I was really hoping the Milwaukee Brewers were going to pull it off.  Given two golden opportunities by their rivals from the south to get back in the NL Central race, the Brewers lost to the Cardinals on Wednesday night and the Padres on Thursday night and remain two games out with three to play.  Except that now, the Cubs aren't playing the Marlins.

I wasn't rooting for the Brewers because I'm a White Sox fan and I'm against the Cubs, I was rooting for the Brewers because there are some nice people in Wisconsin who deserve a crack at the playoffs. Brewers fans are 180 degrees opposite of their big city rivals and represent the best qualities of fandom.  No brag, love the team win or lose and no real obnoxious attitude toward anyone or other teams.  Cub fans can be obnoxious jerks who carry a sense of entitlement and the frustration of not having won anything in almost 100 years.

So, as the Cubs, whose games went final prior to the two Brewer losses, the Brewers played with no sense of urgency.  In fact, they created a situation of their own making by plunking Albert Pujols in the top of the eighth inning Wednesday night, opening up the flood gates for a big Cardinal inning the Brewers could never recover from.  It was so stupid, MLB should make Ned Yost's suspension three games so he's not in the dugout this weekend to possibly give the Brewers a chance.

I really get annoyed when I hear the Chicago stations bashing the Brewer fans.  No, this isn't Stockholm syndrome, it's just the fact you really want to see the Brewers make the playoffs and show their exciting young team to the rest of the country.  The Cubs have the super station, but outside of southern Wisconsin, few people know about this exciting, young team.  They remind me a lot of the early nineties White Sox when they had Frank, Robin, Black Jack, Alex, Wilson Alvarez and that bunch.  They are probably three or four pitchers and a consistent left fielder away from seriously competing next year.

I wish the Brewers could have won the division for the nice people of Wisconsin.  I think that people around here really enjoyed this summer and the hope that they might make it to the playoffs.  But in Wisconsin, more changes than just the leaves on the trees in the fall.  All the nice Brewer fans turn into obnoxious Packer fans. And right now, the Packers are 3-0. 

Lightning Round

• The White Sox magic number to stay out of last is two with three to play after they rout the Royals 10-0.  I think the last two games, shut outs, sent a message to the Royals that they just aren't there yet.  Lance Broadway, who Kenny Williams has little faith in, either earned a chance at a roster spot next year or increased his trade value last night with an outstanding performance.  The Sox complete the schedule with three games against a Tiger team that's been eliminated from post season play.  The Sox by the way, have won seven of their last eleven games, which means nothing except they aren't totally focused on golf or bear hunting yet.
• 
  Our friends at "The Sox Machine" have an interesting take on one of our favorite targets: Judy Jon Garland.  I agree with the assessment that Garland has little emotion, but I will add to it he appears to be soft physically and mentally.  Thanks for playing Jon and enjoy your next team.
  
• The Atlanta Braves are sent to the sidelines for the second straight year.  Don't bet against them in 2008. Meanwhile the Phillies do what the Brewers can't and catch the Mets.  The price for Aaron Rowand seems to go up daily.
  
• Pro Football Talk was the first to break the story that Joe Theisman has been granted free agency by ESPN.  If NBC was smart, they would hire him to do Notre Dame games.
• Those rumors about the Genius moving on to Seattle are just rumors.
• How dumb is MLB?  Mike Winters gets suspended, yet they send his crew to Milwaukee to umpire the final series of the year involving the Padres?  Do we now conclude that Winters suspension isn't really disciplinary but more of a "time out" to avoid conflict with the Padres?  And, since Winters and the union aren't fighting the suspension, does this mean we can look forward to more suspensions (are you paying attention Phil Cuzzi?) for umps that biat players and  managers.  Because honestly, this crap needs to be shut down. Meanwhile, Milton Bradley gets put back together again.  Maybe give him some ECTwhile you're at it, Doc.
• People say you have to be stonded to lose to Syracuse.  Maybe they were right after all.
• 
  Rutgers academic community doesn't understand that they are being financed by football.  You want them on that field, you need them on that field.
• The ah pieces are ah in ah place ah again.
• A 2 year-old almost owned a Cadillac. Geeze, I'm old and I couldn't even think about owning a Cadillac.
  
• A Texas teen refuses to cut his hair for religious reasons.  The school board tells him not only will he cut it but his religion is not a religion.  Judge not least ye be judged my left toenail.
• In England, drivers who smoke while driving may run the risk of having that entered into a traffic citation against them.  Ain't socialism grand?
• Don't look now, but here comes Rudy.  Notice how little you've heard about Fred Thompson since he announced his candidacy?
• Today's special Friday video: You can have Mike Gundy and Dennis Green and Jim Mora.  For pure entertainment and high quality sarcasm, no one beats Ditka, formerly the coach of a team know as Da Bears.