Drunken Live Tweet - Face/Off - "I'm Castor Tweet! Wooooooo!"

There are some movies that I absolutely love that I get a lot of shit liking. Look I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion but the movies that I love are fucking sweet. We're not talking about boring old classics like Gone with the Wind or romantic comedy fodder like 27 Dresses here. I'm talking about ass kicking movies like Total Recall, The Replacements and this movie - Face/Off. The involvement of Nicolas Cage and John Travolta might turn some people away but in 1997 they were on top of the world. Travolta had found a career resurgance due to Pulp Fiction and Broken Arrow and Cage was in his prime coming off of The Rock and Con Air. At the time there were no two bigger movie stars and director John Woo had made the transition into American Cinema. Look I'm not going to sit here and tell you about how good the movie is or give you a plot synopsis. You can go anywhere on the internet and read reviews of the film. But there is only one place on the internet that you can go to read about what some drunken asshole thinks about Face/Off. And that's here at Pookon's Ill Blog. Congratulations friend. You've come to the right place.

In case you aren't familiar with this series (Drunken Live Tweet) let me bring you up to speed a little bit. I like to get hammered and watch movies that I've seen a hundred times and offer my commentary is bursts of 140 characters or less. It's a great way to spend a night when you're a drunk that doesn't have any friends and likes to pretend that he's hilarious. So I settle in with a bottle of rum, put on the flick and let the booze do the talking. If you've seen Face/Off even a few times you should be able to follow along with my insightful and random observations on this movie. If you haven't seen it or if it has been a while I suggest you pop in the movie right now and follow along with me as we take this journey into the depths of my mind. See what makes me tick. See what I find exciting and weird. And see just how many times I can swear and talk about sex. I promise you that it will be a whole lot. If that sort of thing is your bag then read on. If that sort of thing doesn't amuse you than we don't share the same sense of humor. Why are you even here if you don't understand me? Well, no one really understands me. Maybe someone else has been wearing my face for the last 10 years and making me seem to act weird. Maybe that's why I diverted from the sweet little catholic boy with the nice voice who liked frogs. It wasn't me the whole time man. Someone took my face...off!

I know I'm going to get drunk + revisit this flick for a #LiveTweet session. How could I not? I'm Castor Troy!! Woooooo!! #FaceOff

Nic Cage is rocking a stellar mustache in the beginning of this flick. That's how the viewer knows this is a flashback. #FaceOff

Travolta's kid gets shot in the fucking face while on the Merry-Go-Round. And people wonder why I don't ride those things. #FaceOff

Nic Cage grabs choir girl ass in '97 + gets away with it. If I tried that I'd go to jail. Everyone is so sensitive these days. #FaceOff

Pollux Troy can't tie his shoes. Cause he's an idiot. I mean that fucker did steal Raptor eggs out of the nest. #FaceOff

"Peach... I could eat a peach for hours." If I was Castor Troy it'd be more like "pizza. I could eat a pizza in 5 minutes." #fat #FaceOff

Francisco Scaramanga isn't the only man with the Golden Gun. Castor Troy did him one better by using 2. Your move Francisco. #FaceOff

Nic Cage asked Travolta if his daughter Jamie was ripe. He won't let it go. He really likes peaches. Wants to shake her tree. #FaceOff

You know John Woo is a great director when he can make the "Look Who's Talking" guy + "City of Angels" guy look like action stars. #FaceOff

If I could do a #FaceOff and switch faces with someone else, I'd do it with Usher. Although something tells me people wouldn't believe it.

Travolta has the top scientists and plastic surgeons and he chooses to switch with Nic Cage? Why not George Clooney? #FaceOff

George Clooney as you know, was People Magazine's Sexiest Man in 1997. And of all time depending on who you ask. #aLittleGay #FaceOff

Doctors transplanted Nic Cage's face onto Travolta. It's a good thing they were also able to transplant his need to always shout. #FaceOff

When the Mario Brothers wore those boots they were able to jump really high. Why can't the Erewhon prisoners do the same? #FaceOff

You watch your fucking mouth! Cause I'm CASTOR TROY!! WOOO! So good it'll make you cry. I love a good Nic Cage freak out. #FaceOff

If I didn't have a face the first thing I would do is scare the shit out of some kids. Then whine about it, then get a new one. #FaceOff

I'm not into mature women, but I've wanted to do Joan Allen since she got all naughty and colored in Pleasantville. #FaceOff

And speaking of doing, I'd do Travolta's daughter Jamie. It's ok though, cause in '97 she was 17 and I was 16. #FaceOff

I'd like to defuse a bomb someday. But that's impossible because I am the bomb. Kind of hard to defuse myself. #FaceOff

Tonight Travolta is going to do to Joan Allen what William H. Macy and Jeff Daniels could never do. #FaceOff

Exercise for these prisoners is walking around single file? In High School our gym teacher Sgt. Karps gave us basketballs. #FaceOff

Drew Carey's brother is a real bastard. He must have swallowed all that aggresion from Mimi + directed it at the prisoners. #FaceOff

Drew Carey's brother said cigarettes will kill you. Nope. Electric chairs kill you. Mr. Larson from Happy Gilmore will kill you. #FaceOff

I see an oil rig but I don't see Harry Stamper and crew. And I also see a remote prison and no John Mason. Movies are bullshit. #FaceOff

Movies make it seem so easy to escape from prison. But how do you escape prison rape? Because that info could come in handy. #FaceOff

When I broke out of prison I didn't get greeted with guns, hookers and drugs. Some people have all the luck. #FaceOff

I'd like to take his face off? Well I'd like to someday walk on the moon but we all know it isn't happening. Lower your standards. #FaceOff

If Hyde tried to rape my daughter I'd probably kick his ass. Then make him sit and listen to Eric Forman bitch and moan. #FaceOff

I wish I woke up from a bender to a girl taking off my pants and kissing me. I just wake up to a hungry cat meowing. #FaceOff

I see Gina Gershon and I think Showgirls. And titties. And Jessie Spano. And her caffeine pill "I'm So Excited" freakout. #FaceOff

I hope if I get ever get caught up in a slow motion shoot-out wearing headphones The Miracles "Love Machine" is playing. #FaceOff

Sometimes I wish I was in a John Woo movie because I could use some of that slow motion. Life moves way too god damn fast. #FaceOff

Jonah Hill and I could have our own kind of #FaceOff. Because we look alike. Or so they say. Until that fucker went all skinny and shit.

