C.C Sabathia Deserves the NL Cy Young

If anybody saw what C.C. Sabathia did on Sunday for the Brewers I don't' see how they can not agree with me here.

He single-handedly took the Brewers to the playoffs this season. And to come out and throw like that in the clinching game in his third start in 9 days (3rd straight game on 3days rest!) is just amazing. Not to mention the fact that he was touching 96 on the gun out there in the 9th!

He is a freak and a stud and earned himself some major cashola for next year no matter where he ends up (please not pinstripes).

If he wins he will be the first player to win the Cy Young in the AL and then the NL the next year. Agree? Disagree? Drop a comment. I'm off to dream of a Brewers playoff run!

Will Firing Ned Yost Stop Brewers Tailspin?

As most of you readers know I am a die hard Brewers fan. As many of you also know the Brewers are doing everything they can to try and choke away their playoff chances. Now, on Monday Milwaukee's principal owner Mark Attanasio fired Ned Yost. With just 12 games left in the regular season this just doesn't seem like the right time to me. I guess I just don't quite see how this is going to help the players turn it on and turn things around in the last 12 games of the season but we shall see.

Granted, if the Brewers missed the playoffs (or maybe even if they made it) Yost would have gotten fired in the offseason. But this just seems untimely (after all it is only the 3rd time ever a MLB manager with a .550+ record has lost his job mid season). However in Attanasio I trust.

He's done so much for my favorite ball club since wretched owner Bud Selig left town. He's totally given this team a new-look making many great trades (think for Sexson and Overbay) and has brought in so much talent and seen through with their grooming (think Fielder, Hardy, Gwynn, Weeks) This team hasn't been to the playoffs in 26 years and if anyone can get them there it's this guy. What does Dale Sveum know and will he be managing beyond the end of this season? Who knows really, I just hope that the players pull their heads out and pour it on this last week and a half. It's been a really fun summer watching these guys and I don't want their season to end.

Was this the right move? My gut says "No" but my head trusts Attanasio completely. What do you think?

TSF's Petition for C.C.'s "No Hitter"

For anybody who hasn't been paying attention to baseball in the excitement of the coming football season (I'm a little guilty myself), C.C. Sabathia has remained red hot and Sunday was robbed of a no-hitter against the Pirates.

I don't know if you've seen the play or not but here it is. This was ruled a hit rather than an error to Sabathia:

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/video?id=3562971

I mean, for real? C.C. Sabathia is a big guy, he is also an athlete believe it or not. I think that he can make that play 97/100 times for sure, maybe more. John Kruk is right too if you watch the video to the end. Look at where LaRoche is when Sabathia fumbles the ball. He would have been out by a mile had Sabathia fielded that ball cleanly!

It seems pretty obvious to me that the scorer made a mistake and I know MLB doesn't usually go back and change things like this but in this case I believe it should be done. C.C. Sabathia deserves an Error, take away LaRoche's hit, and give C.C. the no-no. It's the right thing to do!

Error or hit? Lemme know with a comment.

C.C. Sabathia Headed to Beertown!

I am utterly exhausted after a weekend of the lake, a day of travel and moving, and co-ed softball. But when your favorite team draws first blood in the MLB free-agency period it gets you excited!

For anyone who hasn't heard yet C.C. Sabathia is heading to Milwaukee in return for star prospect Matthew LaPorta (20 HR and 66 RBIs in AA) and 3 other prospects. Two of these prospects have been "confirmed" as P Zach Jackson and P Rob Bryson. The third is to be named later.

Obviously I am completely stoked about this deal! I absolutely love that my favorite "smaller market" wins the battle for C.C. Sabathia. Granted, they're giving up a great young power-hitting outfielder but I think it's a good move. The Brewers have a pretty good group of young outfield talent with Ryan Braun, Corey Hart, and Tony Gwynn Jr so I think this is a risk worth taking. it's also a granted that the Brewers are most likely using C.C as a "rentaplayer" as I really doubt they will be resigning him for the ridiculous money he will want at the end of the season. But fans, players, and management know that. This deal is about this season. The Brewers are in good position right now to make a run at not only the wildcard but also the NL Central.

I think the bottom line here is that the Brewers now have arguably the best 1-2 punch in the NL (possibly all the Majors) with Ben Sheets and C.C. Sabathia. If they can both stay healthy the Brewers will make the playoffs.

