Magic Number to clinch the NL Central: ZERO.

We used this yesterday for the Taylor Swift blog, and I’ll use it again today as it relates to whether or not we care that the Brewers clinched on a night where they lost:

Look, would it have been a little more exciting if they could have taken matters into their own hands and beaten the Cardinals? Sure. They clinched with a win at home in 2021, they forced Game 163 in 2018 by winning basically every game at home for the final week of the season (and clinched a playoff spot with a win in St. Louis), they clinched at home with a win in 2011, etc. I was there for all of them and Miller Park was absolutely up for grabs in every one of those examples.

But the day that you clinch isn’t just about winning that particular day. It’s the culmination of a season long goal. The Brewers won 88 games going into last night. Every one of those 88 wins put the Cubs in a position where they needed everything to go perfectly in the final week to catch the Brewers. The Brewers put themselves in a position where 1 Cubs loss gave them the crown. Was Am Fam Field a bit more subdued because of the way yesterday played out? Maybe. But it’s 1 day in a 6 month season.

Speaking of that Cubs loss, the Cubs radio call of Suzuki’s Boner last night is a dopamine hit and a half:

I yelped like a Taylor Swift fan getting a luxury box shot of Taylor at the Chiefs game when I saw Suzuki whiff that ball. WHAT A SHAME!

Anyway, long blog longer, to answer the Brewer fans on Twitter last night asking if we, ‘really celebrate a division title while losing the game,’ YES! Yes we do! For 75% of my life rooting for this team has been like taking a big gulp of orange juice after brushing your teeth. I watched Glendon Rusch make 32 starts in 2002. I watched Brooks Kieschnick take the bullpen cart in from the outfield for a pinch hit appearance where he struck out on 3 pitches for a team that lost 96 games. I watched Kevin Seitzer in an All Star game because every team had to have one representative.

So, yes, we celebrate division titles! The culture of the franchise has changed a LOT since I was a kid, 12-year old Jonathan wouldn’t be able to fathom a Brewer team winning division championships and making the playoffs routinely, but that doesn’t make moments like last night any less special.

And who knows what happens from here on out. Maybe they get beat twice next week and it all ends in abrupt fashion. Maybe they put together a magical run and win a pennant. Baseball is a quirky crapshoot. Sometimes the odds on favorite steamrolls their way to a title, sometimes an 83-win team that barely made the playoffs wins a championship. The point is: You have to get in the dance. And the Brewers did it again. CELEBRATE!

PS: I’m convinced they are a vocal minority, but for the people that think that Craig Cousnell is a bad manager (yes, those people exist), just listen to how Willy Adames talks about him:

And he wasn’t the only one talking about that last night. Just about EVERY player, whether they were asked or not, brought up Counsell and how he’s the best manager in baseball. His status remains a mystery beyond this season. I honestly think if they win it all, he retires and rides off into the sunset having brought his hometown team a title. I’d be sad to see him go, but let’s hope that’s the only scenario where he ends up leaving.

Double PS: You think 89-year old Bob Uecker is going to worry about people saying they shouldn’t celebrate after a loss?? For sure NOT.