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The next year is this year
It’s OK to believe again
By John Raschig
For Milwaukee Brewer fans, 2008 is the year. No more saying next year or in a few years after players develop; the future is now. After 15 years of mediocrity and futility and 25 years of postseason-less baseball, much rides on this year.
Past drafts yielded an essentially an entire starting line-up of home-grown talent; only catcher Jason Kendall and suspended centerfielder Mike Cameron were acquired through free-agency. The team has a plethora of arms as eight pitchers must fit into five rotation slots. A revamped bullpen headlined by signing former all-star Eric Gagne should restore confidence in what was a previous weakness.
The time is now for Ned Yost. Signed to manage the 2003 Milwaukee Brewers with the hope he could lead the team to postseason glory, optimism now turns to anticipation and the expectation to secure their first division crown in 25 years. He has molded and formed this team and for many of the young players, he has been their only big-league manager.
Many critics, including myself at times, called for Yost’s head at the end of the season, last year following the heartbreaking collapse to the hated Chicago Cubs. Owner Mark Attanasio and General Manager Doug Melvin provide Yost with all the pieces in 2008 to make a sustained playoff run and now he must effectively and successfully utilize them; his future with the Brewers depends on it.
This season may mean the most for the true Brewer fans, the small group of people who faithfully attended pointless games during the dark years and those who listened to Bob Uecker on the radio sadly saying, “He just walked the bases loaded.”
All the years the Brewers were the joke of the American and National Leagues and would have an empty stadium by the seventh inning. To all those fans who loyally attended opening day in 20 degree weather and actually paid attention to the game rather than use the occasion as a social event. To all those fans who looked at the Brewers like a little brother: it is alright if I mock them, but if you say anything bad about them, it will not be tolerated.
This year is your year, the reason fans stuck around for so long, and the proof that small market teams can compete and win against the big boys. It shows that baseball organizations can still build a contending team rather than buy one.
But this year, the Brewers should be a favorite to win the division and a dark horse to catapult into the World Series. After all, this is the year.
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