I have no doubts about the team's offense and now their starting rotation looks dominant. My only question mark for the team is their bullpen, which still bothers me a bit. However, for now I am saying the Brewers will be going to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years and I couldn't be more excited!

My World In Sports: What I've Been Waiting For

I just got done studying and I wanted to quick come at you with what has me all excited in the world of sports right now.

I Am Ready For Some Football!

After a few pretty quiet weeks in the sports world (maybe minus the Little League WS?) I am definitely ready for some football. The College Football season will officially kick off on Thursday...even though it technically started for me last Thursday with a 59-0 smackdown of Humbolt State. It will be perfect because I don't have class on Thursdays so I can get my laundry and studying done during the day and then tune in to some football in the evening! Although the games aren't much to look at. However, I highly encourage all sports fans out there to tune in to the LSU vs. Miss St. game just to see how good the Tigers are going to be. Or, maybe rather how poor the Bulldogs will be. Also a game to tune into might be the Tulsa vs. Louisiana-Monroe game if you're looking for something a little closer. Mostly just enjoy watching the beautiful game on television again.

MLB is heating up Big Time
Most specifically, in my mind the NL Central. My Brewers are struggling hugely as the Cubs continue to meander there way to a first place lead and the Cardinals make an incredible surge. Something that also goes without mention is that I the Reds have gone from arguably the worst team in the NL to only 8 games back in the Central. They don't have a shot at winning the division but that is an amazing accomplishment in itself that has been ignored. It's also a great time for some awesome and relevant matchups in baseball! Top pivotal series' include MIL vs. CHC, SEA vs. LAA, BOS vs. NYY, ARI vs. SD. Check them out!

Things I Am Ready To Be Done With

I am ready to stop talking about the Vick case. I wish they could sentence him tomorrow and the media could move on. You readers know how I feel on the issue and I think that the media is starting to beat a dead horse at this point. I mean, when you have your own section on ESPN.com's article-ticker-thing for a good week or more that is enough. Also, I love the Little League World Series, but I'm a little glad it's over too. With a lack of good sports to watch over the last week or so I just got worn out with it. Basically I can't wait!

Is there anything you think I missed? How excited are you to watch some college football on TV? How sick of the Vick ordeal are you?

Who's Hot, Who's Not

HOT
Seattle Mariners
They continue to surprise a lot of people and make a nice push in both the AL Wildcard and in the AL West. The Angels better not get too comfortable!

Tiger Woods

In the final event before the final major of the year, Woods buried Rory Sabbatini and the rest of the field Sunday at the Bridgestone Invitational for an eight-shot victory, sending his confidence soaring Sunday as he left for Southern Hills and the PGA Championship.

Matt Murphy

Interesting story....So he's delayed in SF trying to travel from NY to Australia with some friends and he throws on his Mets jersey and heads out to AT&T Park and basically wins the lottery. Got his face scraped up a bit but I'm guessing it was totally worth it. Kind of interesting that of all the Giant fans at the game dreaming of the ball a kid in a Mets jersey catches the ball and will split the profits with his friend (who was at the game in an Arod jersey!). I'm interested to see what he ends up doing with the ball.

Arizona Cardinals

With Matt Leinert learning and improving everyday, the Edge in the best shape of his life, and the superstar Fitzgerald continuing to improve his route running the Cardinals look like they could make a serious run at making the playoffs this season. And with the great young core of superstar talent they have they should be around for a while....especially once the defense improves.

NOT
Milwaukee Brewers

Tough pill for me to swallow here but things have not been good. A four game losing streak puts the beermakers in first by a mere half game. On the bright side there is the Soriano injury!

Rory Sabattini

Made the whole, "Tiger's more beatable than ever" comment and then went ahead and squandered a 1 shot lead to lose by 8 and at one point was shaken to the point that he ordered a fan removed from the course by security for some relatively funny/ironic, yet completely harmless interjection made at the turn. He basically made himself look retarded.

Bud Selig

Selig made himself look like an idiot in the last week or so. He trudged around behind Bonds for 9 games and then what Bonds tied the record the commish stood with his hands deep in his pockets and looked very disgruntled. He then declined to be present when Bonds broke the record. Hate to break it to you Bud, but all eyes are on you right now and you're making yourself look like a fool!