Pollux Troy deserved to die. No one steals Raptor eggs out of the nest and gets away with it. Nobody!!! #FaceOff

Nic Cage (as Travolta) just killed Big Ed of Big Ed's Tires. If you didn't like your job just quit. Don't go to the extreme. #FaceOff

Nic Cage and Samuel L. Jackson must have a clause built into their contracts where they have a minimum of 3 screams per movie. #FaceOff

I know this movie is called #FaceOff but I just took my clothes off. Hey man, it was getting a little too hot in here.

Due to popular demand I will now be putting my clothes back on. I'll tell you it's because I'm cold, but we all know the truth. #FaceOff

Not that anyone asked for it, but I will be #LiveTweeting the thrilling conclusion of #FaceOff tonight. I passed out before finishing.

Time to finish up #LiveTweeting #FaceOff. The epic finale is here. And now it's time for me to take my pants.......off!!

I once had a dream (some would call it a nightmare) where I found out I had a kid. Woke up feeling sad it wasn't true. WTF? #FaceOff

I think I would be a good dad. Even if I switched faces, ended up in prison and then showed up in his life amidst gun fire. #FaceOff

See, I would protect my kid from oncoming traffic and unlicensed day care, but I wouldn't know how to protect him from gunfire. #FaceOff

I went back in the movie a little bit, but I guess I had some daddy issues and regrets to work out. With guns of course. #FaceOff

It's me, Sean. Don't look at my face. Look at my penis. And listen to me recap the movie for those who weren't paying attention. #FaceOff

In bed Eve gives Sean a little prick to take a sample of his blood. Funny, I thought he was supposed to give her a little prick. #FaceOff

Good luck apologizing. This isn't like forgetting your anniversary or not taking out the trash. You let a killer into her house. #FaceOff

For a guy who was old and in charge of shit, Big Ed doesn't have a lot of people at his funeral. Must have been a real asshole. #FaceOff

I want two guns like I want two chicks at the same time. With two chicks if I fall asleep, they have each other to talk to. #FaceOff

Where does Castor Troy Travolta get off calling Michael a mistake? He wasn't planned. That doesn't mean they don't love him. #FaceOff

It's a Mexican Standoff when 2 or more opponents draw their guns creating a tense situation. Why Mexican? No tacos. No sombreros. #FaceOff

If I found a Genie I would use my 1st wish to be in a gunfight. And my 2nd wish to survive it. My 3rd wish? To get laid of course. #FaceOff

I'm call that move a UF for unnecessary flip. But you do those in action movies. Like James' UD (unnecessary dives) in softball. #FaceOff

I would stick a knife in Jamie's leg. And by knife I mean penis. And by leg I mean vagina. #FaceOff

Why have a car chase when you can have a boat chase? I haven't seen something this Over the Top since Stallone in '87. #FaceOff

So scientists can take Nic Cage and John Travolta's faces off, but they couldn't put them onto their stunt doubles? #FaceOff

A fist fight on the beach is a good way to work out your differences. Not by playing gay shirtless volleyball. #TopGun #FaceOff

A harpoon is a very deadly weapon. Trust me, as someone who gets confused for a whale at the beach, those things can kill. #FaceOff

If someone wanted my face I'd give it to them. It hasn't really worked out for me. Be my guest. Good luck picking up the ladies. #FaceOff

You know that scar near my heart? That bullet wound? I won't need it anymore. But Doc, how about getting a bigger penis? #FaceOff

Hey honey! I'm home! And I look like Travolta again. Oh this kid? Raise him as our own. I promised his dead parents we would. #FaceOff

Life isn't fair. I get to look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow man and Nic Cage + Travolta are bitching cause they switched faces. #FaceOff

The credits end and I'm still me. And my face isn't off. What was accomplished by watching this? Movies are bullshit. #FaceOff

The idea for watching this movie came around Thanksgiving Weekend of 2011. As subscribers of AT&T Cable we were treated to a preview of all the premium channels and instead of watching some brand new movie, I watched bits and pieces of Face/Off all weekend long at random times on Showtime or HBO or some shit. I sat alone in the living room watching and I could do was to repeatedly shout, "I'M CASTOR TROY!!! WOOOOO!!" over and over again until I pissed off my roommate, the dog and my cat. I'm sure Bombay has seen parts of it over the years but Gracie and AK had no idea who Castor Troy was, but I was on a mission to let them know - HE IS ME!! I'M CASTOR TROY!!! WOOOOOO!!! If you still don't get I encourage you to watch Face/Off right now. If you made it through this entire Live Tweet session and feel like you understand the movie (and I don't know how that can be because I can't even figure out what the hell is going on here and I said it!) then you should still go out and watch it. In fact call me up right now and I'll bring it over. We can grab a couple of peaches to eat for hours, switch faces and enjoy the shit out of this movie. You won'r regret it. I'll be sitting next to my phone anxiously awaiting your call. And if you don't call me I'm likely to have a signature Nicolas Cage freak out moment so you better just go ahead and call me... MAYBE!!

 - pookon -

 

www.pookon.com
email: pookondotcom@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/MilwaukeeIceman

What's Brewing in the Crewbicle? - Week 19 - Houston Astros / Colorado Rockies

I never considered myself to be a scientist but I'd like to try a little experiment. Actually I'd like to enlist the help of the most notable scientist in the world Emmett L. "Doc" Brown to help me out seeing as how I failed chemistry and got a D in physics. After all I am more of an athlete (with beer pong and frisbee being my sports) than a mathlete. But here is my experiment. I want to put together a rag-tag baseball team featuring myself and The Great Hambino and Scotty Smalls from The Sandlot, Chet "The Rocket" Stedman and Henry Rowengartner from Rookie of the Year, Air Bud from Seventh Inning Fetch, Clark from The Benchwarmers, Montgomery Brewster and Spike Nolan from Brewster's Millions, Ed the Chimpanzee from Ed, Roger Dorn and Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn from Major League, Doris Murphy and Mae Mordabito from A League of Their Own, Danny Hemmerling and Mel Clark from Angels in the Outfield, Max 'Hammer' Dubois from Mr. Baseball and Stan Ross from Mr. 3000. I'm sure we would sprinkle in a couple of other seasoned veterans like Jake Taylor from Major League or Crash Davis from Bull Durham but for the most part we'd be a bunch of role players. And of course we would be managed by George Knox from Angels in the Outfield, the bench coach would be Conor O'Neil from Hard Ball, the hitting coach would be Jimmy Dugan from A League of Their Own and the pitching coach would be Phil Brickma from Rookie of the Year. I don't know why I would need Doc Brown to help me with this experiment because this seems more like a "Round 'Em Up" type job that Bill and Ted would be more apt to deal with, but either way here is what I would like to do: I want to get these guys together and play against the Houston Astros because I have no doubt that my fictional team would be able to beat them. Shit, anyone could beat them because they are the worst baseball team. I would invest my life savings to make that match-up happen. But sadly we didn't get that game. We got to see the hapless Astros manhandle the Brewers and their inept bullpen.

