Pennant Races Aren't Supposed to be Fun

by Kyle Smith, Doberman On The Diamond

Hello, Brewers fans. It's been a long time since the Brew Crew has been in contention, hasn't it? Probably so long that you forgot what it felt like.

And I know exactly what you're thinking: Isn't this supposed to be more fun? Shouldn't we be enjoying this?

The answer is no, you shouldn't. In fact, you should be recalibrating your expectations, calling for the team to get booed and demanding the manager be fired.

No, for the hard-core baseball fans, pennant races are not a blast. They are a mental grind.

They can be fun - when your team is up by 8 games and has been winning series after series. But, inevitably, the streak comes. The streak that starts with an "L" - losing streak. And boy, do those smart. That's when the howling comes in - the manager has to go, players X,Y and Z should be released or traded and the kid in the minors should be called up TODAY!

That's just the nature of a 162 game season.

Remember the movie Rounders, when Matt Damon's character is talking about No Limit Hold 'Em? He says, "Even some pros won't play. They can't handle the swings. In No Limit not only can you watch a man lose all his chips in a single hand, but his mind along with it."

Well, that's it. Baseball pennant races in a nutshell. The grind is relentless and can drive you up the wall after a single game. But, if you're patient enough, the payoff can be superb.

When you do finally hit October, and you do make the postseason, and know that fans from many other cities are dying to be in your place - now that's fun.

The Playoffs - where weak links get exposed. I'm sure you're not so worried about Ryan Braun's defense now, Brewers fans. Nor should you be, not with the way he mashes. But if he misplays a shot down the third base line in the eighth inning of an elimination game, you'll care then.

So, Brewers fans, don't enjoy yourselves. Don't enjoy it while it lasts. Because it's not fun. Not yet, anyway.