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The Brewers are going to win and Corey Hart is going to get a hit in an important situation.

According to the Badger Herald. I wonder what they did to get suspended, it must have been something really bad because this is quite a shock. The University of Wisconsin Marching Band has been suspended from performing until further notice - including Saturday's football against Ohio State - due to hazing allegations, UW officials said Friday. Band Director Mike Leckrone said the allegations come from last week's trip to the University of Michigan. The hazing is alcohol-related and involves "inappropriate sexual behavior," he said. Vince Sweeney, senior associate athletic director, said plans for the half-time show have not yet been finalized and will be set Saturday morning. Dean of Students Lori Berquam said UW is investigating the issue, which seems to involve violation of UW System codes 17 and 18 that involve student and staff behavior at the university. According to Leckrone, this is the first time in 40 years that the band will not perform in a home game.

If I hear ANY boos for Hart, Weeks, or Hall on Saturday, I will be extremely disappointed in Brewers fans.

You can't really teach plate discipline. I don't know of very many major leaguers who made significant improvements in that department. I'm sure all of the Brewers hitters are aware that you should swing at strikes and not swing at balls. There are some things you can do, like work on hitting to the opposite field, but the best way to improve plate discipline is to get different players.

This is our season right here. If we lose, we need a repeat of the 1982 ALCS to move on. If we win, we suddenly have a chance to finish the deal at home. I predict Brewers 4, Phillies 3.

I didn't shave today and I don't plan on it as long as they are still in. I've never gone more than about 3 days without shaving, so we'll have to wait and see if it's even possible for me to grow a playoff beard...

CAMERON?!?!?!?!?!?!

Philly's just missing a heavy downpour.

That ball was hit fairly hard, I think Corey was running.

I'm starting to get nervous... I could barely watch Sunday's game because I couldn't sit still. Before Braun's slam last Thursday, I was pacing around the room from the 8th inning on.

Sounds like fun. I might drop by--although I do work at 4:30 :-(

I don't see what the big deal is, either. Just a few years ago they had a whole Cubs gear section at the Fan Zone. If that happened today, there would be outrage. Amazing how things change.

1. Citizen's Bank Park is small and gives us a chance if the only thing we can do is hit home runs. 2. All the pressure of the playoff near-choke has been lifted from the players now. If they can relax, score some early runs, and get the Philly crowd out of the game, they have a good chance to steal a game this week.

I really want Wild Card gear, but for now, I'm staying off the bandwagon and holding out for NL Champions gear...you just never know!

From what I understood, the Opening Day warnings were an empty threat and they never actually turned anyone away.

I would hate for them to waste McClung by making him closer. I'd like to see him come in right after Gallardo and pitch a few innings, or save him for a big situation in the 7th or 8th inning where we need someone to come in and get a few crucial outs.

I'm expecting parking to be an Opening Day type mess, as I imagine people will come and tailgate for the experience and not go into the game.

I feel bad for Ned as well. I completely agree that he wasn't the man to take us over the top, but he worked hard in the offseason to analyze his flaws and improve his managerial skills. His decision to leave starting pitchers in games longer this year helped to keep our bullpen rested and ensure that our pitchers had enough in them to finish out the year--and they barely did. His decisions over the years to stick with struggling players were sometimes a problem--but it also allowed JJ Hardy to develop into a solid baseball player. It just came down to the fact that he couldn't break loyalties with his young players. I have no doubt that Ned will learn from his mistakes and be back in the majors as a big league manager. Hopefully he will get a standing ovation when he returns.

Looking at that Wikipedia page of playoff droughts finally made it sink in... The drought is over. There was no September collapse in 2008. One of the greatest weeks in franchise history just happened and we were all a part of it. We're playing for a chance for the World Series. I'm going to enjoy every moment of the next few days, but come Wednesday, it's back to being nervous and cheering louder than ever!!!

Top row of the Terrace Reserved--but at least I'll be in the stadium!!!

I've been a fan since 1996 when I was 10. The 1982 talk doesn't mean much to me, my childhood memories aren't of Yount, Gorman, and Molitor, but instead of Jaha, Burnitz, and Vina. My hopes and dreams built up as Miller Park took shape in the backdrop of County Stadium. I remember the last game there and how exciting it was to move into the new place. The teams were horrible for awhile, but it's because Doug Melvin and Ned Yost never gave up on our young players that we made it here. It's been such a pleasure to watch this team as they were built--from Bill Hall's walk offs, Ben Sheets 18-K game, Rickie and Prince's first ML HR, Hart's standing ovation for a strikeout, Hardy's development from a .180 to a .280 hitter, and of course the big trades that we made this year to put the final pieces together. Even better is the fact that everyone contributed to the magical run this week. I wish I could have been there today, but I got to feel the atmosphere Friday night and I'm going to Game 3 on Saturday. I had to work today, but someone brought in a TV and we took a break to watch Braun's HR and the end of the Mets game. I had tears in my eyes after Braun's bomb--but after the Brewers won I was nervous again as the Mets game continued. No matter what happens, we're all going to be telling our children about what they did this week. However, this is just the first step. We ended the playoff drought, but the season could still be over in 3 games. We've got the Phillies next, and it's not going to be easy, but now the goal is to get to the World Series. I don't think it's likely, but if they can ride this momentum wave and knock off the Phillies (with 2 CC starts), and get some help from the Dodgers, it could happen. A Brewers/Cubs NLCS would be insane. I just can't wait for all these potentially good moments that will be headed our way soon!!!

I have lots of emotions about it, but one overrides the rest: Terrified.

Yep, we had a group of Cubs fans show up next to us very, very drunk in the 2nd inning. They were loud at first, but after the Brewers got going, they just sat and observed the craziness like the other Cubs fans there. It looked like there was some sort of major altercation in Terrace Box Section 420 or 421--somebody got tackled by a few police officers and taken away. I didn't see what happened or if it was a Brewers or a Cubs fan. I just hope everyone made it home safely. The idea tomorrow could be the day hasn't sunk in yet. I don't think it will until after it happens.

Just back from the game... Definitely the MOST FUN I've ever had at a Brewers game, and I've been to hundreds. Coming into the game, a Brewers fan had a pair of goats on a leash outside the stadium. It was quite funny and people were going and petting them for good luck. For the first few innings, the atmosphere was really tense--I've never felt it like that before. After we took the 2-1 lead, things started to get loud, and the place just exploded after Rickie's bomb. I had it in the back of my mind that he might go deep, but I dismissed it and was hoping that he would draw a walk. McClung may as well have been CC Sabathia--he's not much smaller than him anyway. After the game, "Lets Go Brewers" chants echoed off the rafters in the concourses and stairwells like never before. It was great to see the looks on the Cubs' fans faces--they weren't upset, but just kind of in awe at the craziness--I don't think they had ever seen anything like it either. I really hope they wrap it up tomorrow, but with Santana going for the Mets, they're going to need some help. I can't even imagine what a playoff game would be like--and it could be a week from tomorrow at Miller Park.

Classic. I'm sure the Mets will put up a fight, but it is great to see someone like Hoffpauir hit Pedro Martinez.