It's been the trendy pick for the Nationals to win a World Series pretty much since they signed Max Scherzer in 2015, and every year up until this one they have disappointed. It's been well chronicled how they have never won a playoff series in the entire franchise's existence, even dating back to their days as the Expos. There has not been a championship in the city of Washington for over 80 years. But even despite (or perhaps because of?) losing Bryce Harper in the offseason, the Nats defied all odds to stun the Astros and the world by winning the title on Wednesday. In addition to being the extreme underdog, and pretty much making it through the entire playoffs primarily using only 6 pitchers, they also did so by winning all 4 games in the World Series on the road. In fact, it was the first championship series in any sport ever in which the road team won all 7 games.
Their first win in their improbable run was, of course, sneaking past the Brewers in late-inning fashion in the Wild Card game. The Brewers could not have scripted it better. They jumped out to an early lead in the 1st and followed it up with 4 phenomenal innings from all-star Brandon Woodruff. Brent Suter then threw a gutsy scoreless 5th and Drew Pomeranz shut down the Nats for two more innings. It was all set up for arguably the best reliever in baseball, Josh Hader, to shut the door in the 8th and 9th. In fact just this past week he took home his 2nd consecutive Reliever of the Year Award. However, as baseball is prone to do, things did not fall perfectly into place, and Juan Soto knocked in 3 runs in the 8th off of a big error by Trent Grisham to come back and win the game. It was a disappointing end to a season, but objectively speaking, not many people outside of Wisconsin expected this team to even make it as far as they did. The Brewers outpaced their Pythagorean Expectation by 8 wins, due in large part to another amazing September led by the best manager in baseball. It's that kind of month and finish to the season that makes any Brewers fan optimistic for next year. No matter who is re-signed or on the roster, with Counsell at the helm, Stearns in the front office, and an MVP in the outfield, this team always has a chance to prove people wrong, just like the Nationals did this year.
That's a wrap on the 2019 season, and only 146 days until Opening Day 2020! To my one regular reader out there and whoever else stumbles across this, be sure to check back in during the winter. Erik and I are planning a spring trip this year, the Brewers are rumored to be changing their uniforms for their 50th Anniversary season, and MLB/MiLB are potentially negotiating a historic change to the player development system, so it will certainly be a busy offseason.
PS - I'd also like to point out that I perhaps had my best year of predictions ever. I correctly picked 7 of the 10 playoff teams, and I actually picked the Astros to beat the Nationals in 6 in the World Series, so I'm pretty proud of myself.
FINAL STANDINGS AND SERIES:
Brewers 89-73; lost NL Wild Card
Twins 101-61; lost ALDS
FINAL 2019 GAMES ATTENDED:
Erik - 8
Peter - 22
touch with baseball when his childhood heroes Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Jim Gantner retired but the Great Home Run Chase of 1998 reignited his passion. As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Erik became involved with the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. With this group Erik traveled to Portland, OR and Baltimore, MD to work on construction projects and help the group raise $25,000 to partially sponsor a house in Milwaukee. Also at UWM, Erik met Peter Nagel. The two attended their first Brewers game together during Opening Weekend 2003. Despite their failure to ignite the coals at their first tailgate, the two had a blast and were soon making weekly trips to the ballpark. Erik has gone on to several colleges and changed careers several times, and has moved all the way out to New Hampshire, but has always stayed true to his baseball roots by holding part-time stadium usher jobs. To this day he looks back fondly on his incredible cross-country journey.