AJAY

I also want to add my thanks to every player, front office staff member, Miller Park worker, media staff member, and Brewer fan for making this an awesome experience. Special thanks to the wonderful people who run Brewerfan.net. You guys do a great job. 2008 has been memorable and everyone deserves credit. Thank you everyone. - Ajay

I was also disappointed that the players didn't come out. But I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they must have been busy with media interviews, etc. I am sure there were so many reporters who were hounding them. They have done so much this year with the fans, and I am positive they weren't being cold to us or anything like that.

Best game day atmosphere I have ever experienced. Everything from the crowd participation to the crazy constumes and accessories that many fans wore. The fans truly took things to a different level I have never experienced before. Let's keep this party going.

I'll be in section 413 row 12

Did C.C. blow his arm out before the most important game of the season? No, it was Ned Yost who blew out Sabathia's arm by not resting him more in blowout victories. Ned never thought ahead to October. He only cared about complete games and not the postseason.

Yes, offense definitely needs an overhaul. But I think the problem goes deeper into the front office. I am convinved that our GM doesn't appreciate well-rounded baseball players who play the game properly. He seems to collect players who all fit the same profile but fit poorly together as a group. We always end up drafting the same kind of one-dimensional slugger who can't play defense or do the other little things like hitting for average, bunting, hitting-and-running, drawing walks, etc. I would love to switch to more of a Minnesota Twins philosophy where you have to play all aspects of the game properly to be drafted and promoted through the system. I really miss fundamentals, balance, and execution. I also think we would get more bang for our buck. In terms of next season, I don't want to see Cameron or Weeks back. They both are just way too flawed and inconsistent, and frankly I am tired of it. Weeks has all the speed in the world and yet he rarely bunts or steals bases. He doesn't seem to make adjustments in his swing either. I want Mike Rivera to get much more playing time to give Kendall a rest and to boost our offense. I think Kendall would benefit too. I don't want to see a Hall/Counsell platoon at third either. I don't need high-priced superstars as replacements. Just some basic all-around players that most teams seem to have. I can't think of any current players, but can we find a Scott Brosius, Kevin Seitzer, Fernando Vina, Mark Loretta, Mike Fontenot, etc.? I want to add THREE of these kind of players to our lineup. I don't care for their lack of power because I am starting to believe in diminishing returns for each additional homerun hitter you add to the lineup. Braun, Fielder, Hardy, and Hart should be good enough for power . . . and so now we need better all-around complementary pieces.

Cameron, Hall, Weeks, Kendall, and the pitcher's spot is really going to kill us in the postseason. Especially when we have to face elite pitching. I know it sounds dumb to complain when you make the playoffs, but I just really hate the composition of our offense. I would do anything to add someone like Mike Fontenot to our lineup. We just don't have that line drive contact hitter other than Durham. I just hope Doug Melvin does some serious overhauling this offseason.

No disrespect to Brian Anderson, but I really would have preferred a different voice calling the game. I wanted it to feel like a big-time national TV broadcast. But instead, we got the usual voice that is nothing different for us. I know TBS had great graphics, but the effect wasn't quite the same with Anderson. On a related note, I would also prefer to listen to the game on ESPN Radio instead of listening to Uecker and Powell. I want it to feel like the playoffs the way I know it.

I was honored to have been at Miller Park for this game. As a diehard fan for the past 26 years, this was the greatest experience I have ever had at a ballgame. Someday my grandchildren will hear stories about the legendary Ryan Braun and C.C. Sabathia. The whole week has been such an amazing roller coaster of emotions with all the walkoff homeruns and scoreboard watching. I am so happy for the younger generation who never got to experience 1982. I am so happy for Bob Uecker and Jim Powell because of all the bad baseball they had to broadcast over the years. I am so happy for Tim Allen of AM 1250 WSSP because he is the most passionate fan I know. I am also happy for Craig Counsell because he gets to go the post-season with his hometown team that he grew up around as a kid. I am also happy for the Selig family because they went through so much heartache to get the stadium built. And of course, I am thrilled for all the players and front office too. This is just awesome. Congratulations to all of you fans. You really deserve this.

