With a record of 93-69, The Milwaukee Brewers easily won the National League Central Division.

Exciting Jackson Chourio is now the focal point of the Brewers dynamic club.

The Brewers will begin postseason play Tuesday against the New York Mets, who split a doubleheader with the Braves Monday, sending them to Milwaukee as the No. 6 seed in the National League.

The Central Division can be challenging.

Usually, the St, Louis Cardinals hover in contention to win the division. They collapsed.

The Cubs are usually formidable, and hang around long enough to be a threat for the postseason. They finished second in the division, 10 games behind the Brewers.

The Cincinnati Reds were projected to be a better club than their results indicate.

And finally, the Pittsburgh Pirates, behind the talented pitching of Paul Skenes, are improving.

ESPN.com indicates the Brewers averaged 31,323 spectators per game this year.

Without question, the Brewers were the best team in the division.

They won without the services of Christian Yelich, their trusted, veteran outfielder who has undergone season-ending back surgery.

The Brewers play sound, solid fundamental baseball.

What’s Next For The Brew Crew:

Records at Baseball-reference.com date to the days when the Brewers were still the Seattle Pilots, in 1969.

Those records indicate the following for Brewers postseason play:

1981- Brewers lost to the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, 3-2

1982- Brewers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, 4-3

2008- Brewers lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Division Series, 3-1

2011- Brewers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship Series, 4-2

2018- Brewers lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series, 4-3

2019- Brewers lost to the Washington Nationals in the NL Wild Card Game

2020- Brewers lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2020 Wild Card Series, 2-0

2021- Brewers lost to the Atlanta Braves in the NL Division Series, 3-1

2023- Brewers lost to Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Wild Card Series, 2-0

It must be remembered that the Brewers did play in the American League until 1998.

While there have been some extended playoff appearances, like being in the World Series in 1982, and in the National League Championship Series in 2011, and 2018, the Brewers have made early exits in their postseason history.

Will This Postseason Be Different?

The Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies both earned first-round playoff byes due to their better National League records than the Brewers.

The Dodgers won the West. The Phillies won the East.

To this old scout, the Brewers are a team comprised of good, solid baseball players. Without Yelich, they still managed to make every out count. They play hard. They pick each other up. They are the sum of their parts, without a real “superstar.” At least not yet.

Left fielder Chourio, 20, has done a remarkable job using all of his many talents, growing as a consequential, impactful catalyst.

Second baseman Brice Turang has shown the type of skill scouts saw when Turang was a 1st round draft pick in 2021. He stole a whopping 50 bases.

Shortstop Willy Adames, who can be a free agent following the World Series, has proven to be a team-leader on both offense and defense. Adames led the team with 32 homers and 112 RBIs.

Catcher William Contreras is the team leader in hits and doubles. He also had 23 home runs.

On the mound, right-handers Freddy Peralta, and Colin Rea kept there team in games, and each had double-digit wins.

Tobias Myers, Aaron Civale, Frankie Montas, also had the bulk of the remaining recent starts.

Relievers Devin Williams, and Trevor Megill have been very valuable in high-leverage end of game innings.

The Brewers have the luxury of having four lefties in their pen, including Jared Koenig, Aaron Ashby, Hoby Milner, and DL Hall.

Manager Pat Murphy may win the National League Manager of the Year Award.

In short, the Brewers have a very well-balanced club, with the capabilities of scoring runs, and preventing runs with good pitching and good defense.

Manager Murphy has his club playing very sound fundamental baseball, as they take advantage of the mistakes of the opposition, and maximize their own opportunities.

This may be the year the Brewers advance deeply into the playoffs.

As the team headed to Irvine, California, the Milwaukee Bucks announced their 2024 training camp roster. The roster includes all 15 players on guaranteed contracts, 3 two-way players and two additional young prospects.

