{image1}At mid-season, Ulice Payne looked like the failed former CEO of the Brewers who didn't know his business. But, did he get the last laugh?
If you remember, Payne split with the Brewers when he went public with the team's plans to cut payrolls to one of the lowest in the major leagues. He said the cuts would make it very difficult to compete and further hurt attendance.
With the Brewers above .500 at the All-Star break, Payne looked like a basketball player who tried to run a baseball franchise. There was talk of the club hanging in the pennant race. Attendance was up.
But, then came the second half collapse, including a disastrous 12 game losing streak. Players who had performed so well in the first half slumped, or physically broke down. When you're paying a bargain price for players who have had previous injuries or were career minor leaguers until you give them a chance, those things are more likely to happen. Brewers' management has acknowledged that payroll has to be increased for next season.
GM Doug Melvin and manager Ned Yost, who looked like geniuses in the first half, looked rather helpless for most of the second.
So, was Payne right? Only half so.
The Brewers still need to vastly improve their talent if they are to finally break their streak of losing seasons. Of course, it is hoped that minor leaguers like Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Tony Gwynn, J.J. Hardy and others will do that in a year or two. But, for this year, Payne was right. You get what you pay for in the end.
But, Payne was wrong in his prediction of the impact on attendance. Because of the good first half, and a lot of sold out games with the Cubs, the Brewers' attendance went up. Once again, Wisconsin baseball fans demonstrated they will show up when they are given a reason.
Payne also was wrong in some of his internal personnel changes. Some good people were fired from the organization and continue to be missed.
It really isn't a matter of who was right or wrong, or who won or lost, in the battle between Payne and the Selig-controlled board of directors. The important thing is to finally bring Milwaukee a winner.
It also might all become academic soon, since rumors of a sale of the team are rampant. Three investment groups are said to be actively pursuing the purchase. Some say an announcement could come shortly after the season ends.
Those new owners will still face a big challenge - a debt well over $100 million, a possible $8 million repair of the Miller Park roof, that mediocre talent currently on the team, etc. The new owners had better have deep pockets and be willing to reach down far into them.
As for this year, it was 50-50 on the field, with the first half being a success and the second a failure. You could say the dispute between Ulice Payne and the Selig supporters also had a 50-50 outcome.
BCR Season Awards
Player of the Year -- Lyle Overbay is the hands-on winner here. Despite slumping in the second half, Overbay should finish the season over .300 - the first Brewer to do that in a few years - and has a chance to lead the league in doubles.
Pitchers of the Year -- Closer Dan Kolb and Ben Sheets share the honor. Kolb would have wiped out the club saves record by now, if the Brewers had been ahead in more ballgames in the second half. Sheets had a fine ERA and a franchise record strikeout season, but didn't have an impressive won-loss mark in large part because the Brewers often game him lousy run support. Both were All Stars so they share this BCR honor.
Goat of the Year -- Give a full set of horns to just about every Brewers' batter with runners in scoring position. Not enough of them came through. Even though Scott Podsednik set a team stolen bases record, he deserves one horn too. His on-base percentage has to get much better if he is to be the Brewers table-setter. Geoff Jenkins avoided getting a horn with a late season surge, but he needs to have a better year if he is to be seen as the team's go-to guy.
Plays of the Year -- Give the designations to Bill Hall's walkoff homer and game-winning squeeze bunt in successive games in May.
Hot Tix
The Brewers wrap it up at home this weekend. They end their series with the Cardinals in an afternoon game today. Then, they play former manager Phil Garner and the Astros at 7:05 p.m. Friday, 12:25 p.m. on Saturday (a change from the original schedule) and 1:05 p.m. Sunday. Saturday is Fan Appreciation Day. The Crew finishes the overall season on the road.
In football, the Badgers host Penn State at Camp Randall at 4:45 p.m. Saturday. The Packers travel to Indianapolis for a 3:15 p.m. game on Sunday. Remember to read about that one in On the Pack on Monday.
Concordia hosts MacMurray College at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Mequon. Some WIAC schools have started their conference schedules. Probably the best game on tap is Whitewater at Eau Claire Saturday.
Looking longer range, remember the national bowling tournament at Miller Park in October. More will be reported on that in the October State Sports Buzz. And, looking even longer range, keep track of Marquette's attempt to bring the NCAA Final Four basketball championship to Miller Park, perhaps in 2012.
