First (Ugly) Look

First pitch of the first Saturday home game
4/7/2018   dwm photo

The first eight innings were chapters of promise and potential.

The last section of yesterday's book was heartbreak, sadness, and woe.

In a sold-out Miller Park, where lots and lots of Cub fans found shelter in a stadium protected from the elements; the Milwaukee Brewers went toe to toe with the World Series champs.

It was my first game in person this season, and we were up 2 - 1 going into the ninth inning.

The Crew lost its All-Star closer for possibly eight weeks a few days ago, so a new pitcher was called on to close the door on Chicago and quiet their fans.

It was a packed house
with lots of Cub fans
inside.  4/7/18 (dwm)

Jacob Barnes did his job.  However, on this day our usually reliable third baseman let a ball tick off his glove and between his legs on what might have been the game-ending double play ball.  Instead, that door crept open.

Four runs later, the Cubs brought out their closer to seal a 5 - 2 win and send this Brewer fan, his son, and thousands of other members of the True Blue Brew Crew home to cry in their beer.

One game out of 162 isn't the end of the world and shouldn't get blown out of proportion.  Although I do recall last season when the Brewers were in it until the last day of the schedule, so yes, sometimes one game does make all the difference.

Jacob Barnes deserved a better outcome.  He pitched well.  Three defensive miscues snatched the game away from the jaws of victory.

The Brewer dugout.  4/7/18  (dwm)

What's next is seeing how the Brewers deal with adversity.

Will they wipe the dirt off their face and come back swinging and meeting the opposition nose to nose today and the next day and the day after that?

I think they will.  The early season schedule is heavy with divisional foes.  Teams they need to beat to reach the post-season.

Nearly half their 162 games are spent facing off with the likes of Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati.

Polish (striped shirt) breaks to an
early lead for the win!  (dwm)

As the manager said in the movie League of Their Own, "it's the hard that makes it great."  The Brewers have young talent and added some experience talent to the roster.  The owner promises there is money to do more to reach the play-offs if the opportunity presents itself.

I think what hurt was the surprise and the cold water in the face of high expectations that this Brew Crew would take down the Cubbies in consecutive games.  It was right there for the taking.

Yet, they came up short.

Ouch.  Time to rub some dirt on it, and move to the next game.  It's not over yet!  Go Brewers!