The Astros are well on their way to losing a 100 games but our decrepit bullpen helped stave that by allowing them to win Games 1 + 2 in the final inning of each of those games and prove to every man woman and child in Milwaukee that they really are that bad. I really don't know how else to say it. There is no spin that I can put on it to make it sound any better. We flat out gave this series away and proved once again that there really is no place like home. That hot piece of ass Dorothy was right all along. She clicked her slippers when she said it. You all remember that part. Hell it's ingrained in your memory as much as the Wicked Witch jumping over a dirt hill on a motorcycle. You don't remember that? Then you must not have been watching my Nana's copy of the movie. Because that's one of the memories that I hold dear from my childhood that the booze has been unable to destroy. And I won't ever let it be taken away from me like Liam Neeson's daughter. Not on my watch. I could sit here and go on and on about how pathetic our bullpen has been this year and how it was totally exposed in this series, but you've already heard that story. How about a story that you never have heard? I peed my pants in the changing room of the J.C. Penny's Outlet Store (which I lovingly referred to as Ghetto Penny's) when I was a teenager because I couldn't hold it in anymore. I don't know why I didn't just stop trying on pants and go to the real restroom but I guess that's because it was far away at the front of the store. Needless to say I was really embarrassed and I left the clothes I was trying on in the changing room and I begged my Mom to leave. She couldn't tell because my clothes that I wore there were not soaked with urine. That was probably the last time I peed my pants when I was not in the water and I still think about it to this day. Who does that? Gross. Would you rather hear about that or the Milwaukee Brewers? You voted Brewers? And so did everyone else? Damn it. I guess I shouldn't have told that story then. Boy is my face red... I should't have dressed as the Kool Aid Kool Man for Halloween...

I expected the Rocky Mountains to be a little rockier than this. That John Denver is full of shit man. I haven't been to Colorado since 2001 and I've been itching to go back ever since. I was supposed to go to this series with the one and only Mad Man Dave Foley because he has family out there but I decided not to. He still went but I opted out because it was a weekday series. I get a limited amount of vacation time at work and if I want to do a Brewers roadtrip it most likely has to be during the weekend. That was the only thing stopping me from venturing out to to Coors Field but in hindsight I'm glad I sat on my couch back home in Milwaukee. Game 1 was not as close as it looks like in the box score as Michael Fiers, one of the true shining lights in an otherwise dim season, had his first awful showing of the year as he gave up 8 runs in just 2 innings of work. The offense put up 3 garbage runs in the 9th to make it respectable. Game 2 was just as bad as Randy Wolf continued his horrid 2012 season by allowing 6 runs over 5 innings (and 4 in the 1st inning) to put the Brewers into an early hole which they couldn't dig themselves out of. Once again they managed to score 3 garbage runs in the 9th to make it look like a close game. They were in line to salvage Game 3 and avoid the sweep but Henderson blew the save and allowed 2 runs in the 9th inning to close out a horrific 1-5 roadtrip. It was ugly. And trust me man I know ugly. For some reason I continue to look in the mirror on a daily basis despite already knowing what stares back at me. I went to my Doctor and I said "Hey Doc - every day I wake up and look in the mirror I want to throw up! What's wrong with me?" And he said, "I don't know, but your eyesight is perfect!" My psychiatrist told me I'm going crazy. I told him, "If you don't mind, I'd like a second opinion." He said, "All right. So you're ugly too!" It was an ugly series, and even though I know I would have had a great time in Colorado, I'm glad I didn't leave the Dairy State. There will be plenty of time left for roadtrips. I'll try another year when the Brewers don't suck so much away from Miller Park. Will that ever happen?

Friday August 10 - Sunday August 12. Milwaukee Brewers vs Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Games 111 - 113 of 162. This was embarrassing. What a bunch of nonsense. All I ask for this team now is to finish with a respectable record but it seems every member of the bullpen is hell-bent on blowing that idea right out of the water, older grown-up Peter Banning style. Peter - you've become a Pirate! Houston is the worst team in MLB and possibly of all time. Before Friday's game when Axford blew the save Houston had not had a walk-off win ALL YEAR LONG! Geez, has it really been that long? All year? And then thanks to Henderson on Saturday, Houston walked it off AGAIN! 2 in a row! 2 blown saves! I'm mad that I care and still get upset by this crap. And the Astros who were just 36-77 before they took the series against our bullpen. They didn't beat our offense or our starting pitching. They beat our bullpen. And they nearly swept us but Kameron Loe figured out how to do something Henderson and Axford couldn't - close out a game. But he's not the answer there. Hell no. I don't know what's going on or how to fix it. I don't pretend to have it figured out. I'm just a guy writing about this baseball team. And Zombies. Astros 4, Brewers 3. Astros 6, Brewers 5. Brewers 5, Astros 3.

Monday August 13 - Wednesday August 15. Milwaukee Brewers vs Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Games 114 - 116 of 162. What in the world just happened over the last few days? The bigger question is why do I still care? It's like they set out to lose the game and accidentally win every now and then. How do you lose the series to the f#cking Houston Astros and then get swept by the Colorado Rockies? Both teams are close or more than 30 games under .500! Shit. Then how bad are we? Let me tell you. By season's end we will be one of the 5 worst teams in the Major Leagues. Suck on that Milwaukee. I don't know why I'm so vulgar right now but Randy Wolf (game 2) and Michael Fiers (game 1) and the bullpen (game 3) really have me in a tizzy right now. Is losing fun? Do you like this? Are you having fun with your deluxe apartments and your Victoria Silvstedt, Playmate of the Year? I hope you're having a good time because I'm not. I don't ever want to go to the ballpark again this season, not even if I am getting paid to be there and even if there is a fire! NOT EVER! But I know I will be there. I love being a loser. That's why I follow this losing team. Rockies 9, Brewers 6. Rockies 8, Brewers 6. Rockies 7, Brewers 6.

Next up the Brewers return home to The Keg to host the NL East last place Philadelphia Phillies and the hopeless Chicago Cubs. Some good has to come out of this because Week 19 was nothing but bad news for your Milwaukee Brewers. That roadtrip put them further away from my personal goal of finishing at .500, but we all know for the most part that goal is a little out of reach. I wish upon a falling star that they would manage to not have a losing record but until they can figure out how to win away from Miller Park all it will ever be is a silly wish. Wishes are supposed to be for faeries, but if there is anything that I learned from The Labyrinth is that David Bowie has a pretty impressive package and that faeries bite instead of doing nice things like granting wishes. Oh yeah, and I also learned that Jennifer Connelly is hot and she can navigate my labyrinth if you know what I mean. Good lord what have I become? Tune in next week as I attempt to figure out where I deviated from the path that would have led me to becoming a normal human being. Until then make sure you don't pee your pants in an outlet store changing room.

