Cabin Twelve

A couple of days after being bounced from their first postseason appearance since 1982, quotes out of Milwaukee are pointing to the Brewers making a run at signing CC Sabathia during the off season. From the horse’s mouth:

“Who knows, maybe it’s not my last appearance,” Sabathia said shortly after the Brewers’ 6-2 loss Sunday. “Coming here, meeting these guys, making new friends, that will all factor in my decision.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say this was one of the better times I had in my career,” said Sabathia, who went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts with the Brewers. “Coming here, meeting these guys and being on this team, was a good experience.”

“Even when I was in Cleveland, I told people I want to have fun. I like to play this game and I want to be around people I enjoy, because you have to be around them eight months a year,” Sabathia said. “It’ll all factor in.”

Of course, this probably doesn’t mean much, but its something to hang a hat of hope on if you’re a Brewers fan. The story gets a little more interesting when you factor in some comments from owner Mark Attanasio and Brewers spokesperson/batsman Ryan Braun. Continue reading »

20 years from now, people are going to ask you where you were on August 18, 2008, the night CC Sabathia changed the game of baseball forever. So commit it to memory.

I was flipping between games last night, and landed on the Brewers/Astros game on ESPN in the top of the ninth. At the point I started watching again, the Astros had scored a run and Sabathia was rocketing towards 130 pitches after walking Miguel Tejeda with 2 outs. With the score 9-3, the bases loaded and Lance Berkman coming to the plate, ESPN’s cameras flashed to Ned Yost in the Brewers dugout – standing with his arms crossed, practically screaming “I ain’t taking him out! I ain’t taking him out! Fuck all ya’ll!” And with that, the big guy ended up finishing the Astros off.

I had a vague feeling that I was watching something historic last night. That Yost and Sabathia had just turned the corner and were going to change the game of baseball all by themselves. Baseball people were going to start realizing that grown men could throw a baseball more than 100 times a night. That athletes (even 300 pound behemoths) could finish the one 3 hour long game that they start every 5 days. The role of the bullpen was going to radically change. Gone will be the lefty specialist! Setup men? Gone! The hold rule? Forgotten! The bullpen, only in an emergency!

So, mark my words: In a few years, baseball will resemble that old game they used to play in the 40s and 50s. The National Pastime. Stickball I think they called it. Or Cricket. I can’t remember. I read a book about it once though.

Of course, this is all a lie and the Brewers really aren’t changing baseball. They’re just not going to resign Sabathia this off-season, so they’re going to ride their new horse as close to the playoffs as they can. Seems like a reasonable plan. Assuming his arm doesn’t fall off. And he doesn’t get hit by an ice cream truck.