I’m going to admit something to you… This was the night where I realized it all may have been a pipe dream for Brewers. The fun team for the first half of the season must have been a mirage, and this is who they really are now. A gas can like Bartolo Colon throwing seven innings only allowing five fucking singles to this team is enough to drive a man to say ‘This team is done, call it.’ But NL Central will not allow these type of things. Brewers are only 1.5 games out of first place as Chicago Cubs reverted back to form. It’s possible Brewers could be mediocre for a month and still have a shot. The NL Central is that damn bad.

NL Central is the only race that is worth something in the National League. Arizona and Colorado have to be pissed watching this shitshow of a division as both could be leading it by more than five games. Instead, they are lightyears behind Los Angeles Dodgers. D’Backs and Rockies are both showing no signs of slowing down. Either team will make things very difficult for Los Angeles in divisional round of the playoffs. The NL Central could be won by Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis or Pittsburgh. Who will come out on top? We have zero idea.

The fact Brewers still have a shot at this thing after an ice cold month is incredible. The offense has some real issues right now, and the bullpen continues to be a tire fire. The whole team is pressing which leads to mistakes and doing things out of routine. Darnell Coles’ magic seemed to run out in the last month while Craig Counsell continues to manage the bullpen like a goddamn putz. It’s too bad Ryan Braun isn’t more like Aaron Rodgers where he rallies the troops through the media. Braun is a favorite of mine, but he’s not like that at all. Brewers need some sort of juice in the arm. A fight. Rain Delay. Live chicken. Something.

Because the most fucked up thing in the world is they can get hot for two weeks and have the division in their hands by a couple of games. The optimist in me still thinks it’s possible even with a nine-game road trip out West looming for the team. I want to give up on baseball after nights like these but the NL Central will not let me.

Charlie.