I am trying hard to remind myself that there is no relationship between what happens on Sunday and what happened over the last 26 years. However, despite my logic, it's still hard not to be accustomed to disappointment. I will admit that I am terrified more than excited. I do want to see Corey Hart sit and maybe Gwynn or someone else get a start in rightfield. We just need a little spark and I think Gwynn has a better approach at this time. I am a big Corey Hart fan, but he just looks so lost right now and this is no time to hope he can figure it out. As mentioned in the other thread, Solomon Torres needs some time off too (if it comes down to a save situation, go with Mota, McClung, or even Gagne). I want to see Ryan Braun get vocal in the locker room and spread his confidence and swagger to everyone else. Finally, I want to see guys bunt whenever the thirdbaseman is playing so deep. Yeah, I am nervous.

I am just curious what people are thinking heading into the possible finale on Sunday. Are you optimistic? Are you pessemistic? Is there anything you want to see Sveum do different for the final game? What is the mood out there amongst the fans? Are you nervous? Excited? Scared?

I was at the game too. Your description was perfect. It was absolutely electric. It's worth mentioning how nuts the place went when the final score of the Mets game was displayed on the scoreboard. I also saw quite a few fights between Brewers fans and Cubs fans. . . . with alcohol obviously being a factor. Not only were the Cubs fans silenced, but they were clearly outnumbered and had nothing at stake. It didn't feel like Wrigley North tonight.

I have NO idea how I am going to be able to sleep tonight. That was just one of the coolest moments in franchise history. WOW !!!! http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/AJAY_02/brewers1.gif

Does anyone have stats about Gagne's ERA since the All-Star break?

THANK YOU PRINCE !!!! http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/AJAY_02/BrewersFlag3.gif

D-LEE adds another !!

HOLY SWEET MOTHER OF JESUS !!!!!!!

The Reds pitcher is clearly working the outside part of the plate. The Brewers MUST focus on slapping the ball the other way.

Positive vibes? I'll try my best . . . * At least those first inning homeruns given up by Suppan did not land in Kentucky. * There are still 8 left innings to mount a comeback. * The Reds finally made an out. At least Suppan didn't give up another homerun this inning. * At least we won't have our hearts ripped out again in the 9th inning like yesterday. This one is decided already.

I am not done with this team, but I am not optimistic or enthusiastic right now either. Obviously I hope they make the postseason, but I am not expecting it right now.

I personally think that Melvin's possible downfall could be that there is way too much wasted money on this payroll. The Brewers aren't getting much bang for their buck from Suppan, Counsell, Gagne, Capuano, Turnbow, Riske, Hall, Weeks, etc. I know a lot of this is hindsight, but it still makes a GM look bad in the end. I think we all expected more from Hall and Riske, so I can't blame Melvin for those contracts. But the rest of the failures were definitely predictable. I have NO idea why we signed Counsell for two years when he seemed terrible the last time he was a Brewer. There are plenty of guys on the scrap heap who you can pick up and can put up similar or better numbers for a bargain basement price. I just think Melvin needs to stop jumping into multi-year deals when there is no reason or track record to justify it. Anyway, despite my criticisms, I think Melvin will get one more year. I just hope he starts to appreciate the value of having more professional hitters who can execute and play the game right.

Any chance we can get Terry Ryan out of retirement? I am just so tired of the lack of fundamentals that we keep seeing from the Brewers. Although Doug Melvin is good at acquiring individual pieces, he seems to really stink at understanding how poorly the individual players fit together as a team. For several years, I have been saying that the Brewers need more players who fit the Kevin Seitzer and Fernando Vina type of approach. Doug Melvin has failed to get what this team needs. The lack of execution, clutch hitting, plate discipline, and on-base percentage is very disturbing.

Dale Sveum just confirmed it.

I am thrilled that Ned Yost is gone. His incompetence and stupidity cost us the post-season last year, and I will NEVER forgive him for that. I wanted him thrown out the door last season and I was shocked he still had a job heading into this season. I am thrilled that I will no longer have to here Ned's stupid press conferences in which he continues to insult our intelligence. I also hated watching C.C. Sabathia have ridiculous pitch counts for absolutely no reason . . . and why did Brian Shouse face three straight righties yesterday? Good riddance.

Cards and Phillies Lose !!!!