“Just get off the babysitter.”

First off, congratulations on your victory tonight and salvaging a split of the two-game series. It was a big game for you guys and you answered the call against the Brewers bullpen.

Now that that’s out of the way, it’s really too bad you’ve been through the indignity of seeing the Brewers team untuck their uniforms on your home field five times in the past month — again, congrats on avoiding a sixth. I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we’re not sure exactly what the big deal is with that, but at least it’s over now, right? Is it safe to assume you’re glad you don’t have to deal with hitters watching those late home runs go out and pumping fists in celebration after getting a big out? Watching the Brewers for the past decade lets me appreciate just how galling that stuff can be after a loss.

In any event, your hometown nine’s behavior has given me a new perspective on what is and isn’t acceptable on a baseball field. I guess it’s okay to slam helmets down in frustration and yell at opposing players who show emotion after a triumph. While the Brewers haven’t had much frustration (tonight excepted) in Busch Stadium since the All-Star break, there will be frustrating situations in the future and it’s good to know emotion and/or losing one’s cool is tolerated then. You’ve made it clear it’s not allowed in moments of success.

The last month of the regular season promises to be a good one. The schedule-makers didn’t plan things well when they slated the final Brewers-Cardinals series in August, but what can you do? Best of luck in your final thirty-odd games. Hopefully there’s some aspect of your future opponent’s style of play that grates on you and spurs your team to a .500 record against them as well.

Farewell, and see you in 2009.

I missed tonight’s game thread because for some reason, the place where I am at night blocks BCB now. However, I did not miss tonight’s game and I’m still steamed.

The Brewers bullpen is still barely used and yet Riske and Shouse pitch two nights in a row? While a pitcher with an excellent record pitching against St. Louis, especially in Busch Stadium, sits in the dugout languishing (or throwing gum, if the game thread’s any indication.) sigh.

I bet Joe Bateman could have got out those four righties that came up to start the eighth

Would have been nice to win tonight. Would have also been nice if I didn’t break my ankle and gotten the new Lancer I was off to get at the dealership.

Still got a month, sadly, still got to get some kinks out.

Who’s in Davis, CA?