Moose Tracks

I feel so bad for the Brewers. In recent years, they've had great teams that have just gotten absolutely shafted at the wrong times.

2013: Amazing in April, completely downhill for the rest of the season.
2014: Leading the NL Central for most of the year, overtaken by the Cardinals and Pirates in the final moments of the year.
2017: HUGE come-up halfway through the year, just barely shafted for the Wild Card spot by the tight D-Backs-Rockies matchup.

And now, here we are again. The Brewers had a tight race with the Cubs for most of the year, but suddenly the Cardinals had a HUGE August right when the Brewers were calming down a smidge. The Brewers are literally ahead of St. Louis by a half-game, and both teams are currently holding onto the Wild Card spots. Yes, the Dodgers and Rockies aren't TOO far behind, but the spots are currently theirs...all while both teams are trying to hold onto their momentum.

For the Brewers, it's not difficult in theory, but I'm still slightly worried- the lineup is fine, and the additions of Mike Moustakas and Jonathan Schoop have augmented the power of a group that already included Jesus Aguilar and Lorenzo Cain. The bench is also well stocked- Eric Thames is still hitting a ton of homers while not starting, which definitely helps, and Tyler Saladino and Erik Kratz are still great backups.

The pitching is also improving, thanks to the addition of Gio Gonzalez, the promotion of Zach Davies, and the general dominance of Jhoulys Chacin, Wade Miley, Junior Guerra and Chase Anderson. The bullpen is also still sharp, and Josh Hader, racism aside, is still a great middle reliever. Jeremy Jeffress might also need his own accolade at the end of the year for excellence in general relief, because he's been incredible this year.

It's just a tight team, with only a few small flaws. I'd prefer it if they outlasted the Cardinals, since the Brewers have been good all year, and have been a contender from the start. The Cards have ebbed and flowed, and spent some time in fourth place, and are only having this come-up now, rather than from the start. And I really, REALLY don't like teams whose seasons start in August. What are the other four months for, then? Vacations?

Still, pulling for the Brewers. They're too good a team to be this unlucky.

Coming Tomorrow- Speaking of teams hanging onto Wild Card contention, a moment with a defacto ace for Seattle.