 - pookon -

www.pookon.com
email: pookondotcom@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/MilwaukeeIceman

Coach Gordon Bombay

Everyone knows what it is like to lose someone that they love. Death is a part of life. As humans we form connections that help us get through life because it is a series of ups and downs and we need some kind of stability. That's what Coach Gordon was to me. No matter what, through thick and thin, in the good times and the bad, he was always there with me. Until this morning. Coach Bombay died this morning, August 21, with my hand on his chest feeling his heartbeat fade away. He had seemed ok despite his inability to gain weight. He was always a small cat but over the last month he got thinner despite eating nonstop. When I took him to the vet last year they couldn't figure out why he was losing weight despite running $300 worth of tests. He had a heart murmur and possible signs of other diseases such as liver problems or diabetes. He wasn't really that old; I got him in early 2006 and at the time the Humane Society figured he was around 2 years old. That means he was anywhere around 8-11 years old when he died. But in that short time span he meant so much to me.

Coach Gordon Bombay was my first pet. I've had a couple of pets growing up (Lassie, Lassie II, Gizmo, Kiki) and current ones (Gracie and III) but Gordon was the first one that was exclusively mine. Sure he cheated on me by sitting on other people's laps when they came over, but at night he slept with me. I wasn't used to cats that loved people because Gizmo and Kiki were nothing like that. Bombay couldn't wait until I sat down on the couch so he could sit on my lap and often grew jealous of my laptop computer for taking up his space. I remember when I first got him. Jenny came with me to the Wisconsin Humane Society and I certainly had the "pick of the litter" to through a little bit of corny humor here. Of all the cats that were available for adoption that day he was the only one who wouldn't show me any signs of affection. His name was Greg and he was a grey and black stripped cat who wouldn't come out of the hole in the cat cube. I coerced him and petted him for what seemed like 10 minutes before he warmed up to me. When he finally started purring he did this thing with his paws that the worker described as a sign of affection. When she also said that he didn't warm up to anyone else yet (he was rescued from the streets and hadn't been there long) I knew that he was the one. I took him home that day and named him Coach Gordon Bombay after my favorite hockey coach, famously played by Emilio Estevez in the Mighty Ducks Trilogy. I don't know know why I named him that seeing as how I don't overly love those movies, but it just seemed to fit. Little did I know that the Coach would teach me so many lessons in life and be just like that mentor who watched over me.

Everybody loved Gordon Bombay and he loved everyone. I don't remember him ever biting anyone and he never acted out of line by scratching anything other than my sofa. Sure he got into his share of shenanigans by knocking things off of the table and dumping cups of water, but he was just being curious. But one thing that he always did was be by my side. It's no secret that I spend a lot of time alone. I do a ton of work on this blog, the website, the Reck Room Studios, the Daily Burner and other labors of love in the Pookon Empire. I also work 2 jobs so that doesn't give me a whole lot of time to have a social life. Thankfully girls don't find me attractive so I haven't had to worry about a girlfriend, fiancee or kids. I maintain a few friends but mostly just hang out with my family. That means I spend a lot of time at home working on stuff. And you know who was right next to me the whole time? Coach Bombay. He always needed to be in the same room with me and in the past year when I worked on my laptop he would lay right next to me on the table. As long as I had Bombay I was never alone. He was my best friend even though he never said anything outside of a meow or two. I talked to him like I would a normal person and I'd like to think that he listened to me even though he probably didn't give a shit what I was saying because I was interrupting his nap. But I know he liked it. He couldn't stand to be away from me. He even slept on me at night. Sometimes when I stirred at night I would hear him jump off of me because he was startled by the sudden movement. But once I settled in again he would climb back on board. Before I would go to bed every night I would call for him and he would come from wherever he was in the house. He'd jump on me and I would pet him. I called it Tummy Time. It was one of my favorite moments of every day.

I moved every year to a new apartment and like a good trooper he followed along. It wasn't like he really had a choice. Even though he was from the streets he wasn't exactly eager to get back to them. He had it pretty sweet. Free rent, free eats, toys and nonstop entertainment. And then there were the endless parade of guests that came by to hang out with him. I felt bad every time I left him alone and especially when it would be for an extended period of time. Before I left I always took a picture of and with him so that I could carry one with me when I was on my trip. It's not that I thought he wouldn't be there when I got back or anything, it's just that I felt bad that he couldn't come along with me on my adventures. He was my good luck charm and I knew that even if I didn't end up having a good time on my trip he would welcome me back home and overjoyed to see me. He was so much different than any cat I've ever known. He certainly had a personality that was on display whenever I was around. Sorry if you never saw it. But believe me when I say that he was an amazing cat and my best friend in the world. Although life goes on I know I'll miss the little guy so much. There are so many firsts that you have in life and they often become the most memorable. Coach Bombay was my first pet and all others will probably pale in comparison. He was that special to me.

I've really run out of things to say right now. That always surprises me because I'm a man of many words. But if any of you have ever lost a pet (and I'm guessing that includes just about everyone reading this) then you know exactly what I'm going through and what I want to say. Words can't express what the last 6 or so years of my life have been like thanks to Gordon and his ability to always make me feel like I mattered. There were so many times when I felt like I was an insignificant piece of shit and that I had no purpose in this world. But then I would look down at his face and realize that he depended on me every day for his survival in this world and feel better about myself. Yeah I know it sounds pretty god damn stupid but I've been in a lot of dark places in my life and when I didn't have a friend in the world I always had Gordon. Adopting him is the best decision I ever made and now I feel like a failure because I couldn't keep him along long enough to enjoy life. But then I thought of how much he impacted my life and how I probably gave him another handful of years on this earth. He went to a good home although it was really like 7 different homes.

I don't expect anyone to fully understand how I feel and don't even expect anyone to read this story about a boy and his cat. I just know that I wish I had more time to hang out with the little beast. But so it goes I guess. I'm gonna finish up writing or else I'll just keep on rambling forever. Coach Bombay isn't here to interrupt me to feed him or pay him some attention like he usually does so I don't know when to stop. But before I do go I just want to say this. If you have found someone (pets included) that you love hold them close every day and tell them how much you love them. The clock is ticking for every one of us and no one knows when theirs is going to run out. It was Coach Gordon Bombay's time to go this morning but that doesn't mean he won't stay with me forever. Much like I Rage for Timmy I now Rage for CGB as well. And I also rage for everyone who has made an impact on my life that is now gone. I learned a lot from having to be a responsible owner and I know I can be trusted with taking care of a life, even if sometimes I feel like I can't even take care of my own. To you he was just a cat but to me he was a best friend. We were supposed to be best friends forever and we still can be as long as I keep him in my heart. I'll never forget you pal. Say hi to Timmy and Lassie for me.