Obafemi Ayanbadejo

He has a cool name but the NFL suspended him for the first four regular-season games without pay for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances on Thursday. He claims to not have knowingly infringed upon the rules and will pursue civil action against the makers of the product Max LMG.

TSF Interview with Jamestown Sun Sportswriter Kalen Ost

Well, here is The Sports Flow's first real (yes real) sports related interview, with Jamestown Sun Sportswriter Kalen Ost. Mr. Ost also has a blog of his own, which can found here: Ost's Posts.

Q1. How did you get into the career of sports journalism? Can you gradually describe the steps you took to become a full-time sportswriter at the Jamestown Sun.

Well, me getting into sports started when I was in college at Dickinson State working for their student newspaper. I conned my way into getting to ride on the band/fan bus down to the NAIA national basketball tournament and got full press credentials. We got our own media room with free food and a court side seat with up-to-the-minute stats on a computer. I was fairly impressed.

Unfortunately getting into sports wasn’t really an option at that point in Dickinson. Brian Alexander and Pete Alpern were locked into that department and so I took a job in the newsroom. But again I was able to work on the powers that be to allow me to travel to random sporting events that BA and PA couldn’t get to and basically got to learn from two very very solid workers of the craft.

The sports job opened in Jamestown when Mike Weber moved to the Bismarck Tribune and I jumped at the chance.

Q2. Can you give me a quick rundown of the average day in the life of the sports writer Kalen Ost?

Depending on if I’m going outside the office to cover something I’ll usually use the time from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to do random things like try and find some recent articles about the teams I’d be covering, or a roster or something, online from home.

I’m usually in the Sun office by 3 p.m. and I get started typing up anything that came in over the night/morning, be it a sports brief, local agate, bowling results, a random track meet, whatever. Depending on the day this can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to an hour.

If I’m not covering an event, I’m likely laying out pages, which I usually start doing after I get back from supper at about 6:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. We do three pages of sports at the Sun – one person does a front and a third page (for jumps and the agate) and another usually does the second page which tends to be our Class B roundups, national roundups and if we can’t get something on the front. Our deadlines aren’t too terribly early, but it is one of those things where it seems like we are always adding things to the pages after we proof them which is usually around 10 p.m. or so. Well…right now anyway. In the winter, I’m usually still working on Class B basketball roundups at 10 p.m.

If I had to guess I’m usually done and heading home by midnight. Some nights a little later, others a little earlier. In the end it all averages out to probably midnight. Get home, chase my cats around for a little bit, crawl into bed and maybe watch some TV and am usually asleep before 1 a.m.

Q3. Unlike most people, watching and covering sports is your job. Do you ever have to remind yourself that you get paid to cover what the majority of people consider to be entertainment?

Generally no. Sporting events are serious stuff, a lot of people care about what goes on and if you treat it with anything less than what it deserves, you’ll just produce crap for copy. Writing a story can either be really easy or really hard and generally the difference is how much you know about what is going on. That isn’t to say that you have to be an expert in the sport.

Take soccer for instance. I don’t get soccer. I suppose I don’t mind watching it live, but it isn’t like I would be there if it wasn’t for work. So with that said, it probably should be fairly hard for me to put anything together on it. But once you get a feel for the team(s) you are covering, it all just falls into place. Did the team have trouble scoring – why or why not? Did the goalie give up any goals? How does this game affect the standings? If I didn’t take it seriously when I was there, someone else probably would, and they would probably have my job. And then I would be poorer than I am now.

Q4. What local sports do you cover and which do you enjoy the most and why?

My official title is Class B reporter. But I suppose my unofficial title is that of a floater. I just kind of move from area to area (be it Class B, Jamestown College, Jamestown High School) and help out where I’m needed and do whatever. I prefer it to just having one thing I cover every day – keeps it fresh, keeps me on my toes.

Tough to say what I enjoy the most, really. If I had to narrow down a sport, it would either be baseball or football. Baseball, to me anyway, is fairly easy to write because everything is set out in front of you in a very concrete way and if you have some stats, you are good to go.

Football has a few more moving parts on the field, and I have a tendency to get overwhelmed by what I could write about. But once I decide on something I generally like writing about it.

Q5. Can you describe the typical routine that a sports journalist performs when covering an event? How does a journalist decide what plays take precedent over others? There are turning points in games that are obvious to the average fan, but how does a journalist dig deep within games to find material that isn't as obvious?

