2008 Milwaukee Brewers

2008 Milwaukee Brewers / Franchise: Milwaukee Brewers / BR Team Page[edit]

Record: 90-72, Finished 2nd in NL Central Division (2008 NL) | 2008 National League Wild Card

Clinched Wild Card: September 28, 2008, vs. Chicago Cubs

Coaches: Bill Castro, Garth Iorg, Mike Maddux, Ed Sedar, Ted Simmons, Jim Skaalen, Dale Sveum and Robin Yount

History, Comments, Contributions[edit]

The 2008 Brewers had a wild ride of a season. They started with a bang, going 6-1 to grab the division lead, but then won only 14 of the next 37 to fall to 20-24, last in the NL Central. They had pecked their way back up to third by early July, when they were bolstered by the acquisition of ace pitcher CC Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians for prospect Matt LaPorta and others. Sabathia would go 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA for Milwaukee.

By July 26, Milwaukee was back into a tie for the division lead with the Chicago Cubs. They then slumped once more, falling to 6 1/2 games out by the end of August. Thanks to the collapse of the Mets, Milwaukee was able to fight for the wild card for much of September. They pulled a surprise move with 12 games left in the year, firing manager Ned Yost and replacing him with Dale Sveum. At that point, they had just been swept by Philadelphia in a crucial 4-game series that saw them relinquish what appeared until them to be a safe lead in the NL Wild Card race. The club went 7-5 for Sveum but won 6 of their last 7 to pass New York on the final day of the season. Sabathia twice won on three days' rest in the final week of the year, including going the distance on the last day to beat the Cubs and give the Brewers a spot in the 2008 Postseason.

Awards and Honors[edit]

All-Stars: Ryan Braun, Corey Hart and Ben Sheets
NL Silver Slugger Award: Ryan Braun (OF)

Postseason[edit]

NLDS vs. Philadelphia Phillies[edit]

Game	Score	Date	Starters	Time (ET)
1	Milwaukee Brewers 1 Philadelphia Phillies 3	October 1	Yovani Gallardo (0-1) Cole Hamels (1-0)	3:00 p.m.
2	Milwaukee Brewers 2 Philadelphia Phillies 5	October 2	CC Sabathia (0-1) Brett Myers (1-0)	6:00 p.m.
3	Philadelphia Phillies 1 Milwaukee Brewers 4	October 4	Jamie Moyer (0-1) Dave Bush (1-0)	6:30 p.m.
4	Philadelphia Phillies 6 Milwaukee Brewers 2	October 5	Joe Blanton (1-0) Jeff Suppan (0-1)	1:00 p.m.

Team[edit]

Milwaukee Brewers
Infield
Catchers: Jason Kendall, Mike Rivera	First basemen: Prince Fielder, Mike Rivera, Joe Dillon
Second basemen: Rickie Weeks, Craig Counsell, Bill Hall (hallbi03), Joe Dillon, Hernan Iribarren	Third basemen: Russell Branyan, Bill Hall (hallbi03)
Shortstops: J.J. Hardy, Craig Counsell
Outfield
Left fielders: Ryan Braun (braunry02), Gabe Kapler, Joe Dillon	Right fielders: Corey Hart, Gabe Kapler
Center fielders: Mike Cameron, Gabe Kapler, Hernan Iribarren
Pitchers
Starting: Ben Sheets, Jeff Suppan, Manny Parra, David Bush, Seth McClung, Yovani Gallardo
Relieving: Salomon Torres, David Riske, Brian Shouse, Guillermo Mota, Carlos Villanueva, Mitch Stetter, Eric Gagne
Other
Coaches: Bill Castro, Garth Iorg, Mike Maddux, Ed Sedar, Ted Simmons, Jim Skaalen, Dale Sveum, Robin Yount	Manager(s): Ned Yost, Dale Sveum