Brew Crew makes playoffs for first time in 26 years!

[Jeff G]

It's not really shocking. He's been going into the 110+ pitch count range for a lot of his starts with the last few on short rest. It's a wonder he even has an arm left. The momentum of Thursdays game swung when Hart grounded into the double play in the first inning.

Hopefully the Crews bats can come alive and make this a series.

[Ian]

Hopefully the Crews bats can come alive and make this a series.

Honestly, I'm not really sure it's the Brewers' bats fault. I think the Phils' pitching has just been near un-hittable.

One other thing to bear in mind is that the Phillies' stars haven't really done much yet, either. If Utley and Howard start hitting, we'll be in a much safer place.

[Jeff G]

Honestly, I'm not really sure it's the Brewers' bats fault. I think the Phils' pitching has just been near un-hittable.

The Brewers have made average pitchers look like studs the last month.

The number of time the Crew had left the bases loaded this series is amazing. With a clutch hit once or twice and one less error this series could be so much more one sided.

One other thing to bear in mind is that the Phillies' stars haven't really done much yet, either. If Utley and Howard start hitting, we'll be in a much safer place.

They staid cold for at least one more game tonight.

[Ian]

Yeah, their lack of production has been masked up until this point by lights out pitching. As soon as Moyer faltered early last night I knew he didn't have his stuff and that we were in trouble.

I hate to say it, but I think we're going to see a game five here ....

[PirateLover]

Yeah, their lack of production has been masked up until this point by lights out pitching. As soon as Moyer faltered early last night I knew he didn't have his stuff and that we were in trouble.

Having watched Moyer since he got to the Phillies, I wouldn't really say he faltered. Moyer doesn't really have "stuff." He relies on location. Often, he lets in a run or 2 in the first or second inning because he needs to figure out the ump's strike zone and know what he's gonna get and what he's not gonna get. He only let in 2 runs. For a normal Phillies offense, that should not be an insurmountable lead. Unfortunately, the umpire was atrocious. There was just no consistency there and Moyer could not figure out where to locate his pitches and it caused him to have to throw a ridiculous amount of pitches that first inning. Runge called balls that were strikes and strikes that were balls. This happened on both sides. Now, that is not the reason we lost, it was our bats, but it sure didn't help ease the tension. I think Phils will pull it together tonight though.

[barnaby]

CC doesn't do well in the playoffs. In 5 games, he is 1-2 with an ERA close to 8.

The Phillies are the better team.
Phillies pitching is what won the series for them, not the lack of bats for the Brewers.

[Ian]

WHOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!

NLCS, BABY!!! Bring on those Dodgers!!!!

[Jeff G]

CC doesn't do well in the playoffs. In 5 games, he is 1-2 with an ERA close to 8.

The Phillies are the better team.
Phillies pitching is what won the series for them, not the lack of bats for the Brewers.

I can only agree to a small degree. The Brewers who were one of the best batting teams in the majors through August finished on a skid. In September they had the most stranded runners in the majors and the lowest team batting average. They faced many pitchers who had ERA's in the 5+ range that shut them down. In game 2 (I can't remember the Phillies pitchers name) the Crew had bases loaded in the first and Hart (who has struggled more than any other Brewer) grounded in a DP. They had a chance and didn't capatilize. I can't believe that every pitcher the Brewers faced since the beginning of September had a great game. I've been saying since early this summer that this teams reliance on hot bats and the long ball would come back and bite them later in the year. Yost didn't believe nor did he coach a lot of small ball. When the Cres was hot they scored like a well oiled machine but when the bats were cold the team had no idea how to manufacture a run to save their life. Not a good thing when you play better teams and face good pitching. If you look at the Brewers since the all star break they whipped up on weak teams but lost almost every series against the better teams of the league.

As a Brewer fan it's hard to be disappointed in a team that finished the regular season with 90 wins and made the playoffs in 26 years and I'm not. Hopefully the young player on the team can grow from this and management can find a skipper who has a little more belief in fundamental ball. It was a memorable year and the first time in a long time that the Brewers were relevant in September.