The Brewers Take Game Two

Game two of the World Series and the Brewers were down 4-0 at the midpoint of the first inning.  And was I worried?

No.  I had confidence they'd scratch their way back to even, even if I wouldn't guarantee a victory. This year's team runs on grit and persistence, and boy did they exhibit it tonight. 

A 5-4 final, and up 2 games to none in the best of seven Series.  With caution and a knock on wood: 

Hot dog!!

I did not watch the game, but I followed it closely on the web as I went about my business.  After watching 52 seasons of disappointment, failure, and what- could- have -beens, I find superstition dominating my baseball choices this October. The less I'm involved in every pitch, the fewer chances I'll ruin it all. 

Or so I hope. 

But it was hard to avoid.  When I took Sawyer for a walk with Junie, the broadcast (and cheers) could be heard from several houses on the route.  And AJ's Halloween house was actually projecting the game onto the side of a house so visitors could watch. 

I finally gave up the fight and tuned into the radio broadcast in the 8th. 

Now it's on to Tampa on Monday (actually St. Petersburg) for game three.

2 more wins guys.  Just two more wins in five games. 

Fingers crossed. 

Who was it?

When I was driving Junie to work at about quarter to five, I had to pull over on 794 for three coach busses, escorted by a bunch of deputies on motorcycles and followed by a sheriff's SUV.

Obviously it has something to do with the World Series, but to my knowledge visiting teams stay downtown at the Pfister, so it couldn't be the Rays. The television broadcast team? A wild amount of overkill if that was the case. 

Then just as we were almost to her workplace we saw this. Not sure if it's one of the same busses, but if it was, maybe they were empty and heading to pick up the Ray's?

Still, two hours before the game? You'd think the team would be there already. 

I'll likely never know.

The Brewers Take Game One

I listened to the game and I'm happy we won.  But I remember winning game 1 in '82 too, and that one was doubly impressive for being on the road.  So my nerves?  Still at 150%

A Pathetic LCS So Far

Davey Johnson

Davey Johnson, the umiquitous MLB manager who led the Mets to a World title in 1986, has passed away.  He was 82.

To me, Johnson seemed to always either be managing in the bigs (he managed the Mets, Reds, Orioles, Dodgers, and Nationals) or in talks to do so.  Frankly, it's kinda odd to realize MLB has, to date, survived 12 years without his employment. 

RIP sir. 

Bob Uecker

 

Milwaukee native Bob Uecker, the voice of the Brewers, died today only a short while before his 91st birthday. 

Uecker was ubiquitous here in Milwaukee throughout my life. A former weak-hitting MLB catcher, he began calling games for the Brewers 3 years before I was born, and continued through 2024. He starred in a successful sitcom, Mr. Belevedere, in the '80's, was a standout in Miller Lite commercials, and brought his humor to the silver screen in the Major League movies.

He was genuinely, instinctively funny, and his love for Milwaukee, and the Brewers, knew no limits.. I'm sorry we didn't give him the chance to call a championship for the Crew.  

RIP

My Cooperstown Ballot (if I had one)

Just to get this on the record in advance (typing this on Christmas Eve Eve): as the steroid players still face an unofficial ban,  the only one I'd vote for on this ballot is Ichiro.

CC Sabathia deserves a nod, but his numbers are a little below the historical bar. Times have changed,  I agree,  and he IS HOF worthy,  but I think he's a second ballot vote,  not a first.

The rest can apply for the Hall of the Very Good. 

Rickey Henderson

Rickey Henderson,  the all-time stolen base king and 2009 Cooperstown inductee,  has died of pneumonia.  He was 65.

It may be a controversial choice to some,  but if I was to manage a team of MLB's all-time greatest players,  I'd have Henderson at the top of the lineup. 

In my mind,  there was been no greater leadoff hitter in the long history of the sport. 1406 stolen bases. 3,055 hits and 2190 walks.  297 home runs and 510 doubles. 1,115 RBI's to go along with a record 2,295 runs. An OBP of .401 and more than 111 career WAR.

My word. 

I still remember the day in 1982 when he broke the record for most stolen bases in a season,  right here in Milwaukee.  I seem to remember my Dad thought Rickey came off as a pompous here that day,  and maybe he was; sometimes humility takes awhile to catch up with immense talent. 

RIP Rickey. You were spectacular. 

Manager of the Year

On Tuesday Pat Murphy beame he first Brewers manager to be named Manager of the Year. 

The choice spawned a lot of online whining from Mets fans, who believed that Carlos Mendoza - who finished third in the voting - should have gotten the honor, in large part becaue the Mets eked by the Brewers in the post-season. 

A - It's a regular season award

B - Murphy took over a team that was picked to finish 4th in the NL Central, and instead won the division by the largest margin in baseball. 

C - Menoza had about $200 million more in payroll on the field for him

In other words, those Mets fans are full of it.

Congratsulations Pat! 

An Honor(s) for the Crew

Best defense in the National League. A well deserved honor for an outstanding year in the field. 

And . . .

Officially the best defensive player in the National League. 

Congratulations Brice!

The Dodgers Win The World Series

The Yankees lost the World Series in five games,  and I can't even be mad about it. The Dodgers just played like the better team. They dominated most of the way, and even when they didn't, they capitalized on Yankee mistakes and came roaring back.

So,  for 2024 only,  congratulations to the Dodgers!