My Week that Was - October 5

 The week started with a ride through Madison and across much of Dane County. There were a lot of people on the trails, walking or running or biking.I also saw a lot of turkeys in farm fields and along bike trails.

 So far there aren't many leaves changing color, most are green. The wildflowers are drying up; there are stands of yellow and purple but they are outnumbered by wisps of stalks and seeds.

 The Wisconsin Badger football team went west to play the University of Southern California. They started the game strong, jumping out to a lead, but it didn't last. The Trojans thumped the Badgers in the second half, rolling up a big win.

The Packers started their contest against their division rival, Minnesota Vikings, like they weren't ready at kickoff. In a one-sided first half, the Vikings built a 28 - 0 lead. Green Bay got a score near the end of the half and mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, but it was a day late and a dollar short.

It was the first game back after a serious injury at the end of the season opener for Jordan Love. The quarterback looked rusty for much of the first half but eventually found a rhythm to pull within a score. Minnesota held off the Packers, getting a two-point win. It was a disappointing loss, but I believe this team will find its identity.

Tuesday I had an appointment with my eye doctor. It's something I do every year to make sure my contacts have the right prescription. Fortunately my vision has been consistent for several years and there are no indications of any problems or disease.

G Mitchell hit one out on 9/20, won game 10/2!

Hopes were high going into Tuesday evening's first contest in a best of three between the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets. 

Over the weekend, Milwaukee won 2 of 3 to end the regular season, so fans like me expected the best. Milwaukee took a lead. The Mets tied it up. The Brewers scored a few more and then New York scored 5 runs to turn the Brewers 4-3 lead into a 4 -8 defeat.

The loss makes Wednesday a 'win or go home' proposition. Win and Milwaukee plays to advance on Thursday; lose and an excellent season is over.

Wednesday was a bit of a whirlwind. I finished my calls for the week, had two appointments, and tried to get a number of projects wrapped up before the week is over. I had time to inventory supplies for the pizza parties; I have almost half the plates I'll need next year, which is also the case with forks and knives. Over 13 events, more than 300 people attended, I do need napkins and cups.

Wednesday was a day to put on a smile and root, root, root, for the home team to get a win with the odds against them to make game 3 necessary Thursday night.

The Mets put a run on the board in the first, Milwaukee tied it with a Jackson Churio homer in the bottom half. Churio tied the game in the eighth with another home run, then Garret Mitchell (photo above right from game against Arizona on 9/20) hit a two-run shot to deep right field to put the Crew up by two going to the ninth.

A week earlier this was a lawn. 10/3/24 dwm

 Milwaukee's closer Devin Williams came in to close the game in the top of the ninth, getting two outs on four pitches, which brought former Brewer Jesse Winker to the plate for New York. 

Winker gets booed in Milwaukee because he played poorly last season when he was in the Brewer jersey; he's been healthy this year and playing much better, he essentially beat the Brewers in game 1 of the Wild Card series. 

 Not this time, the Brewers won the game, 5 -3, the deciding game is Thursday night.

 At work Thursday, I had a couple of meetings and delivered the recent appeal mailing to on-campus boxes. I also had an opportunity to get a progress photo of the agility park, now under construction.  

Thursday's night, the Brewers and Mets were scoreless through 6 and a half innings when Milwaukee got back to back home runs to take a 2 -0 lead into the ninth. Milwaukee's closer Devin Williams came in to get the last three outs, but he only got two. A walk and a hit by pitch put two Mets on base for Pete Alonso, who got enough to keep the ball out of reach as it flew over the right field wall. Another run came around to score before the inning was over and New York had a 4 - 2 lead.

The air went out of the stadium and my head dropped, we were two outs away from advancing to the next round. 

With their last at bats, Milwaukee's lead-off batter got a hit. but the next batter struck out and the third batter hit into a game-ending double play. Milwaukee's season is over, the Mets move on to the Divisional Round of the play-offs.

It was a very good season for the Brewers, but the ending was sudden death for all the hopes and dreams, which will now have to transfer to next season. It was a fun ride of a season that ended too soon.

That's a tough way to wrap up the week - as the victory carpet was ripped from under our feet and we were left holding the bag. Thanks for reading.