We're now in one of the best sports months of the year, and there are a myriad of topics to banter about. The Packers have been disappointing, the Badgers are right where they should be, the Brewers are playing out the string but have new life, and the Bucks are just about to begin training camp. So many choices and so little time.
Hallelujah!
While searching for the Brewers' silver lining in a recent article, I never thought that one of my dreams would actually come true. The Brewers' sale to California businessman Mark Attanasio is a shock. It was not something that snuck up on me-it was something that I just never thought would ever happen.
Not only does this signal a new era of Brewers baseball, but it also can finally close the book on the Wendy and Laurel era. There was absolutely no upside to Wendy's regime. It was an unmitigated disaster from start to finish.
She has been quoted lately that she had the best job in baseball. That is almost as ridiculous as stating the Phil Garner and Sal Bando were the best Manager/GM combo in baseball. Wendy is, and always was, clueless-even when she was being punched in the face.
This sale will not be finalized for quite some time, but assuming it does and that Attanasio's intentions are in the right place, the influx of capital to this organization will accelerate "the plan." Imagine for a second that the current team had a few veteran free agents to bolster both the lineup and rotation.
The Brewers will receive approximately $20 million next year in revenue sharing, which means that, with some generosity from the new owner, the payroll for the 2005 season should approach the $40-50 million mark. Doug Melvin will get to expand his horizons and become a legit player in the free agent market this season (after he uses some of the new-found riches to lock in Ben Sheets for years).
It still doesn't feel real. Maybe it's not -- nothing is final as of yet.
Playoff Chase
Are there any baseball fans left that are unhappy with the expanded playoff system? With one weekend left to play there are as many as eight teams that still have a shot at making the playoffs.
Without the system we have today there would only be two races involving four teams. With Uncle Bud's system, there are too many scenarios to even write down. This could be one of the best weekends in baseball history.
Root, Root-Root for the Cubbies
I am enjoying becoming a cynical old man. This allows me the fabulous enjoyment of watching the vaunted Cubs puke away their chances to make the playoffs.
By no means is this unbiased journalism, nor is it meant to be. We the people of Milwaukee have suffered through some of the worst teams in baseball history and the last thing that I need piled on top of that is watching the Cubs bandwagon bottom out with fair-weather fans.
On second thought, maybe what happened to them last year was even better.
That Can't be Right
For those who scour the preps section of the sports page on Saturday morning they noticed an anomaly of epic proportions:
Oak Creek 2, Racine Horlick 0
No, this wasn't a forfeit -- this game was actually played and decided by a first quarter safety. Both teams were held under 200 yards of total offense, and obviously both teams didn't score an offensive point. This may be something that will never occur again.
Playoff Chase II
Someone forgot to tell Milton Bradley and Jose Guillen that their teams are fighting for their playoff lives. Both of these guys made the meltdown hall of fame with their behavior this week.
Bradley decided to attack a fan who was riding him for his poor play. Bradley had struck out with men on base and compounded that by dropping a sinking liner with two outs and men on base. Bradley picked up an empty plastic beer bottle that was thrown onto the field (most likely at him) and walked over to the fan while berating him and spiked it at his feet.
He then decided to go postal on the umpires, who had no choice but to kick him out of the game. Bradley then decided to march to the dugout from the right field corner tearing his jersey and challenging the entire patronage to take it out to the parking lot.
There is no question that Bradley plays all-out all of the time, but is this guy bi-polar or what? What the Dodgers will do with Bradley is another question. Maybe Bradley was the genius here-the Dodgers awoke in the ninth to score five runs to win 5-4.
Jose Guillen also had a meltdown that landed him in the showers for the rest of the season. Angels' manager Mike Scioscia sent in a pinch runner for the volatile Guillen, who responded by spiking his helmet at the skipper in disgust.
Scioscia and Angels' management in turn suspended Guillen for the rest of the season. They said this was the final straw in a pattern of behavior. This is a gutsy move since Guillen has carried the Angels at times. Again, like Bradley, maybe Guillen is the genius -- the Angels have gotten hot enough to take over first place from the A's for the West Division title.
Get the Tivo warmed up and enjoy the next month of sports.
