It Always Ends in a Loss

[Outlander]

The Phillies were obviously much better than the Brewers in 2008 and breezed through the playoffs rather easily against the Dodgers and Rays as well, it was one of those playoff losses that actually wasn't a gut punch. It still stunk to lose at Miller Park in Game 4 but it was a fun run. I still say that Game 3 at Miller Park which was the first playoff game in Milwaukee in over 25 years was the most fun I ever had at a Brewers game, the crowd was electric and so pumped to win that game.

 

It has been nice to to be in the playoffs more recently but losing to the Cardinals in the NLCS at home, Dodgers in game 7 of the NLCS at home and then losing at Washington the way they did is just so miserable.

[Ennder]

This Wild Card didn't bother me because I never thought we were in a position to win it all. Last year I thought we outplayed the Dodgers and just failed to get the last big hit we needed. That was a fun series to watch but it was also very frustrating that we didn't finish it off. These chances don't come along all that often and we genuinely could have won it all last season.

[dlk9s]

If you ever think the Brewers won't win it in your lifetime or if you ever wonder why you keep putting yourself through it as a fan, just think of me.

 

I'm a Virginia alum.

[SomewhereInTime]

It's never all or nothing. It's the journey and following your team that brings joy. Lesser accomplishments are still great. I will never forget the pure joy of watching the Brewers win the tiebreaker in Wrigley last year. Even if it was only to win the division. I'll never forget the run in '08 and what it meant to us to finally see the Brewers in the postseason.

 

Mathematically speaking, if you're like me and have three pro sports teams that you follow (and assuming it's a roughly even playing field, which it certainly is not in baseball) you will see on average, one title a decade. I think I'll try to enjoy more than one day every ten years as a sports fan, otherwise this truly would be torture.

[adambr2]

The journey is definitely part of the joy, and I still enjoyed this season. I am just saying you have to know that there is at least some chance of winning a championship to even enjoy the journey. What good is the journey if not in pursuit of the ultimate goal? That doesn't mean you can't enjoy anything less, but you at least need to go in knowing there's more than zero chance.

 

A gambler wouldn't go into a casino if he knew he couldn't win, he's not going to get that rush if there's no hope of a payoff. That chance, however minuscule, keeps him coming back. It doesn't matter how good the chance is, you just need to know it exists. It's the same here. Would you really have enjoyed the NLCS last year if you knew with 100% certainty that we weren't going to win? I wouldn't have.

[EauClaireNWL]

Even had we beat Washington, I didn't see us beating the Dodgers. Crazier things have happened and maybe had we had Yeli things might've been a bit different, but it was a nice run they had at the end of the year to get in. It'll be interesting to see who Stearns tries to keep and what moves they make. Picking up Anderson's and Thames options seem like no brainers. You probably offer to pick up Grandal and Mous as well, but it wouldn't shock me if they both opt to test free agency.

[Pugger]

Last offseason Moose tested FA but he ended up back in Milwaukee. Did he not get other offers or were the other offers not that much better? I can't recall...

[Bob Skube Snacks]

Man. Some serious navel-gazing here.

 

We could be a mess like the Orioles, Tigers or Pirates. We have been that mess in the past. In many ways, we’re the model small market franchise at the moment.

 

Enjoy the ride, but understand the ride may not take us to the destination we want. No fan of any team is owed a championship. Coming close sucks, but it’s better than being miles away. I’d rather have my heart broken than not have a heart in the game to break.

 

It’s still fun. It’s still just entertainment. It still mirrors life’s ups and downs. So release the angst and ride the wave. Otherwise, what’s the point?

[SomewhereInTime]

Man. Some serious navel-gazing here.

 

We could be a mess like the Orioles, Tigers or Pirates. We have been that mess in the past. In many ways, we’re the model small market franchise at the moment.

 

Enjoy the ride, but understand the ride may not take us to the destination we want. No fan of any team is owed a championship. Coming close sucks, but it’s better than being miles away. I’d rather have my heart broken than not have a heart in the game to break.

 

It’s still fun. It’s still just entertainment. It still mirrors life’s ups and downs. So release the angst and ride the wave. Otherwise, what’s the point?

 

Agreed, coming close and not quite winning a title does suck, but compared to not seeing a winning season until I was 17 years old. I can live with some postseason runs that don't end in world series lol.

[Jopal78]

Baseball is so hard for teams to win, especially consistently. A professional sports league where a super star cannot single handedly carry a team. The Angels have a once in a lifetime player, but for all Trout’s skills the rest of the Angels players aren’t very good so they struggle to compete. Unlike the NBA or NFL drafting talent doesn’t have an immediate impact; so there’s nearly a third of MLB teams where the cupboards are barren of talent and have zero chance of winning at the beginning of the year. Then, some teams that have the horses to win it all come out and get all banged up with injuries or flat out lay an egg like the Red Sox and Cubs.

 

Besides the immediate sting of a come from behind loss I don’t see how anyone could feel any disappointment with how this Brewers season turned out. September was a blast especially after the ho-him season to that point, and the WC game was intense as well even if it was a loss.