 - pookon -

www.pookon.com

email: pookondotcom@gmail.com

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What's Brewing in the Crewbicle? - Week 18 - St. Louis Cardinals / Cincinnati Reds

I hate the St. Louis Cardinals. I was 1 year old in 1982 when the Cardinals beat the Brewers in the World Series. So I obviously don't remember those days nor am I bitter because of it. Yes I realize that they got in the way of our chance to win the World Series and that in the last 30 years we are one of 5 teams (Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners) to not even APPEAR in a World Series. So I get it. We're a losing franchise. I haven't experienced a whole lot of winning in my lifetime. So it goes being a Brewers fan. But my hatred for the Cardinals stems from the last few years of Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols and all of the nonsense that they brought to the diamond. It's been well documented everywhere so I'm not going to get into it, but I have a big disregard for them as baseball people. But both of them are now off this team and I still have a problem. I didn't know why I'm still mad until I figured out that I am jealous. The St. Louis Cardinals have won 11 World Series Championships and 18 National League Pennants. Plus it seems like every year they are in competition at least until the last month of the season and never seem to finish near the bottom of the division. Meanwhile here in Milwaukee we throw a god damn parade when we win the NL Wild Card in 2008 and win 1 post season game. Pathetic. Now I love my Brewers and will never jump ship on them (even in years like 2012 when they have performed well under expectations) but I would like to see just 1 World Series Championship before I die. St. Louis meanwhile has won 2 in the last 5 years. Must be nice. Fuck that team. Oh yeah, and to make matters worse they celebrated the 1982 team (30 year reunion) during this series and rubbed it in our faces one more time. And on top of that the 2012 Cardinals swept the 2012 Milwaukee Brewers this weekend. Hell of a lot of fun this year is.

I pretty much summed it up when I did the write-up at work (which you can read below) but what the hell is with this team? How do they get swept by St. Louis and then sweep the 1st place Cincinnati Reds? Is this the most inconsistent team of all time? Or are they so inconsistent that they are consistent? I just hurt my brain. It's Sunday. Supposed to be a day of rest and instead I'm sitting here working hard to provide you with some very biased opinions on the 2012 Milwaukee Brewers. Though I can't really call it hard work when I'm sitting around without a shirt on drinking rum. I've almost run out of emotion and things to say this year but I'm sure I can still squeeze out a little tears with these onions. It's come to the point where I can't enjoy a sweep over the 1st place team because I get angry thinking about where this type of performance has been all season long. They played nearly flawless baseball against Cincinnati. They pitched well, played error free, came through with clutch and timely hitting and had bullpen pitchers not blow a game for a change. Manager Ron Roenicke even did a hell of a job and allowed Jim Henderson to breath a little life into the closer's role and he responded by nailing down a 3-1 and 3-2 victory. The offense even showed that they hadn't quit yet as they rallied from behind to grab game 3 and were looking like the team that won the NL Central last year. Of course it was just 3 games and they can't put together a nice little 2 week stretch when they go 10 for 12 or something like that. Nope. Not this team. They'll go ahead and lose the next series after this or get swept. Some shit like that. Uh. I got more angry that I had hoped for. Time to go do something positive, like refill my drink. Mmm Mmm Good. Fuck Campbell's. They're wrong. Soup doesn't deserve that slogan, rum does. I love rum. 

Friday August 3 - Sunday August 5. Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Games 105 - 107 of 162. I'd be lying to you if I said I cared about this series. I've pretty much given up on this year. Sure, there's still some things to watch and look forward to, but for the most part I've got better things to do. This weekend was all about Raging for Timmy. To be honest with you, my whole life is raging for Timmy now. Maybe that's why I haven't shown as much interest. I figured out (unfortunatley through a tragic event) that family, friends and the pursuit of goals and harmony are more important than a stupid baseball team. I'd rather write or play guitar than waste 3 hours a day on this crap. I may sound like a front runner or fair weather because they aren't winning right now, but I focused more energy on other things last year when they were tearing it up en route to 96 wins. So there. It's all about priorities man. And I have to set mine in order before I leave this place, which if I'm not careful, will be too soon. So before I go, I have some things to accomplish. So when it comes to the Brewers, I care, just not that much. Cardinals 9, Brewers 3. Cardinals 6, Brewers 1. Cardinals 3, Brewers 0.

Monday August 6 - Wednesday August 8. Milwaukee Brewers vs Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park. Games 108 - 110 of 162. I don't understand this team. They were just awful this weekend against St. Louis but then come out and play nearly flawless baseball against the 1st place Cincinnati Reds. What gives man? Why can't be more consistent? That has been the linchpin this season that has stopped us from being competitive. With a very winnable series against Houston coming up, this team can get closer to .500. That's all I really care about now. Just finish with a respectable record. Well, I also care about seeing how guys like Jean Seguara and Michael Fiers do. Fiers was outstanding and if he can keep this up, we're looking so much better for next year. Gomez is playing well, Ramirez is scalding the ball and Weeks is back to form. There is still a lot to look forward to in 2012 and I will really be interested to see which minor leaguers get called up in September. So let's just keep on winning some games and at least make this thing fun. Winning is always fun, even when you are still 8 games under .500. Cincinnati is in 1st for a reason. It was nice to stick it to them. And in the words of the fat, obnoxious, drunk fan in Angels in the Outfield - GO BACK TO CINCINNATI!! Brewers 6, Reds 3. Brewers 3, Reds 1. Brewers 3, Reds 2.

Looking at the August schedule we should have been rolling out like gangsters on a driveby, capping bitches left and right with our gats and settling our bidness out in da streets. I don't know what I was doing there. I have a college degree. I grew up on 56th and Locust but I'm hardly from the streets. The closest I am to being gangster is that I once cowered in a stairwell while a "riot" went on at the Mayfair Mall movie theater when screenings of Barbershop sold out. I could have shouted and blared rap music from my car but instead I joined all of the other white people and locked myself inside an inaccessible place. Yeah, I'm from the streets alright. The mean streets of Wauwatosa. Look out for us. We'll inform the Neighborhood Watch Committee if you don't clean up after your dog when it defecates on our lawns. That is not helping out the community and working together to beautify the area in which we reside. Next up we got a series against the Houston Astros and another against the Colorado Rockies, both on the road. The road has never been kind to us and I know this one will be no different, even if Houston and Colorado are 2 of the worst teams in the National League. You already know the results, but tune into this blog in the next few days to read my reaction. You don't want to miss this shit.

