Can a little kid turn around the Milwaukee Brewer season? You know. Kids sometimes have dreams and wish very hard. The answer is yes, kids can turn fortunes around! I witnessed it on Sunday at Miller Park in Milwaukee.
The Brewers had lost 7 out of 9 games. They were still leading their division but tension was setting in. Would this team allow itself to fall into a deeper funk and ultimately end up in the "basement"? Grandson Dominic (along with Collin) said no! The Brewers have a team loaded with talent. J.J. Hardy is leading the league with home runs. Prince Fielder is close behind. Ben Sheets seems to be healthy. Suppan, Bush, Turnbow and lots more.
So we venture down to Miller Park where everything is free. I mean this is magic land. The place where heros play baseball. La-la-la-la-la.
Dominic wasn't paying attention early in the ball game. It was hot dogs, nachos, soda and peanuts. No he didn't get sick. By the 4th inning his mind "got into the ballgame". The Brewers were behind 4-0. Enough is enough. Soon it was 5-2 in favor of the Minnesota Twins. And then it happened. One of the crowd favorites, Jeff Jenkins came to bat in the 5th inning with two men on base. He made contact with a fastball and drove it deep to center field. The center fielder (Hunter) went back to the wall and made a high leap. It was to no avail. The ball was long gone. Home Run! Dominic went bananas. High fives. Jumping. Bright eyes. One of his hero's had tied the game. It was a moment to be savored.
By sheer will, Dominic made sure that Jenkins drove in one more run in the seventh and the Brewers edged ahead 6-5. The game ended with Capriano striking out 3 straight Minnesota Twin batters to a standing applause. The Brewers win. The Brewers win. The Brewers win.
I don't know if the Brewer fortunes were actually reversed that day but the next day they won again in Los Angeles 9-5. If the Brewers go on to win the pennant, it all because my Grandson Dominic decided that enough was enough. The Brewers were not going fold while he was in the crowd. No sir.
It was a team effort. Collin seemed to know what was going to happen all day. Dominic's dad (Paul) might claim that he helped turn fortunes around but I know better.
Did I mention that it is also free to sit in your car in the parking lot after the game for 1 hour as 39,000 fans push and shove to get out. It is amazing what booze does to sports fans.
It was a special day surrounded by special people.
Love,
Dad