Kyle Whelliston was a sportswriter during the 2000s, and he's probably most famous for a blog called The Mid-Majority. Whelliston traveled to hundreds of college basketball games over the course of almost ten years, and, in his own words, wrote "more about philosophy than basketball" and "more about losing than winning." The unofficial motto of the blog was, "It always ends in a loss" because "mid-major" college basketball teams are at a nearly insurmountable disadvantage given the economic structure of the game.

I was thinking about that this morning, given another tough postseason loss, and I wondered, if someone told me, "The Brewers are never going to win a WS in your lifetime," would I still watch? I think the answer is yes. At the end of the day, baseball is a sport that allows us to live in the moment and enjoy the day-by-day struggle of creating something cool and beautiful, and that creation can't be dependent on victory for its validation. After all, Milwaukee isn't New York or LA, and the financial structures of baseball make it unrealistic to expect a championship. Not only that, but some of the most fun players I've watched as a fan (Carlos Gomez comes to mind) played on bad teams, and I wouldn't trade that sense of joy for the pressure-cooker of Yankee stadium, regardless of the titles that might come with it. I just wouldn't.

I feel like all I can ask is that this team try its hardest to put a good team on the field. That the guys play together. That they demonstrate the kind of human values that baseball, like literature or film or ballet or whatever, can show us. This team did that. Last year's did too. So did the 2017 team, and even that 2014 team that just fell apart at the end. I don't think 2020 will be any different. I'll be waiting for whatever magic CC and Stearns and the full TEAM produces, and I think it will be something to see, however it ends. Glad I know y'all will be along for the ride. I'm ready to get the hot stove going today, folks!

Go Brewers!