- pookon - 

www.pookon.com

email: pookondotcom@gmail.com

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What's Brewing in the Crewbicle? - Week 17 - Washington Nationals / Houston Astros

I was up at Afterglow until Saturday July 28 and was really negative when I came home. We call it the "Afterglow Blues" because coming back to the real world after a week in paradise is enough to depress even the most positive of people. So the Nationals series really pissed me off, so much to the point that I wanted to punch someone in the mouth if they said that the Brewers were still in the playoff run. But let me amend that. I will only punch dudes in the mouth. You can't hit women. That's wrong. But if some chick says that the Brewers still I have a chance I will grab hold of her and shake the shit out of her. I don't know why I'm so angry. I've been down on the Brewers all year and I've constantly been trying to remind myself to stay positive because negativity doesn't help anyone. But I can't. These guys suck. At Afterglow I try to stay as far away from my phone and the internet so I can block out distractions while I'm trying to reset myself for another year. But on Friday after 7 consecutive losses I came back to the cabin to grab a late lunch and my phone was full of text messages about the Greinke trade. I get text updates from  Twitter from Tom Haudricourt and Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Adam McCalvy of Brewers.com, so you can imagine how many messages I had waiting for me. While I was a little sad our best pitcher was gone, I understand the business of the game and how it was necessary to rebuild. I just hope that this Jean Seguara kid turns out to be our shortstop of the future. That and a bullpen is all we really need right now to be a good team. Like the Washington Nationals. Now that's a good team. If you asked me 5 years ago whether the Nationals would be a good team in 2012 I'd say no. That's because apparently I don't know shit about other teams. They've been building for this run like we did for 2007-2011. This is their run starting now. Must be nice. We're rebuilding. I'm mad.

You want to know what the cure for losing is? Play against the Houston Astros. Wins against them shouldn't even count but at this point I'll take them because we are also a bad baseball team. Shit I'll take anything right now. Even the girl with a limp and the unibrow. I have incredibly low standards now because let's face it, I'm not a very good looking man. I'm the Houston Astros of guys. I rarely achieve victory and if I do it's a fluke. You're supposed to triumph over me. And if you don't then you failed. How would you feel if I went home with the girl and you didn't? I bet you would lose your fucking mind. You'd be like how did that girl go home with that guy? That's what it's like when the Houston Astros win a game. You stop dead in your tracks and you're like how the hell did that happen? Well the loser didn't get the girl this time as they were swept by the Brewers. Hell of a good time that was. I should be excited about the Brewers winning but it's just Houston. It's just Houston.

Thursday July 26 - Sunday July 29. Milwaukee Brewers vs Washington Nationals at Miller Park. Games 98 - 101 of 162. This series was the one that did it. If I hear one Brewers fan say some stupid shit like we still have a chance to make the playoffs, I'm punching them square in the mouth. You don't deserve the right to be able to talk. Until the 6-0 win they were on a 7 game losing streak and they traded away their best player Zack Greinke. It's about fricken time. Hopefully 1 of those prospects works out but I doubt it. That's our luck as a losing franchise. So after losing 3 of 4 to the Nationals (who are a really good team now so it's warranted) the Brewers find themselves 11 games under .500 and something like 15 games out of 1st place. Yikes. Look I've been saying we're bad bad but I never though we'd be this bad. Hell, we're battling with the Cubs for 2nd last in the division. Thank God for Houston or else we'd be battling for the basement. They've got that locked up. Ain't no one getting in there. Not even Harry + Marv aka "The Wet Bandits". Come to think of it, how did those fools manage to get away with so much before Kevin caught them with his cornucopia of tricks and traps? What a bunch of dimwitted morons. Can you tell I have nothing left to say about the Brewers? I'm talking about Home Alone for Christ's sake. Nationals 8, Brewers 2. Brewers 6, Nationals 2. Nationals 4, Brewers 1. Nationals 11, Brewers 10.

Monday July 30 - Wednesday August 1. Milwaukee Brewers vs Houston Astros at Miller Park. Games 102 - 104 of 162. The Houston Astros may be one of the worst baseball teams of all time. So we were supposed to sweep them. And to think our bullpen even tried to give Game 1 away. The offense busted out in a big way and guys like Ramirez, Gomez and Weeks are going nuts right now. And not just this series, it's been over the last few weeks. Now the Brewers pretty much have no shot to make the playoffs this year (14.5 games behind 1st place Cincinnati and 11.5 games out of the Wildcard) but they still can finish with a respectable record if the bullpen stabilizes itself. For now I'm just looking at guys to pad their stats to finish on a high note. And also for guys like Maldonado, Fiers and Aoki to keep up the good but unexpected performances so they can hopefully carry them into next year. I'm also hoping Mark Rogers takes hold of a starting spot for the rest of the year so there's less questions as we lose Marcum and Wolf next year and technically only have Gallardo back seeing as Narveson missed the entire year. There's still a lot of questions to be answered this year so all is not lost. There is still a reason to give a shit about the 2012 Milwaukee Brewers. That's all you can ask for. Brewers 8, Astros 7. Brewers 10, Astros 1. Brewers 13, Astros 4.

Well another week in the books and another week where the Brewers could have picked up a few games towards the climb back to .500. I don't know why I keep on reaching for that goal because what difference does it make if we avoid a losing record? It's still going to be a lost season. I don't even know why I complain as much as I do or even why I do it. What is the point of all of this? This started out as a way to waste a couple of minutes at work and now it is consuming some of my free time outside of work. That's not cool. I'm pretty limited in that department. But somewhere deep down in my heart I still love the Brewers even though I claim to have given up on them and shit. But I will never give up on them. I just hope they never give up on me. What the hell is going on here? I've lost all track of my life and we have derailed. And so have the Brewers. At least we have that it common.

 - pookon - 

www.pookon.com

email: pookondotcom@gmail.com

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What's Brewing in the Crewbicle? - Week 16 - Cincinnati Reds / Philadelphia Phillies

I don't have to tell you that I've been a little bit behind in my Brewers coverage here on the blog. By the time that I am writing this I'm already like 3 weeks behind so there is no point in speculating on the future because I am already there. Does that make me a time traveler? If so I'd like to try and prove the theory that if you want to know how a woman is going to look when they are older, you need just to look at her Mother. So if you need me I'm going to be checking out hot chicks and then traveling 30 years into the future and see if they still look hot or if they have turned into their mothers. Now I'm not knocking Moms here. I know a whole lot of hot moms and they invented the term MILF for a reason. But any "normal" person is usually attracted to someone of their own age and therefor would not be attracted to an older person. I may just be stating personal preferences here because I tend to skew younger on what I find attractive (which may be one of many reasons why I'm still single) but if given the chance I will traverse the annals of time looking for the truth. Wait... why I am talking about females again? I'm so repressed man. I gotta get out more. So on with the Brewers talk so I can do something else with my life. If only that was the case...

