Milwaukee Brewers’ season entering uncharted territory
The Milwaukee Brewers are poised to win 90 or more games for only the eighth time in franchise history (since 1970). Could they win 94? Or more?
The Milwaukee Brewers are taking Milwaukee on a wild ride this year, and with continued well-played baseball and a little luck, the 2018 Brewers could accomplish something only seven other Brewers teams have done: Win 90 or more games.
It will be a fun second half of September for Brewers fans (hopefully). Somewhat surprisingly, events have unfolded wherein the Brewers have surged while the Cubs have wilted a bit.
The Brewers franchise, formerly the Seattle Pilots, has had only seven seasons of 90 or more victories since moving to Milwaukee in advance of the 1970 season. The Pilots, in their only season in 1969, won only 64 games.
In nearly 50 years of baseball, the Brewers have cracked the 90-victory mark about 16.5 percent of the time. Ouch. Additionally, only three of those seasons resulted in postseason baseball.
The 1978 season was the first to see the Brewers win 90 or more games when they finished third in the AL East, six and a half games out of first place. Incidentally, that was the first year of the ball and glove logo. The Brewers never made the postseason with the original Barrel Man logo or the 1990’s crossed-bat green and blue abomination.
In 1979, Milwaukee won a whopping 95 games, good for only second place in the AL East, eight games out.
In 1982, the Brewers won 95 games once again and won the AL East, then won the whole darn thing in the AL before falling in the World Series to some team from Missouri.
In 1987, Rob Deer and Team Streak won its first 13 contests and eventually 91 games, but finished third in the AL East, seven games out. Those pre-Wild Card days sure were tough.
Perhaps the most unsung team in Brewers history to win 90-plus games is the 1992 squad, which won 92 in ’92 and finished second in the AL East, only four games out. That season saw Pat Listach win AL Rookie of the Year.
Finally, and more fresh in our minds, the NL Wild Card Brewers won 90 in 2008 and the NL Central Division Champion 2011 Brewers won a team-record 96 games.
With 15 games remaining (nine home, six away) and a record entering Friday of 84-63, it is very likely and probably mandatory that the Brewers win 90 or more games this year in order to qualify for the postseason tournament.
If Milwaukee can keep up its current charge of well-played baseball, it’s possible they could do something no Brewers team has ever done: Win 94 games, precisely.
LET’S LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL
Prediction: The Brewers take two of three from Pittsburgh at home, then two of three from Cincinnati at home. That puts them at 88 wins.
Milwaukee then takes two of three at Pittsburgh but wins only one of three in St. Louis. 91 wins.
To close the season and claim the NL Central title, the Brewers play out of their minds while one of their division rivals falters over the final three days and the Crew sweeps Detroit at home. 94 Wins and the NL Central crown go to the Brew City, along with a unique accomplishment by a team like no other in Brewers history.
Do you have a prediction for the final two weeks? Do the Brewers reach 90 wins? 94? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter.