Hello friends,

Just a short comment to say I think it would be wrong for the official scorer or major league baseball to change  Milwaukee Brewers pitcher CC Sabathia's controversial one hitter to a no hitter after the fact even if tape showed it looked like an error. Nobody knows what would have happened if it had been called an error. The next batter might have hit a home run. Things can change in an instant in a baseball game even if the facts later show the no hitter would have been accomplished if the call were different. Secondly by awarding someone a no hitter there would be no joy and celebration of jumping around after the accomplishment.
I  remember something like this happened at the Indianapolis 500  in 1981 where Bobby Unser won the race, had it taken away from him the next day for a controversial pass by Mario Andretti and then several weeks later the victory was rehanded back to Bobby Unser after a court ruling. I hope that  doesn't happen here with major league baseball.

I'm personally a Milwaukee Brewers fan and I've waited over 20 years to see another no hitter since Juan Nieves pitched the Brewers only no hitter against the Baltimore Orioles in 1987. Whenever it happens again I want  to see it  done the right way on the field with the celebration after and not days or weeks later in a judgement ruling.

CC Sabathia was the only one not  really upset on the Brewers team and management who filed a protest with major league baseball to change the call. The official scorer has a tough enough job and everyone should respect his decision, because changing it won't bring back the spontaneous joy of the moment.

That's my opinion friends. Let me know what you think and we'll talk soon again. Best wishes and have a great and productive day. fenfan

Hello friends,

Well a big trade has been made in major league baseball and we'll see if it can help one of the smaller market teams in the league, the Milwaukee Brewers to win and finally make the playoffs for the first time in 26 years since 1982.

The Brewers traded four minor leaguers and top prospects to the Cleveland Indians for  2007 Cy Young winner CC Sabathia. The Indians who came within one game of the World Series are struggling in last place this year while the young small market and somewhat financially stapped Brewers are trying to strike while the iron's hot for success in major league baseball without a salary cap especially for small market teams like the Brewers.

Teams like the Brewers have to build within the farm system and a few small trades. When they pick up a big star like CC Sabathia who they very well might lose to free agency along with the other Brewers pitching star Ben Sheets.

So they're going to try to go for postseason success now. Coming off their first winning season (83-79) last year, the Brewers are trying to see if they can take their young hitting talent All Star Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Bill Hall, Corey hart and JJ Hardy and good, young and veteran pitching to see if they can make their first postseason trip since the 1982 World Series.

The Brewers have the longest  postseason drought for a team that has won a playoff spot in a 162 game season.The only team with a longer postseason drought is the former Montreal Expos/now Washington Nationals who made their only postseason appearence in the strike shortened 1981 season which doesn't count as much to me in that regard of acheiving success in a full season.

Anyway you know I also like the Red Sox and Cubs who have had their own championship droughts over the years. The Red Sox finally won 2 World Series this decade after 86 years and they'll never have enough to catch the Yankees who have 26 World Series titles. The Cubs are trying to conquer their own demons of 100 years without a World Series title. But one of the differences between those teams and the Brewers and other smaller market teams like the Brewers, Pirates, Royals and another success story this year the Rays is money.

Without a salary cap things are not even financially and the Brewers 26 year playoff drought is almost similar to the Cubs !00 year drought in that regard I think. Milwaukee is a great and underrated major league baseball town. Before the Brewers arrived Milwaukee had the Braves who now of course are in Atlanta. But from 1953-1965 the Braves had the heart of Milwaukee and went to two World Series led by hitter Henry Aaron and Eddie Matthews and pitchers Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette.

The Braves beat  the New York Yankees in seven games in 1957 for Milwaukee's only World Series Championship and lost in seven games also to the Yankees in 1958. Then in 1982 the Brewers then in the American League lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. But since St Louis reliever and now Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter struck out Brewers slugger Gorman Thomas to end that series and give the Cardinals the championship, the Brewers haven't been back in the postseason. Now the Brewers can blame the small market imbalance as some teams like the Pirates or Royals have. Or they can embrace and deal with the system and go for postseason success as other small market  teams like the Twins and A's have and the small market Colorado Rockies went all the way to the World Series last year and the Florida Marlins once won the World Series with approximately a 60 million dollar patroll in 2003.

So in conclusion postseason success is possible for a small market team like the Brewers. For long term success the  Brewers team management has to be a little craftier and kep retooling the minor league system and talent crop of players. And then every once in a while they can bring in a star pitcher like CC Sabathia even it's only for the short term and they might lose him after the season to free agency. But at least they're trying while the iron is hot and see where it goes from there. So Good Luck Brewers and we'll be following your progress and success and I hope the can win along with teams like the Rays for smaller market teams in baseball.

The Brewers aren't guaranteed success with getting CC Sabathia and I think the bullpen is still shaky. Blowing a 5-0 lead in the ninth inning last week at Arizona didn't help confidence, but if they keep working at it maybe they'll find their way and their first postseason appaerance since 1982 whether it be the wildcard which they're currently tied with the Cardinals or the NL Central where they're 4 back of the Cubs at this point.

Take care friends and have a great and productive day. Best wishes and talk soon. fenfan