...is always reading the current opponents home town newspaper.
This is one of the neatest things the internet has given sports fans. The opportunity to instantly communicate with fans from the other side and to read the enemy's press clippings.
After twice losing to the Brew Crew, 7 -1 the first night and 4 - 3 the next night, the LA Times is acting as if the season is over for the Dodgers. They're questioning everything.
I swear, I can't beleive towns like Milwaukee don't get more quality refugee's who just want to avoid the intensity of the spotlight they suffer through in NY, LA, Boston, Chicago and some of the other major markets.
I think the more laid back approach here really helps certain players. One that comes to mind is Kevin Seitzer. He was always a decent player, but he had some of his best years here.
I recall one season he hit 300 and was just phenomonal, then left for another town and stunk, came back here the next year and was phenomonal again.
JD and I talked on Sunday about how in 1982 Buck Rodgers was managing the Brewers (and he was a son-of-a-gun, a real disciplinarian with the players) and they got off to a horrid start. After making the playoffs in 81 expectations were high so when the team started off 23 - 24 he was fired.
Harvey Kuenn came in as manager and had a simple approach. He said baseball is supposed to be fun, so go out and have fun!
That team of course wound up going 74 - 41 under Kuenn (97-65 for the season) and went to the World Series.
It's nice to have a press that genuinely seems to root for the home team even in the bad times. It's even better to have a press that's not constantly pressuring the players and management to do more, more, more.
I think in the past that's hurt us. The Selig years with Sal Bando as general manager needed someone to get on their a** a little bit and for the most part they were just given a free pass.
But right now, with a quality team on the field, I think this town is the perfect place to start winning ballgames!