The Brewers went down to Ohio to play the Reds (who were in first place at the time) with a chance to get back at the team that had for the most part owned them this year. It was a rough couple of days but it could have been worse than the final score indicated. How much worse? I haven't the slightest idea if that is the case. That's because I didn't watch these games. On Friday I was packing for Afterglow. On Saturday I was at Afterglow. And on Sunday I was in full-blown rage mode on my 2nd day in paradise. Nothing else mattered. I saw some updates on Twitter here and there and I caught the final scores, but outside of that my mind was elsewhere. After thinking it over for a few days I came up with the following passages that capture my immediate thoughts on the state of the Milwaukee Brewers.

You could skip this paragraph and read about the Reds series. I beg you to do it. Because I'm sure that there is a lot of nonsense that will inevitably follow in the wake of my mass exodus from the realm of sanity. The Brewers set out to the land of brotherly love, which has been anything but kind to the Brewers in recent years. If I'm not mistaken it was a few losses in Philadelphia in 2008 that got Ned Yost fired in 2008. And then of course in the postseason that year the Brewers would lose Games 1 + 2 at Citizen's Bank Park in the NLDS and eventually get knocked out of the playoffs in Game 4 at Miller Park (thanks Jeff Suppan). I feel real bad for anyone who had to watch this series. From what I understand each game was like a monumental collapse for the Brewers bullpen and the final result was literally the same each day with the Brewers losing to the Phillies by a score of 7-6. I'm glad that I had a lot better things to do up at Afterglow than sit through this dreck because from the box score it looked really ugly. The bullpen was giving up 4-6 runs late in the games which erased any doubt in the mind of Doug Melvin that he should start trading anyone who isn't nailed down for next year. But who would want these bums? Greinke would obviously go but who would want KRod now? I don't think a Bar League softball team would trade for him at this point. I'm sure a T-Ball League could use him to set the ball back on top of the tee after the kids hit it. I can't imagine any other team (maybe the Special Olympics) that would want him at this point. And that's sad considering what he used to be. So the Brewers got swept on this roadtrip, coming home 0-6. Who's ready to go down to Miller Park to watch this team?

Friday July 20 - Sunday July 22. Milwaukee Brewers vs Cincinnati Reds at Great American BallPark. Games 92 - 94 of 162. I wish I could say that I still cared. I don't. The truth is that I don't care about anything in the real world anymore. That's because since Saturday I've been up at Afterglow and nothing else matters while I'm here. As you've seen all season, I've been down on this team. I've asked for them to trade everyone for weeks now. But after losing all 3 games against the Reds (who were in 1st place) and falling 10 1/2 games back in the division, this season is over pal. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either as drunk as I am or a complete idiot. I can't waste anymore of my time complaining about this team. I'm too busy swimming, raging it on KK and tons of other Afterglow stuff I can't tell you about. Best to keep that S a secret because I don't need you finding out about it. The less you all know, the better you will be. Reds 3, Brewers 1. Reds 6, Brewers 2. Reds 2, Brewers 1.

Monday July 23 - Wednesday July 25 22. Milwaukee Brewers vs Philadelphia Phillies at Citizen's Bank Park. Games 95 - 97 of 162. Sometimes you need to take a step away from something and go without it for a few days to realize how much it consumes your life. That's me with the Brewers. Even though I've scaled back my total immersion I still spend way too much of my life on this team who to this point in 2012 have done nothing for me. Sure it's entertaining at times but this series at Philadelphia was anything but. I pity the folks who had to sit and watch the bullpen blow all 3 of these games. What a disgrace. And to think that's been the only problem. Sure the offense and defense have struggled at times and the starters don't go deep into games, but they at least have rebounded. The bullpen has been horrible all year long. And to have them cough up 3 consecutive games is the nightmare that put the nail in the coffin. If getting swept by Cincinnati didn't change Doug Melvin's mind about selling than this sure will. Of course had he listened to me he would have sold weeks ago because I've been saying all year that this team isn't any good. Sure, individual players are good but the collective whole isn't capable of finishing without a losing record. Phillies 7, Brewers 6. Phillies 7, Brewers 6. Phillies 7, Brewers 6.

What a weird turn of events in Major League Baseball. The Washington Nationals (who roll into Milwaukee next) are in 1st place and the Philadelphia Phillies are in last. Some things you just didn't see coming but there is no reason to go and out play like a bunch of losers even though they are. Hopefully there is a little fight left in them to at least give the home crowd their money's worth. That's about all I have to look forward to. And to see who they get back in the Greinke trade which could go down at any time and certainly will before the July 31st trading deadline. We'll see what happens but of course we already know. Just like I know what that hot bartender the other night will look like when she is 50. And I'm liking what I see. Just saying.

 - pookon - 

www.pookon.com

email: pookondotcom@gmail.com

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What's Brewing in the Crewbicle? - Week 15 - Pittsburgh Pirates / St. Louis Cardinals

The All-Star break is more of a mental break than a physical break for these players. That's kind of how I feel. Sure it's great to have a couple of days off to rest the legs and arms but more often than not players do better with regular playing time, a regular routine and a reoccurring spot in the rotation. But given the way this season has gone with the constant losing and the bullpen blowing some big games, I know these guys could use a few days away to not think about baseball and instead hang out with their kids and their sexy wives. I know I wouldn't mind hanging out (and in) Emily Kuchar (Zack Greinke's wife) for a few days. I'd show her what it's like to be with someone who doesn't have Social Anxiety Disorder. What does that even mean? I'm getting off track here again. I can't talk about baseball when I'm thinking about banging broads. Wait... aren't you supposed to think about baseball when banging broads so that you'll last longer? So the two are forever connected whether you like it or not. So get used to this kind of off-topic talk around here. So essentially I'm not going to change. I talk more about banging chicks than an obviously gay guy who is trying to prove to his friends and family that he is straight. Wait... what does that say about me? Am I secretly gay? I don't even know anymore. What was I talking about? Oh yeah - the series right after the All-Star Break against the Pittsburgh Pirates. I completely forgot. Thanks for getting me back on track.

