Magic #82

Scratch another goal off the “to do” list.
On the radio pregame show today, skipper Ned Yost conceded that the Brewers did not accomplish their main goal for the ’07 season–winning the NL Central. But right up there was getting a monkey off their backs–finishing with a winning record.
The Brews accomplished that goal Saturday on the second-to-last game of the season (something like the first time in 15 years), with an extra innings victory over San Diego that kept the Padres’ champagne on ice for at least one more day. Vinny Rottino drove in the winning run off former Brewers farmhand Joe Thatcher in front of many fellow Wisconsinites.
I caught much of the game on the radio…got to hear Ueck a bit, but Jim Powell monopolized the air today it seemed. Powell had a recap of Brewers’ losses along the way, and reminded me too much of Bill Schroeder.
Final game of the 2007 season tomorrow…it will be sad watching, especially since you know some of these guys won’t be back next season–Geoff Jenkins will play his last game in a Brewers’ uniform tomorrow (in all likelihood)…a point noted by Adam McCalvy’s write-up Saturday night. The other huge question mark is Francisco Cordero, an unrestricted free agent. McCalvy made note that he will be sitting down with Ned Yost and the coaches next week to assess each player and their potential future role. It appears that they may decide that they need to go with one great outfielder next season to replace both Jenkins and Kevin Mench. The $10,733,333 that they paid the pair for ’07 could be better spent on a consistent, everyday outfielder that can hit both righties and lefties…perhaps the winning record will increase that likelihood.