NEWSLETTER
As the playoffs have gone on, I’ve developed some seriously mixed feelings about what I want to see happen. Time was, I just wanted to see the Brewers lose. Every. Single. Game. And although, when I’m watching, I still want to see them lose, I find that I wake up the next day – less in the moment – thinking a little differently.
I think I probably want the Brewers to go to the World Series.
As much as I’m deeply annoyed at the ridiculous buttcheek horseshoe these guys have had since August, I have to be rational in the light of morning. That means, I have to think about the Cubs. And if the Brewers figure to be a competitive team in the NL Central again next year – and of course they do – them going all the way to the World Series is probably going to be best for the Cubs, even if only incrementally so.
Do I want them to *win* the World Series? Oh man, I don’t think I can go that far right now. But losing a heartbreaker to the Red Sox in Game Seven? Or getting stomped in a sweep? These are things I think I can get behind.
To that end, although I was perturbed as I watched last night, I don’t know that I’m all that bothered by the Brewers’ Game Six win now that I think about it. It ensures one of two things: the Brewers will indeed go to the World Series, or they will lose a Game Seven of the NLCS, deeply disappointed by coming so close.
So what will I root for tonight? Well, in the moment, I’m sure I’m not going to be able to “cheer” for the Brewers. Just can’t do it. But if they lose, they’ll have the horrible heartbreak, and might they come into next season all the more energized and hungry? Might they make additional moves this offseason to supplement what is clearly a very good club? Or will they just be crushed and have an offseason of bitterness and frustration that doesn’t put them in the best position to succeed next year?
And if the Brewers win, they season gets extended in the most intense way. It’s a lot of extra high-leverage innings for those bullpen arms that would otherwise be so critical for them next year. It also maybe serves as further emotional soothing that this is the team that knocked the Cubs off in the Central.
All of this is against the backdrop of the other team at issue being the Dodgers, and I’m really not sure how that whole angle plays. They, too, will be incentivized this offseason to make dramatic moves (and will have the ability to do it) if they don’t win it all. Though, they probably will make dramatic moves regardless, so I kinda doubt there’s as much of a rooting interest there. (MLB, no doubt, is rooting for the Dodgers, though. A Red Sox-Dodgers World Series is about as dreamy as it gets for MLB.)
I am, of course, overthinking this. It’s what we do. The impact on the Cubs next year of what happens tonight is probably going to be non-existent or minimal. But the Cubs are at home right now, and this is all we’ve got.
So … go … Brewers? Dodgers? I think Brewers. But don’t be confused if and when you see me nevertheless celebrating if they lose tonight, because as rational as I might be right now … eff them.
