First To Twenty!

by Jeff Sackmann on May 5, 2007 9:36 PM CDT in Milwaukee Brewers News

Incredible.

I don't know what's more amazing: that the Brewers are the first 20-game winner in the majors this year, or they honest-to-goodness look like that good of a team. We may have our quibbles with this (3B) and that (bullpen management), but however you slice it, this is a damn good team.

At this moment, the Twins are leading the Red Sox after eight, so not only are the Brewers the first team in the majors to 20 wins, but we might finish the day with the best record in baseball. Once again, it was a fairly decisive win: some bad luck made it close in the 6th, but JJ Hardy's 3-run shot in the 7th pretty much put it out of reach.

Once again: incredible.

I'm trying not to read too much into this current hot streak: whether they are 2nd or 6th in the Central, the Pirates aren't a very good team. Neither are the Astros. Beating them is great, and it certainly counts toward the record at the end of the year, but it's not a harbinger of easy wins to come against the likes of the Mets and Braves. That's a different story, of course. But with games like tonight's and last night's, it isn't like we're squeaking them out against baseball's worst. We are dominating a lesser team the way a playoff contender should.

A few tidbits about tonight's game: Suppan, once again, wasn't really sharp, but he got the job done. He's gotten a decision in every start, though this was his shortest of the year. It didn't qualify as a quality start, but it was yet another that keeps his ERA in the 3.00 range. My hat's off to Ned for letting Spurling try to finish the job: for all the times we've complained about putting Turnbow in a blowout, it's nice to see Ned is willing to give another guy a shot with a four-run lead. Always good to see Cordero come in to save the day, but occasionally garbage-inning man (whether Spurling or Dessens or somebody new) will let Coco have the day off.

Too much fun, folks. I'm not sure I've ever really rooted for a bona fide winning team; aside from being a Roger Federer fan, it's been underdogs my entire life. I keep expecting something to return the Brewers to the second division, but just about every game so far has put that thought a little further from my head. Awesome.

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couldn't agree more

very very cool. this season is fun :)

Brewers in 07!

by Michael M on May 5, 2007 9:20 PM CDT reply actions

Brewers are HUGE Favs

Brewers are HUGE Favs tomorrow - one of the biggest favs in the majors this year - looks like in the -225 area!

Means bet $225 to win $100!

by Grinder12000 on May 5, 2007 9:27 PM CDT reply actions

Sheets vs. Armas

I should sure hope so.

by Jeff Sackmann on May 5, 2007 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Magic Number is now 129

That's not the Chirizo, It's Enrico Polazzo!

by hyattff2003 on May 5, 2007 9:27 PM CDT reply actions

incidentally

Red sox lost...now 19-10. Brewers have best record in baseball by a half game.

by Jeff Sackmann on May 5, 2007 9:35 PM CDT reply actions

wow

this is so awesome.

by Griswald on May 5, 2007 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by engbjm06 on May 5, 2007 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Right on!

I've been watching the crew since I was a teenager back in 1981 and this is by far the best team we've ever fielded.

Suffering throught he Bando / Wendy Selig Prieb years almost killed my love of baseball, something I though could never happen.

I'm glad I weathered the storm though, because this is fun! And this team is built for a great five or six year run!

It's exciting to see the fans responding with considerably increased attendance. I don't think anyone in baseball realizes just how starved for a winner we are, and how we'll respond when we have one.

There's a lot of pride to be taken in doing it the way we have too! With good old fashioned baseball minded managers and general managers building a team instead of just writing a huge check ala Chicago Cubs or Yankees / Red Sox.

GO CREW GO!

by JeremyRiggs on May 5, 2007 10:01 PM CDT reply actions

54-58 Braves

I go back that far. Far too early to know which of those years 07 will be like. But...let's go back FIFTY years to 1957... (October in Yankee Stadium)

OK, OK enough of this. Let's just enjoy it!

by heybatterbatter on May 5, 2007 10:39 PM CDT reply actions

Another Long Time Fan

I started following the Braves in 1955 at the age of 10. Been a Brew Crew fan since they arrived although it took me a while to warm up to the AL. I've seen more bad than good with the Brewers over the years. I saw my 10th game of the season at Miller Park on Saturday the 5th.

This team is FUN to watch. Let's keep enjoying it a game at a time.

Will J J Hardy EVER cool off?

Go BREWERS.

by Brew Crew Stik on May 6, 2007 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions

I feel kind of guilty...

I really didn't become a Brewers fan until a couple of years ago - I don't know why really, I just started to follow them in what became their 81-81 season. Since then, I've obviously become much more attached to them, following them religiously for the last two years. Now, I wouldn't call myself a bandwagon fan. I latched on to the Brewers before they were actually getting the coverage from major news outlets that they are now, and I know more about the team than the few Brewers fan's I've met (living in New York, they are few and far between, but I know several).

However, the reason I feel guilty is that I am a Yankee fan, first and foremost. Always will be. Therefore, I feel like I don't deserve to be enjoying the success the Brewers are having this season, as unlike many other fans here, I have enjoyed successful seasons and successful teams throughout my life. If this season really is something special - and all signs are indicating that it could be - then part of me feels like that it should almost be reserved for those that truly suffered for twenty odd years, and me celebrating it after "suffering" for two almost cheapens the effect.

My justification at the moment is as follows: however sweet it is for me, it will be fifty times sweeter for anyone that has endured the hardship that has historically been linked to being a Brewers fan. While I may be able to rub it in my friends' faces and say "told ya so!", you guys will be able to do that twenty fold.

Therefore, I can't help but feel as if this season should potentially be reserved for the fans that have been loyal over the years, and my fan-ship is therefore cheapened to a degree. When I read the posts from lifelong Brewer fans, it really serves to remind me how lucky I've been, growing up in New York in the late 90s. Hopefully those growing up in Wisconsin in the late 2000s can experience the same thing, and just maybe I can share a taste of that same exuberance and joy from 1500 miles away.

by Achilles17 on May 6, 2007 1:53 AM CDT reply actions

I have to out myself...

my rooting interest in the Brewers only goes back to the '05 season, too. My excuse is a little more basic though...I didn't know jack about baseball and consequently wasn't a fan. :) The things one ends up picking up during a study exchange program...

Incidentally, what kick-started me was attending the 2004 Fan Appreciation Day game...it took me a while to come to terms with the fact that Wes Obermueller really wasn't that great a pitcher. ;)

by Zeyes on May 6, 2007 2:08 AM CDT up reply actions

It's been a long time.

I, for one, am a long-suffering Brewer fan. I started following in '79 or '80, and, while I was able to witness several decent- to mediocre-seasons during the 80's and very early 90's, this has been a long time coming. Every year, my brother & I hope that one individual will either turn it around or have a positive impact for our team. I remember when we signed Hammonds. We thought he'd have a decent year or two and turn around the team's fortunes. Boy, were we wrong! Finally, we've got some decent depth. Doug Melvin, with the way he's built this team, is a genius! The real kudos should go to Jack Z. As long as he's running the draft and Melvin's the GM, we should be perennially competitive. As I've stated before, in a small market, you have to be able to continually be able to plug in a capable replacement. At this point, it seems the Brewers should be able to do that, assuming those that have shown progress contiue up the pipeline.

by kgaul on May 6, 2007 3:46 AM CDT reply actions

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