Mets-Brewers Series Preview

Hot Stove New YorkSep 1, 2008

The Mets go to Milwaukee for a bratwurst and beer fest (and will try to squeeze in three games at Miller Park while they‘re there). They have a one game lead over Philadelphia in the standings. And reinforcements are on their way, as they called up nine players now that rosters can be expanded (Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell, Carlos Muniz, Al Reyes, Ricardo Rincon, Marlon Anderson, Argenis Reyes, Ramon Martinez and Gustavo Molina). The first game features an old-fashioned pitcher’s duel between Johan Santana and Ben Sheets. Niese will make his major league debut tomorrow. And the Mets will miss CC Sabathia, who may or may not have thrown a no-hitter yesterday. The Mets are 1-2 against Milwaukee this season.

The Brewers are making a bid for their first playoff appearance since 1982. After contending last year until they faded at the end, this season they have a commanding five-and-a-half-game lead in the wild card race. Milwaukee has only made the playoffs twice in their 40-year history (and that was back to back in ’81 and ’82). They’re mainly known for things other than baseball, namely the sausage race and Bernie Brewer. They started out as the Seattle Pilots for one year, before moving to Milwaukee. The only news they made in Seattle was when Jim Bouton wrote his book Ball Four. They’ve been in three different divisions and two leagues. Though once they were mistakenly left out of any division and still managed to finish last, playing a full season against themselves. There’s a rumor (ok, started by me) that they’ll honor their heritage by having an old-timers’ sausage race. Throw the sausage costumes on old Pilots Bouton and Steve Hovley along with Brewers’ legends Gorman Thomas and Ben Oglivie and let them race.