliable performance year-to-year, or due to injury, I doubt a team would give up enough to acquire him from a team seeking a title. His history with starting is hit/miss, so I doubt a team would value him as a starter, particularly when he's so effective in leverage. Conceptually, I'm on board, I just don't see it ever materializing.

When will we know if the roof will be open?

I love baseball in all of its facets, and it serves as a constant reference point for many of my most cherished relationships. This World Series --- this team --- serves as the apotheosis of that shared love for the sport, and the shared joy that accompanies winning. So much fun. So much anticipation.

I always think game 2 is "more important" to win than game 1. I think they are hoping Martinez to pitch as long as possible in a close game, where the Brewers burn up Miz, and Ashby, Uribe, Megill, and then you flip the pitching advantage in game 2, where if you win, you go back to Tampa feeling pretty dang good about yourself.

I think the series will test the emotional discipline of the defenders. I think they MUST focus on securing one out at a time. This is true for both teams. Secure the out for the lead runner. Don't take putouts at first for granted. Don't rush your throws! Hit the cutoff man. I suspect the Brewers will need to play Ortiz at 3rd simply to help defend against Chandler Simpson. Ortiz playing tight, with Pratt overlapping deep behind him. I hope the Brewers have been doing PFPs all week.

If the Brewers play as well as they have in the playoffs to this point (Reg Season best record/divisional bye/Padres/Dodgers) they will win the World Series. It's that simple. They won something like 72% of their series this season, they have a young, hungry, healthy roster and their pitching is lined up. I don't think they will sweep. I think Rassmussen will win one of his starts, and the Rays are good enough to steal one or two more games. But I just don't think they are at the level of the Padres or the Dodgers. Everyone, including Vegas is saying Brewers in 6. And if I couldn't put money on Game 6, and was forced to say Brewers in 5 or Brewers in 7, I think its more likely the Brewers win in 5.

It's going to be a wild turnaround from an electric Game 2 to a 50/50 fansplit in Tampa.

You aren't wrong. When the lines between success and failure are so thin, every advantage is key to winning. But when the lines are so thin, success feels different, too. The Packers beating the Bears in the NFC championship to go to a Super Bowl on a last second FG to win after a 30-yard PI penalty just doesn't hit the same way as beating the Dodgers in a 7-game set. If baseball becomes even more random, then it's all just about who can get more lucky coin flips than the other team. Yes. But the Brewers got here after over a decade of planning and organizational discipline and execution. The Seahawks won the Super Bowl after signing Mike McDonald and Sam Darnold.

Nothing would get into Freddy's head more than greeting him with a standing O.