Honestly, it depends on how good you are and your familiarity with the team you are covering. Take a couple of years ago when PBK played May-Port in the opening round of the state B basketball tournament. The game was decided by eight points or so, as MPCG went on to win. PBK led most of the first half and basically only was outplayed for about 4 minutes to start the third quarter. But within that, there was a sequence in which the Patriots’ point guard had an assist, a steal, and a key offensive rebound which swung momentum to MPCG for just a few moments and PBK wasn’t ever quite able to recover. PBK wasn’t used to playing from behind, they went undefeated through the regular season and played more wide-open, and while they did pretty well with controlled, methodical possessions early in the game, that one short stretch proved to be their undoing for the whole game.

If I hadn’t watched PBK for something like 10 games that season I probably wouldn’t have felt comfortable enough with their team to make that assessment, and if I hadn’t been talking to the Herald writer, Greg DeVillers, who had watched MPCG a couple of times I probably wouldn’t have been comfortable to make the assessment of MCPG’s style. But, if you feel like what you are saying is a credible statement, and you feel like you know what you are talking about, I don’t know…it just sort of works.

Q6. Would you ever consider taking a job at another newspaper? If so, is there a place that you would specifically prefer?

I’d probably consider working at another paper, but it has to be a right-time, right-place kind of thing. My wife and I are kind of settled into J-town right now and it would take a pretty fantastic offer to dynamite me out of there. In a vacuum, if I could just go anywhere and cover anything, I’d probably try and settle in with either a small-market pro team or a middle-tier Division I college team. Someplace where you are going to see some pretty good athletes and teams but you aren’t going to have to put up with drama and what-not on a day-to-day basis.

Q7. So you are a Milwaukee Brewers fan… Why do you think your Brewers have been in such a funk lately and what do you think they need to do to get things going again?

I think probably the first thing they need to do is to start playing some teams from the NL Central again. In all seriousness, I think the pitching staff is stable as long as Sheets is healthy so basically the problems lie in the offense.

Specifically with certain players. Weeks and his .250 average just isn’t going to get it done out of the leadoff spot. JJ is solid. Prince is solid. The Jenks/Mench platoon is bang for the buck. Bill Hall has half the home runs he had at this point in the season last year. The platoon of Counsell and Graffanino, whoever dreamed up that big-bopping-duo should probably be fired.

But I really disagree with bringing up Ryan Braun and batting him in the 3-hole from day 1 as a replacement. They should have put him in the No. 7 hole for a little bit and just let him soak in the difference between AAA and MLB pitching.

Personally, I think that is too much pressure for a rookie. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’d rather play a guy in a position that fits his abilities instead of demanding his abilities fit the position he’s playing. I think rookies should get a little bit of the white-glove treatment initially before you bring the hammer down on them.

If the offense could produce a run or two more a game, the starting rotation takes care of the first 2/3 of the game and then you go to the shutdown stuff of Matty Wise, Turnbow and Cordero and basically that turns into a 95-win season.

I would like to thank Mr. Ost for his time, he's always busy especially with all the state high school tournaments going on lately.

Pulling Out the Big Guns

At 8 games over .500 and 5.5 games in the division lead my Brewers weren't pressing the panic button when they called up their top everyday prospect in Ryan Braun. They were proving that they are serious about winning now. I was a firm believer of leaving him in AAA Nashville until he was more polished but I've had a change of heart....here's why.

I've always been a big fan of letting kids mature in the minors. I always thought that it is better for them to polish their skills than to ride the bench or struggle in the majors. I'm ready to make an exception. I thought the Brewers were fine with the horrendous Counsel/Graffanino platoon at 3B. Hell, they were constantly 10 games over .500 with what I believe was the worst 3B production in the NL. So why mess with it? After one game of Ryan Braun (not even a win!) I know why. Because they want to win and win now and I'm ready.

This is the Brewers year in the NL Central and they know it. They're better than they have been in recent history and the NL Central is historically weak. Doug Melvin is goin' for the jugular. Most avid baseball fans know, and ALL real Brewers' fans know what this kid can do. Just 2 years removed from the University of Miami campus he was starting his first big league game, and I'm ok with that. Why? Because I think he might not struggle like some think he will and this team needs this boost right now.

