So the Brewers lost

Ryan Braun is staying classy, as are all of the Brewers. Most athletes like that nowadays seem to be an exception, which I think is so sad.

We had a great year - heck, we made the playoffs! In the end, the Phillies were just a better team. If they hadn't won the first two games, I'm sure we'd still be in it right now. Congrats to them and I hope they do some good out there.

Over at Brew Crew Ball, we're already starting to get excited about next year - I guess that's the great thing about sports, there's always another season. More talk about Sabathia is starting to happen - Will we keep him? Should we ditch injury-ridden Sheets and pick up Sabathia, or should we rest our laurels on Sheets and Gallardo again? Personally - and I love Ben, don't get me wrong - I think it's time to pick up CC if he's willing to stick around. Look at how much he's done for our team! I honestly don't think we'd have made it as far as we did without him. He is so classy and such a great example for the rest of our young team. Unfortunately, I don't have the money to donate so we can keep Ben & CC. We'll see what Mark Attanasio decides to do.

I'll definitely be following Brewers news in the off-season and I hope you will too.

On a fun non-baseball note: I have the first cold of the season... and I hate it. Being allergic to pretty much all cold medicine (aside from cough drops) is just making my life a living hell :(

Well, shucks...

Oh Brewers... Poor CC. I wish that they would've taken him out earlier. I love the guy, but clearly he wasn't playing well - leaving him in didn't help us at all or his self-esteem any. I felt like Sveum forgot Yost was gone... Hopefully it's not the last we see of him and we can end on a good note.

So Saturday we should win - I won't say we will again in case it's me that's cursing them. Ueck is throwing out the first pitch, which might help give the guys some motivation?

True to the "you are what you eat" theory, Fielder says he's garbage (of course I'm kidding, I love the fluffy guy). I honestly hope that he doesn't believe that because it's not going to help him - or the team - mentally at all.

For more on the subject, you can visit KLSnow's Frosty Mug at Brew Crew Ball. I stole his links, but it's okay since I cited it. :) Oh the joys of college history papers...

Ohhhh and you know how Ryan Braun was blogging about the post-season run? I missed the one after the first game, but here's the latest installment (don't mind my advertisements). He says that there hasn't been a drop in confidence, but, as much as I love him (yes, I love everybody), I highly doubt that's the case. I even have a drop in confidence and I don't play for them! Although, if Bush can't pitch well Saturday night, I might just sneak out of work and into the bullpen... I can make it to home plate at least.

Judgement Day!

It's here! Just an hour and a half more until the showdown between the Brewers and the Phillies beings.

Since y'all know by now how much I love Ryan Braun, I was ecstatic to hear that he had blogged about the situation the ball club is now in. (Thanks Theron for entertaining my obsession!)

I am so freaking excited not only for the game but also to be off work for the games today and tomorrow. Part of me is sad that it isn't in Milwaukee so I can't drive down and try to listen by the stadium, because I'm weird like that.

Let's go Brewers!

Goosebumps?

For some reason, all this post-season stuff I'm reading keeps giving me goosebumps. Could it be because Theron, his dad, and my stepdad are obsessed with the Brewers? That I've had to hear countless stories and opinions about how the Brewers have blown past chances? Or that I'm interested in a potential MVP and a potential Cy Young award recipient?

Whatever the case may be, Milwaukee is ablaze with Brewer fever. A rally was held yesterday at Summerfest grounds and over 14,000 people attended. I am so glad that I couldn't go - yikes! I think this is the best part of the article:

As Braun took the microphone, fans chanted, “MVP, MVP.”

They got even louder when Sabathia said he would start Game 2 on Thursday.

Brewers closer Salomon Torres continued working the crowd into a frenzy when he took his turn at the microphone.

“What’s up, Milwaukee?” he yelled. “I said, what’s up Milwaukee? Twenty-six years you’ve been waiting. Twenty-six years! You can wait no more!”

After thanking Brewers fans for their support, Torres acknowledged that the road to the playoffs wasn’t a smooth one.

“I know it’s been a very, very hard season for all of us,” he said. “At times, a lot of people thought, ‘We’re not going to make it.’ ”

Torres paused. The crowd rumbled.

“But we’re here!” he yelled. The crowd erupted.

AND in case you've been hiding underneath a rock, Gallardo is starting game one of the series against the Phillies. With him pitching, here's the confirmed lineup:

1. Mike Cameron CF
2. Bill Hall 3B
3. Ryan Braun LF
4. Prince Fielder 1B
5. J.J. Hardy SS
6. Corey Hart RF
7. Rickie Weeks 2B
8. Jason Kendall C
9. Yovani Gallardo RHP

It's pretty much business as usual, just with more at stake.