The Bucks will work remotely for training camp for the first time since going to the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 2019. The team had previously worked out at the university in 2016. Head coach Doc Rivers has taken his Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia teams to remote locations in the past.

“I think it’s important that they’ll be riding in the car together to and from practice, going to dinners, spending time,” Rivers said Monday before the team left for California. “I wish it was longer, honestly. Camp is what, four, five days now? For a coach that’s nuts to me, but it is what it is. It’s what the NBA is now. But from a team standpoint, the longer they’re together (the better). It’s nice that our first game is on the road, so it kind of extends it, you know? No families. No friends around. Just us. I think that’s good for our team.”

More: Here’s what to know about Khris Middleton’s status heading into Bucks training camp

Here are the 20 players the Bucks brought to training camp:

Guards

James Akinjo (6-1, 190)

Marjon Beauchamp (6-6, 203)

Pat Connaughton (6-5, 216)

AJ Green (6-4, 209)

AJ Johnson (6-5, 174)

Damian Lillard (6-3, 206)

Ryan Rollins (6-3, 190)*

Gary Trent Jr. (6-4, 208)

Stanley Umude (6-6, 215)*

Delon Wright (6-5, 185)

Guard/forward

Andre Jackson Jr. (6-7, 203)

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo (6-11, 254)

Chris Livingston (6-6, 228)

Khris Middleton (6-7, 232)

Bobby Portis Jr. (6-10, 262)

Taurean Prince (6-6, 219)

Liam Robbins (7-0, 250)

Tyler Smith (6-9, 223)

Centers

Brook Lopez (7-1, 276)

Anžejs Pasečņiks (7-1, 240)** Two-way players

BY: STACIA THOMPSON, SHERMAN PHOENIX 

FIND MORE OF THE BEST OF MILWAUKEE 2024 HERE

Editor’s Note: This year, Milwaukee Magazine asked several notable Milwaukeeans for their takes on the Best of Milwaukee. Many responded with much more great stuff than we could publish in our print issue, so we just had to share more of their picks here! Stacia Thompson is executive director of Sherman Phoenix.

I am thrilled to share some of the city’s most exciting and innovative spaces, activities and organizations that have made a significant impact in 2024. These highlights reflect both my personal interests and the broader community’s vibrant spirit. Milwaukee continues to evolve and innovate, offering fresh, locally made, and impactful experiences that embrace change while staying true to the city’s roots.

The Milwaukee Wine Academy has been a revelation for wine enthusiasts as well as novices like myself. Their engaging classes, led by expert instructors, offer a fun, interactive environment to learn about wine. The academy’s diverse wine selections, carefully curated from around the world, enhance the tasting experience.

The academy also hosts personalized wine tastings perfect for corporate gatherings, family reunions or social get-togethers. With a focus on inclusivity, the academy caters to all backgrounds and tastes, creating a vibrant community of wine lovers.

Culture X Design has been a game-changer in the city’s event scene. Their monthly events, ranging from panel discussions to live karaoke, have brought the city out to vibe to local artists performing celebrities’ music with live bands.

Their Groove Theory Series and the newly curated Summer of Soul have been particularly impactful. The latter, a free series in the heart of Downtown, focuses on inclusivity and accessibility, centering performers, businesses and audiences of color. 

Sherman Phoenix has always been a hub of community activity, and I may be biased, but this year it has truly outdone itself. New storefronts like J.Riley, Classic Shoppe and House of Vitali-tea have joined the ranks of The Table and Queens Closet, creating a diverse and dynamic shopping experience.

House of Vitali-tea has been hosting Wellness Our Way every first Saturday of the month, an event that has quickly become a community favorite, thanks to the charismatic hosting by radio personality Promise.

On the culinary front, new eateries Fully Loaded and Richmond’s Food for Your Soul have joined Baked Dreams and Planted Vibes, offering a gastronomic delight for every palate. The Summer Front Porch series continues to bring live music and entertainment, making Sherman Phoenix a must-visit destination.