They've been called brash, cocky, arrogant and disrespectful. All of those may be fair words and are subject to debate. But one thing that can't be debated is that the Brewers, at least now, are winners.
And that's made them very, very confident.
To steal a page from Nuke LaLoosh, the Brewers are announcing their presence with authority. It may not be ideal or the most traditional, but at least you don't see Prince Fielder wearing a garter belt or Manny Parra trying to breathe through his eyelids.
Opposing fans like to point out the fact that, aside from last year's trip to the playoffs and a loss in the 1982 World Series, the franchise hasn't won anything. That's a fair point, but by that rationale, the Cubs haven't been to the World Series since 1944, but that doesn't stop the flatlanders from flapping their yaps every time Lou Pinella fights off a sneeze. Same goes for the Red Sox; you'd think that "Red Sox Nation" would have shut up after winning the World Series finally, but – despite payrolls rivaling their hated rival Yankees – we're still stuck listening to the "we're the underdog" crap.
Nope, the Brewers – and their fans – haven't had much to boast about over the last 40 years, but that was then. As it stands now, the Brewers are in first place in the National League Central Division. They're winning and occasionally, they do it in dramatic fashion.
Nobody embodies this newfound sense of confidence more than Ryan Braun. Milwaukee's leftfielder has developed a knack for hitting big home runs in the biggest situations. Take, for example, the two-run blast against the Cubs last season that vaulted the Brewers into the post-season. (Surely you've seen the picture, the Brewers have plastered it everywhere this season).
He drew the ire of baseball pundits after rounding the bases with his tongue hanging out last weekend after belting another two-run homer to beat Chicago. ESPN's Buck Showalter said Braun looked like he'd never hit a home run before. Cubs broadcaster Ron Santo said Braun was hot-dogging.
They obviously forgot that a few innings earlier, Cubs starter Ryan Dempster – whether premeditated or not – sailed a pitch toward Braun's head. They also failed to mention their hypocrisy, considering the growing praise heaped upon players like St. Louis' Albert Pujols and CVS pharmacy poster boys Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and, of course, Manny Ramirez -- all of whom love pausing to admire a moon shot before their purposeful and methodical trips around the bases.
This is the same Braun that got drilled in the back by Pittsburgh's Jeff Kastens after Braun took him deep earlier in the game back on April 27. He's been hit five times this season overall – second-most in the majors – making you wonder if he's made comments about opponents and their maternal lineage as he rounds the bases.
Dave Bush calls it a "flair for the dramatic." Ken Macha calls it "style." Whatever it is, its annoying the living bejesus out of National League pitchers, but it's sparking the passions of a fan base that's been dying for something to cheer about after years of being beaten around by every journeyman pitcher to pass through the N.L.
Attendance is taking a hit as the economy continues to sag. People have a hard time plunking down big bucks to watch a bunch of millionaires playing a game. They want value. They want entertainment. The percentage of those preferring a 1-0 gem to a offensive battle royal is shrinking. Fans want to see players flip their bats in disgust after a strikeout and celebrate like a kid in the backyard when they smash a hanging curveball into the bleachers.
So long as it doesn't get to the absurd and pre-planned levels of the NFL, who's getting hurt here? The integrity of the game? It's not like some flapping shirttails are going to suddenly send steorid stories to the nether regions of the sports pages.
If the Brewers' giddy celebrations and jersey-untucking is that offensive to opposing players and fans, there's a simple way to put it to a halt:
Beat Milwaukee. When's the last time anybody could say that?
