pebadger

They went over a month between winning series. One against the awful Mets and one against the league-leading Dodgers. That's not really an answer, but I think it sums up the season since roughly the time Weeks went out about as well as any two sentences can. Unless something drastically changes, they aren't really 'in it', barring a miracle run in September, but I think the Rockies have used up most of the miracles in baseball for a while. Even last season's Brewers needed a fair amout of good fortune to sneak in, but that team was better that this and had the luxury of chasing a Mets club that was accomplished at letting thing slip away.

I think the answer to this question is irrelevant to some, and has different answers for many to those to whom it is relevant. In many ways, it goes right to the heart of why some of us feel the way about sports that we do, and why others feel differently. I guess the first thing that needs to be considered though is what exactly does competitive balance mean? Is competitive balance akin to deciding the World Series winner much like the NBA Draft winner is decided but with each team having the exact same number of ping pong balls in the hopper? If think those are the lines along which many people define blance, but it would also be a bit unsatisfying, because it sort of leaves the 'competitive' part by the wayside. We want some clubs to be better and some to be worse. We don't want the entire season to be a crapshoot. But we want the differences between teams (on paper at least) to be based on something that we deem 'fair' or 'rational'. From a fantasy GM perspective, we all want to have roughly the same resources. Using those resources, the best man would win (at least on paper). Then you throw in the fun part of watching it all play out on the field. In big-time European soccer, there is not a lot of competitive balance in most senses of the word that would apply in the US. That said, European soccer is probably more like baseball than any other American sport. The big clubs buy all the talent from the smaller clubs, and the big clubs are always around for the big competitions. Every once in a while a smaller club will have a great year, but for the most part it's the same teams winning national leagues and qualifying for European competitions. Just like baseball though, most of the smaller clubs do just fine at the gate and they all have their own niche in the grand scheme of things. Of course, they also have their own things to fight for, like staying in teh top league, or gaining entry to the top league, or simply avoiding being relegated to a lower league, which is a major difference from baseball. But the point is that most of these clubs have 'no chance' going into the season and people still line up to watch and enjoy, just like baseball. I think the NFL system works for the NFL. It works because of the way the league works in terms of its schedule, structure and the restricted nature of the game in terms of being played only here in the US. Most importnatly, the fans seem happy with it, even if much of that happiness is based on swallowing spin provided by the league itself. Baseball is just too different from any other major American sport to really apply the same criteria that we apply to other leagues. The economics are very different. The schedule is differnt. While international, it's still not as international as basketball or arguably even hockey. Though not as team oriented as football, it's not as superstar oriented as hoops, but is still exceptionally dependant on one particular talent: pitching. I'm not as happy as I could be with the state of baseball in this regard, but I think it's a bit better than it would be if nothing had been done in terms of the limited revenue sharing that is in place now. I guess the one big thing fans have to remember too is that we often thing of these issues from the fantasy GM or owner perspective, too. The whole thing is much, much different from a player perspective. And while it's hard for us to relate to that perspective, it's crucial to the whole picture.

How did he hit that with the sun shining through the windows?

I'm having a rotten week, but I don't think I'm being overly critical in saying that simply watching this game is enough to convince any rational person that neither of these teams really belongs in the playoffs. But then this is the National League and somebody from the Central will get in.

Excellent. Very nice series win. Put on a big push this month and let's see what happens in September.

I used to love Jim Powell's comments after somebody would struggle with the anthem, especially if it was somebody who thought they were really good and tried to personalize the song a bit. "I hope she's feeling better soon" would be my favorite.

I'm worried that this will be a blood-pressure game for me and then I won't be able to go to sleep tonight. The first isn't helping so far. And while I'm certainly very biased, I don't know how any reasonable person can paint the Dodgers as victims in the dustup from last night and the aftermath. 'Nuf said on that.

It's good to see our Brewers again. Wasn't sure who that was out there last night.

Well, except that McGehee would be useless in about 8 days if he played that much since his knee would swell up to the size of a watermelon.

Yeah, that Mets collapse to the Cards is just brutal.

Maybe the Dodgers just finally woke up after playing Sunday night in Atlanta and then flying cross-sountry to face a team that had been in California all weekend.

Had some friends over this evening. Cooler out on the deck filled with various beerages. Just went out there after the final out to straighten up a bit. Caught the smell of skunk in the distance. Coincidence? I think not.

I agree that there are problems with the construction of the team, but my eyes see guys who are simply not performing as they have in the past. I also am starting to seriously wonder if there are some clubhouse issues with the team that are well-hidden. Also have to wonder if the mini-tiff between DM and Braun did something to Braunie's occaisional vocal leadership. He hasn't said peep since then, despite the situation seemingly crying out for it.

At least with all the recent frustration we haven't resorted to calling guys names or dredging up long-held greivances.

OK, assuming for the sake of the question that this game ends as a loss, how many times in Brewer history have they posted a 7-run inning (or bigger) and lost?

This is like watching the Brewers vs the Brewers.

I don't see a problem. The team needed bodies, they were familiar with this guy and knew they could get him directly instead of having to buy somebody off the street as a FA. Also does Rottino a favor. Myabe not a win/win but not a loss, either.

Only surprise is that Morgan didn't catch it and then double Counsell off.

Have to wonder which of these guys won't be getting on the plane to San Diego tomorrow. Even with how things have gone lately, I can honestly say there are very few who I wouldn't miss as part of this team. Probably an overreaction, but all of this seems like the end of an era right now, just waiting for the first of the young core of the team to be traded away. So much promise, a minor brush with glory, and now a seeming crusher of an ending. Maybe Doug will just hold tough until the off season and let this team play it out. Not really an IGT-type post, but frankly it's one of the few thoughts this past week of games has consistently brought to mind while watching. Not strategy. Not excitement. Just resignation.

Is it just me or are there a lot more empty seats than usual tonight? Tough to think that people would just not show, but you have to think that whatever walk-up sales are left will be tougher to close.

Well, at least the headline writers will have an easy time after this one if the Nats starter posts yet another Washington victory.

I don't know why this bothers me so much, but I'm pretty bummed out about this team. It's probably just all balled together with what has seemed like a crappy summer all around, starting with the weather and not getting any better from there.

Just out of morbid curiosity, I did the addition and came up with 36 runs surrendured only on home runs since the start of the Pittsburgh series through the 8th tonight. Knocks on wood for the final out of the 9th here. And yes, this outscores the total runs scored by the Crew in that time.

A real cynic might add "Only in the win column."

The only real surprise is that Hart didn't break his wrist trying to make that catch.