The Pirates find themselves tied for 1st place with the Cincinnati Reds coming out of the All-Star Break and are no joke anymore. There used to be a day when we would board their ships, steal their treasure and rape their women, but now balance in the world has been restored and the Pirates are no longer the ones being pillaged and plundered. That having been said, this series was at Miller Park where the Brewers still dominate even in a down year, so it was no surprise to anyone that they won 2 out of 3 games. This 9 game stretch against the 3 teams ahead of us in the division (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis) was deemed as the deciding factor that makes them buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. It was a perfect opportunity to gain some games on the front runners so might as well give it a shot, right? At the time I thought their were too many hurdles to jump to get back in it and they haven't shown any ability to put together a nice winning streak, but I'll admit that I got a little excited when the offense started showing some life. For a minute there I believed that the Brewers could compete again in 2012. And then came the St. Louis Cardinals.

Before you get on my case - yes, I know that the Brewers won 2 out of 3 from the Cardinals and did what they had to do to gain another game in the standings. But in the 1st game Axford blew a 2-0 lead in the 9th by letting the Cardinals score 3 runs and take the game and killed all momentum that the Brewers had built by beating Pittsburgh. The next day Axford was pulled from the closer's role and KRod was the next player to step up and teeter dangerously on the edge. Sure, he got a save in games 2 and 3 but each of them were marred by walks and allowing the tying and winning runs to reach base. Somehow he was able to wiggle out of it but it gave me no confidence in anyone in that bullpen. Not that I had any left after this season had completely drained me out. Even though they won they looked really ugly doing it, almost like they won on accident. And on Wednesday's series finale they scored 3 runs in the 1st inning via errors by the Cardinals and 3 of those 4 runs were unearned. It was nice to see something go our way for a change but I had that feeling that it was a little too late. Look if we were in 2nd place and only like 3 games out I would be excited. But we are still in 4th place and like 7 1/2 games back. That's rough man.

Friday July 13 - Sunday July 15. Milwaukee Brewers vs Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park. Games 86 - 88 of 162. Pittsburgh is leading the NL Central. Everyone in the 3-Rivers area is surprised. Shit, I bet even the players on the team are surprised they're in 1st place. One person who isn't though is Andrew McCutchen. That guy is a beast. His version of the Predator Monster would whoop Rickie Weeks' Predator Monster's ass. It wouldn't even be fair, even if Rickie activated his self-destruct nuclear bomb. McCutchen could survive that because no one beats McCutchen. Why am I talking about this and not the series? Because there's nothing more to say. Sure we took 2 out of 3 against the 1st place team and gained a game. Sure we're 4 games under .500 when we used to be 5. These are steps in the right direction. But since this is the 2012 Milwaukee Brewers I'm sure they'll figure out a way to screw up over the next 6 games against NL Central opponents St. Louis and Cincinnati. The offense showed up this weekend. Nice to see them again. But it's a case of too little too late because we're in too deep of a hole. Can't possibly dig ourselves out now. Brewers 10, Pirates 7. Pirates 6, Brewers 4. Brewers 4, Pirates 1.

Monday July 16. Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park. Game 89 of 162. I'm getting pretty tired of this F'n S. And to think over the weekend the G D Brewers had me convinced that they were going to make a run at it over the next 6 games after winning the series against Pittsburgh. I hate getting my heart broken. But it's my fault. I said in April or May that they didn't have the moxy or attitude or spark of a winning team. What the hell happened yesterday? First Greinke was pushed back until July 24th which would give him 10 days between starts. This fueled all sorts of trade rumors and speculation, which contradicts the "we're still in it" attitude that Melvin and Attanasio have. How can you be in it and sit your best pitcher? I call B.S. He's as good as gone. "Recharging his Batteries." What the hell is that shit? I'm so done with caring. Especially after John Axford blew the game with the Brewers up 2-0. He walked 2 hitters and was behind in the count to everyone. He's lost it man! I'm way way too busy and stressed out to focus any more of my time, emotions and life to a team that is going to constantly disappoint me. I'll still watch. Always will. But I'm completely detached. Maybe I'll stop doing this write-up. Who knows. Cardinals 3, Brewers 2.

Tuesday July 17. Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park. Game 90 of 162. The Brewers stay on life support for another day. But there's no vital signs. There's no cure. It's still a terminal illness. The family just hasn't decided to pull the plug yet. That's pretty much it. Ron Roenicke did what he had to do and pulled Axford from the closer's role and KRod made it pay off by getting the save last night despite allowing a leadoff double and the tying run to sit on 3rd. So we won. So what. We're still 4 games under .500. We're still 8 games out of 1st behind Cincy. Stop me if you've heard this one before. Thanks for stopping me. I'm still going to keep writing though. Neiner neiner neiner. I do what I want. Winning these games is the worst thing this team can do for the current and future success of this franchise. What they are doing is stringing people along and delaying the inevitable. They are giving people hope. At 8 games under/back in the division in mid-July the time to trade is now. Unfortunately with Greinke on the shelf and KRod closing, we don't have anything of value. We're screwed. Sometimes it sucks to be a fan of this team. Brewers 3, Cardinals 2.

Wednesday July 18. Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park. Game 91 of 162. I don't know how to feel about this game. Sure, a win is always great and they took 2 out of 3 from the Cardinals. But I can't get terribly excited because we're still under .500 and still 7 1/2 games out of 1st place. I think the only thing that would get me back on track would be a sweep over Cincinnati coming up this weekend. Even without Votto I think that's impossible. But back to this game. Thornburg was alright but I'm still waiting to see some glimpse of brilliance and he needs to keep the ball in the yard. The bullpen was actually decent today (although KRod tried to Axford it in the 9th. Sorry, I couldn't resist saying that) but overlooked was the fact that the Brewers were gifted those 3 runs in the 1st due to multiple errors. Maybe it's Karma coming back in a good way and things are now going our way, but I need more proof. I've seen too much negativity this year to be overwhelmed by a single win. But it's a step in the right direction. Brewers 4, Cardinals 3.

So did that wet your whistle? Make you feel all nice and warm inside? It shouldn't. It is a fool's error to believe that this team has the ability to go on a long winning streak which is required if they want to join in the battle for the NL Central crown. All you have to do is point at the bullpen and all of your hope is stymied. We got the Reds and Phillies (all on the road mind you) coming up but I didn't give a shit about that because I was up at Afterglow. Aside from 2008 when the Brewers played the Cubs in a crucial 4 game series while we were up there (a lot of people at Afterglow hail from the Chicago area) Brewers baseball doesn't matter at Afterglow. That's one of the reasons why I'm 3 weeks behind on this series. Nothing else has mattered lately and I had the Afterglow blues when I returned home and I didn't feel like working on this shit. Especially with the fallout that happened with the (spoiler alert!) 7 game losing streak and the Zack Greinke trade. But I'll cover that in next week's Crewbicle post. See you then ya crazy bastards!

 - pookon -

www.pookon.com
email: pookondotcom@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/MilwaukeeIceman