Braun started at 3B and batted 2nd. He went 1-4 with 2 RBIs and a double and no errors in the field. They lost the game, however a large comeback bid was made via HRs by Prince Fielder and JJ Hardy. This got me thinking, which can be dangerous but sometimes productive. I know he was just called up but what about batting Braun 3rd right now!? It sounds crazy but it might be crazy genius. Ok, so if Braun's in the 3-hole he's gotta get good pitches to hit right away - at least until he shows he's a legit major league hitter. Think about it. Ahead of Braun would be JJ Hardy -tied for NL lead in HR's and RBI's & behind him would be Prince Fielder -tied with JJ for NL lead in HR's. He's gonna get in a lot of good counts and no one will want to walk him to get to Fielder. This way he'll get a few fastballs down the middle most likely if the count is full or 3-1. also, with Hardy, Gwynn or Weeks ahead of him chances are he will have guys on base ahead of him to drive in runs. People on base+good pitches to hit=major production.

He batted in the 2-hole tonight, which is ok. However, I just feel like Hardy is an extremely good fit in the 2-hole and the protection that he and Fielder could give Braun could do wonders for him. However, nobody can be there for you in the field, so we'll see how that works out. So far so good though in my opinion.

What do you think about the call-up, the Brewers, Braun, and my idea? Is it too soon for me to go out and get myself a #8 Ryan Braun jersey?

My World in Sports: I Can Finally Breathe Again

It was just a few days ago that my world came crashing down on me. I had just finished working a morning and it was about 2:30 and I showered, changed, and crashed on the couch only to see that "Brett Favre Wants to be Traded". I didn't know what to do. I was literally speechless. Between this fiasco and the emotional high my Brewers and I have been riding I've barely been able to catch my breath. However, I've had some time to think and collect myself as the issue has died down and I think I'm now emotionally ready to blog about this, and everything else going on in MY world of sports.

-Favre's going to retire as a Packer. Honestly, as I sat there and thought to myself I could not bring myself to envision Favre in a Redskins, Broncos, 'Phins or Jags uni. There is just something evil and wrong about that. I knew he was upset about not getting Moss and the focus on D rather than bettering the offense....so was I. I don't doubt he said it but I know he didn't mean it. He is a passionate and emotional person who was letting it shine through a bit too much (think also comments on Javon Walker contract situation). He was upset just like a lot of fans. He will retire a Packer, and you can quote me on that. It is also worth mentioning that there was a trade situation ready to go down to the Pack but then the Pats made a bid and Moss went with them because he felt it gave him a better chance to win now.

-Now, obviously the Pack aren't going to get Moss but Ted Thompson now knows Favre is upset and means business next year. Prediction: I think Thomspon makes a strong push for Keyshawn Johnson. He honestly might be the next best bet out there and I sort of hope they pick him up. Which, is weird because I'm definitely not a Keyshawn fan. If Teddy can do that they'll have Driver, Keyshawn, Greg Jennings (all-rookie selection last year), and Koren Robinson (fresh outa prison) for their receiving corps. This looks very promising. The bigger question mark for me is RB. I'm not real big on this whole RB by committee thing. I do like Brandon Jackson outa Neb. but he is so injury prone. And while Morency can be successful I know he can't carry the load alone.

- Dear Brett,
You are still my favorite sports figure of all time. I still relish in your greatness. I still love you in a totally heterosexual way. I still have your Fathead hanging in my basement. You're still my childhood hero and I understand you were upset. I forgive you. Now, let's kick some Viking ass next year as you break all of Dan's records. Go Pack Go and Favre 4 Ever.

In love,
grittysquirrels

- The Brewers have cooled down a little bit as of late and JJ Hardy is showing flashes of Robin Yount. They lost back-to-back games for the first time since the 1st week of the year and blew their first lead after 7 innings (previously 21-0 with a lead after 7) tonight in Philly. Definitely worth note: JJ Hardy is leading the NL in HRs - and yes that includes Barry Bonds-....something probably 50% or more of baseball fans don't know. Keep an eye on this kid. Can he keep it up? We'll see, I know he can hit for this kind of AVG and OBP but we'll see if the power surge continues. GO BREWERS!

Current Stats: .327 AVG, 12 HRs, 37 RBIs, .376 OBP, and .628 SLG.

