If you’re a fan of the Milwaukee Brewers, it doesn’t get much better than a sweep of the Chicago Cubs. At home. In front of 129,602 people, a new Miller Park attendance record.

Not only that, but the Brewers are actually competing for the Wild Card. And not just “sort of competing,” but really, actually, don’t-pinch-me-if-this-is-a-dream competing. The club is now only a game behind the Cubs, Dodgers, and Padres and a half game behind the Giants. More impressively, the only team on that list with fewer losses is the Dodgers; the Padres and Cubs are both tied with Milwaukee at 38 while the where-did-they-come-from Giants have lost 39.

Anyway, I went all-out on the game recaps for the series. If you’re at all interested, please check them out - all three are currently available at the Daily Brew at Brewerfan.net. Each of the articles has an additional storyline in addition to the actual game recap… good stuff, if I dare be a bit immodest.

  • Big Ben Wins Big Game: Brewers 1, Cubs 0
    The recap of game one provides some interesting data about Miller Park attendance. It also includes a blow-by-blow account of some of the game’s most exciting moments… this one was an “Instant Classic.”
  • David and Goliath: Santos Outduels Prior, Brewers Win
    Everything you ever wanted to know about Victor Santos and Jose Paniagua, an ode to Mark Prior, and a classic tale of, well, David and Goliath.
  • Captain’s Orders: Brewers Complete Sweep of Cubs
    The latest recap provides a look back at September 18-20, 2000, the last time the Brewers swept the Cubs at their home park. Names like Roosevelt Brown, Julio Zuleta, and James Mouton are sure to bring back some memories.

If this is the high point in the 2004 season, I think I’d be okay with that. While it would obviously mean that things are all downhill from here, this team has exceeded expectations by a factor of seven billion and they have provided more enjoyment in the first half of the season than the Lopester/Royster teams provided over entire seasons.

Sit back, take it all in, and treasure the good times. God knows there hasn’t been enough of them.