Imagine how crazy this could all get if we beat the Phillies... or if we don't. Either way, it'll be a circus, but the fans here crave vindication - we need this. All we've heard about the past few years is how good the team is gonna be and how far they'll get. I can honestly say though that, although I hoped that we'd get to this point, I wasn't sure we could do it until we got Sabathia. And even then, I knew it'd be close. But for me, faith in the team was renewed when Ryan Braun stepped up to the plate Thursday night with the bases loaded. Right then I knew he'd hit a grand slam and win us the game. With the loss on Saturday, my hopes dipped a bit, but I knew we could blow the opposition away on Sunday with CC on the mound.

And now, with Yoga taking the mound in game one, I'm confident that we can win it. The confidence grows with CC pitching game two.

The future brings with not only hope, but the true test of the Milwaukee Brewers - can they follow through with their plans? Do they have the determination? I'd like to think so.

Sleep well Milwaukee - dream about the glory that tomorrow brings.

BREWERS IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!?!?!?!!

That's right baby!

Ryan Braun hit a 2-run HR in the bottom of the eighth to put the Brewers ahead of the Cubs 3-1.

The Brewers play on Wednesday against the Phillies and will probably start Yovani Gallardo.

More to come later.

For now, PARTY!

My Whole Week Has Been Full O' Suckitude

Like, seriously.

I had a dentist appointment at the Marquette Dental School and it sucked. The lady basically called me a big fat cow. :( I'm in the middle of writing a complaint letter. She didn't take me seriously at all and it was upsetting and demeaning. I didn't expect the red carpet to be rolled out, but at least some sort of respect.

I was supposed to go to the fair on Friday with Theron and his mama. Not only did we not go, but the water heater in his house sprung a leak and his mama is sick!

Oh, and then today was the Brewers block party. We got there at about 1030 and spent roughly two hours in Braun's line (no, we didn't try for anyone else's autograph) and didn't get to see him at all! We were only maybe 10 minutes away. If they'd just stayed an extra fifteen minutes, everything would've been fine. But no, not only did they not show up until 1130 (which I guess is normal), but they barely stayed long enough to get anything done.

Theron snuck around and got me some pictures while I was waiting in line. Enjoy.

An awesome picture of me and my sunglasses. Theron's hot torso is reflected.

Bernie Brewer and fans.

Riske, Torres, and Counsell on stage during the Q&A session.

Braun signing OTHER PEOPLE'S STUFF!!!1!

The Brewers Tie First Place

But, sadly, I was at work and didn't get to watch the game. From what I've read, it was amazing though.

Ryan Braun homered and drove in four runs, Bill Hall hit a tie-breaking RBI single in the eighth inning and the Brewers grabbed a share of the NL Central lead with a 6-4 victory over the Astros on Saturday night.

Milwaukee has won nine of 10 to move into a tie with the Cubs, who lost to the Marlins.

"It really is pretty incredible to make up five games this quickly," Braun said, alluding to the five-game lead the Cubs had over the Brewers at the All-Star break, just nine games ago.

Eric Gagne (4-2) pitched a perfect eighth to get the win, and Salomon Torres got three outs for his 20th save in 24 chances.

The Brewers tied it with two runs in the seventh and went in front in the eighth. Corey Hart hit Doug Brocail's first pitch of the eighth for a double, and Hall followed with a bloop single . Hall went to second on a balk by Brocail (4-5) and later scored on a ground-out by Jason Kendall to make it 6-4.

Braun tied it 4-4 with a line-drive two-run homer in the seventh.

Braun has had some awesome games since the All Star Break, most notably last night's and Thursday's. With these two games, he ends his no-homer streak. Maybe it has something to do with the Brewers signing younger brother Steve?

On Thursday night, he bumped his BA up to .300. It dipped below briefly with the loss against the Astros Friday night, but with the great plays he made last night, it's right back up there. He has driven in just 78 runs this year in comparison to his 97 last year, granted that was for the whole time he played (just 12 more games, but 37 more AB). He has had 27 HR and 58 runs this year, compared to his 34 HR and 98 runs last year. The only stat that is higher so far this year than last is his IBB - four this year compared to one last year. Apparently more pitchers are afraid of Brauny - or they wanted to get Prince up to make an easier out/DP/etc.

Today, another game against Houston before facing the Cubs at Miller Park for a four day battle for first place.

Ryan Braun - The Saga Continues

So I was pretty disappointed in Brauny during the Home Run Derby, where he definitely paled in comparison to Josh Hamilton. Even Braun's performance during the All-Star Game that he worked so hard to get into was lackluster. Granted, I was paying a little more attention to Theron, since it was his birthday, but still. I've been mad at him for a while now.

He missed a fan chat that he was scheduled for on the Brewers website. In looking just now - mostly out of boredom - to see if he had ever rescheduled it, I come to find that he did and it had already taken place quite a while ago. I would've thought that the Brewers would've emailed everyone on their mailing list about that, since they were so keen on doing so the first time around, but either I missed it or they didn't really care too much about many people showing up.

Anyways, I thought that I'd post the link up here in case anyone else wants to know what music he listens to, what other sports he likes/has played, or other bubble gum questions. Although, I must say, as a former West Coastian/North Westerner myself, I really miss In-N-Out burgers... Mmmm...