- Don't crowd Bruce Bowen on D. In case you are even more oblivious to the NBA Playoffs than me, here's the video. He is one of the best defenders in the league but Bruce Bowen has a bad rap as a dirty player....and I think that hurts him here. The move looks rather unintentional, and if it weren't for his poor reputation in the league I think he could get away with it much easier. Personally, I think it was intentional. And as a Spurs fan I'm sure Ming will defend Bowen. However, I just don't see how you can't be the slightest bit skeptical of something like that, given the kind of history Bowen has in the league - even though Bruce gets in the most trouble on D. The foul has been moved up to flagrant and it will be interesting to see where it goes from there.....I wonder if this year's playoffs have made Nash feel a bit like a punching bag or crash dummy or something. Maybe for his sake the Suns should just lose out.

How Good Really Are My Brewers?

So incase you didn't know the Brewers...yes MY LOWLY BREWERS have the best record in the NL. With a record of 21-10 and having won 12 of their last 15 the Brewers are indeed red hot (as I am writing this they are beating the Nats 3-0 top of 7). They've got a 5 game lead on the 2nd place Cubs right now and 8 games on the lowly Cardinals (haha I love it!). But to the average baseball fan who isn't also a Brewers fan like me, how good really are the Brewers? Are they for real or are they in for a plummit? I'm going to try to figure this out as unbiased as I possibly can...GO BREWERS!!!!!!!

Ok, so yea the Brewers have a great record but it could be a fluke right? In my full and honest opinion, no it isn't. This is the Brewers' year. They've been progressively improving over the last 4 seasons and with no injuries and every offseason move strongly bettering the team they're ready. I mean sure they're going to falter. Every team will have a losing streak at some point when you play 162 games. But this team is leagues better than they have been in the last 10+ years and with a weaker NL Central than I can really ever remember I can feel it. We're goin' back to the Playoffs baby!

They're pitching staff is rock solid with:
1. Ben Sheets (2-2 with 4.04 ERA and 21 K's) Looks like he's over the groin pull
2. Chris Capuano (4-0 with 2.90 ERA and 22 K's) - Look for his K totals to jump up
3. Jeff Suppan (5-2 with 2.63 ERA and 27 K's)
4. Dave Bush (2-3 with 6.03 ERA and 31 K's) A lot of K's but he's struggling.
5. Claudio Vargas (3-0 with 2.89 ERA and 33 K's) What a stud in the 5 slot.

I thought they overpayed Suppan coming into the year but he's been a pleasant suprise. Sheets can be an ace again...case and point: Opening Day. Cappy has been good and his K's are unusually low. Bush can and will come around (he was decent for the Crew last year and won 12 games for them) and Vargas has been an even more pleasant surprise than Suppan.

The 'pen has been good too. Wise -> Turnbow -> Cordero make up one of the best 7-8-9 inning combos in the majors. Cordero is 12-12 in save ops and has been amazing. Turnbow (no longer Turnblow) has found his stuff again and has gracefully made the move from a closer to a good setup man. Also Shouse has stranded every single run he has inherited this season...he's been great out of the pen as well.

They're young hitters have been outstanding. Fielder (9 HRs .298 AVG and 26 RBIs) and Hardy (8 HRs .339 AVG and 26 RBIs) (highly underrated and on a 17...no wait 18 game hitting streak) have been stellar and are red hot right now. Weeks has been hitting fairly decent as a lead-off hitter (could and will raise his AVG) and Estrada has been a great acquisition. Hall has struggled in CF a bit this season but need not worry because Tony Gwynn Jr. is a great young player who is definitely making the most of his opportunities this season. Jenkins (.349 6 HRs and 16 RBIs) has seemingly rejuvenated his career and Mench (.299 2 HRs 12 RBIs)has figured out how to hit and play in MIL.

I could go on and on but this is supposed to be a short post. The Brewers are for real. Don't believe me? Check out their bullpen, rotation, starters, and bench. They're pretty strong and deep in all categories and as previously stated the NL Central is much weaker....I've watched every possible game on TV and Gamecast and I'm convinced. This is at the very least a Wild Card team, although I think they have a better chance at winning their division.

I know it's early, but is it too early to think that I might be in Milwaukee watching baseball in September? How good do you think the Brewers really are?

For all non-Brewer followers and baseball fans in general: I want you to read this. As for me I'm off to take a picture of the standings and have it framed...later!