This is potentially the most exciting period of baseball I've ever witnessed in my life, and this is coming from a kid-turned-adult who has been devotedly (and memorably) following the Brewers since 1987. In fact, it was probably their season-opening 13-game winning streak and subsequent 39-game hitting streak by Paul "The Ignitor" Molitor that hooked me for life. I even remember seeing a game during Molitor's hit streak; I seem to recall is was upper-20-something.
Now, the Brewers are about to wrap up perhaps their finest season ever as a franchise. The Brewers made the playoffs via wild card in 2008, only to be ousted by the eventual World Series champs Philadelphia Phillies in 4 games. Looking back on that, now after a division title, reminds me of the Packers first getting back into the playoffs circa 1995-1996. They'd win a game, but couldn't get to that "next level." This feels like "the big show" now. And perhaps everything is heightened because of Fielder's final year as a Brewer, but maybe it's also that perfect mixture of Brewers right now, and just the right chemistry in the clubhouse and on the field, that are providing the extra push this time around. The hijinks of T-Plush...the knock-out pitching lineup that has faired quite well this season...the power and tenacity of every bat in the line-up (up to McGahee, anyway)...
Mix the hometown excitement in with the fact that both wild card races are tied right now, and will also determine the first round playoff matches in both leagues, and you've almost got an NCAA Tournament-type feel to the last day of the 2011 regular season. October is in the air; hopefully Milwaukee gets the extra whiff of homefield cookin' against their first opponent.
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