{"id":160882,"date":"2025-09-22T06:47:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T06:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/160882\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T06:47:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T06:47:10","slug":"uecker-magic-brewers-hail-underdog-status-in-clinching-nl-central","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/160882\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Uecker magic’: Brewers Hail Underdog Status in Clinching NL Central"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As celebratory prosecco and Miller Lite poured down his face, Christian Yelich<\/a> soaked in the satisfaction of the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a>\u2019 third straight NL Central Division title.<\/p>\n

“This is the why,” Yelich said Sunday after the Brewers clinched, courtesy of the Cubs<\/a>\u2019 1-0 loss in Cincinnati. “This is why everything\u2019s harped on throughout the year. Why we pay attention to detail, why there\u2019s tough love throughout the season, why you keep grinding and why you keep trying to get better is for these moments \u2014 the fact that you can celebrate with your teammates.”<\/p>\n

Carrying the best record in baseball, the Brewers won their fourth division title in the past five seasons and yet feel like the underdogs as the playoffs loom.<\/p>\n

“In baseball, any team could beat anybody, especially in short series. Obviously we\u2019re not going to be favored. Everyone\u2019s going to kind of point to our question marks and how there\u2019s other teams that have more experienced players and, on paper, super talented rosters,” Yelich said. “But I think that gives our team a freedom. Nobody thinks that you\u2019re going to be able to do this. So go out there and just play.”<\/p>\n

Milwaukee lost Willy Adames to free agency and traded away closer Devin Williams in the offseason, and it was unclear what contributions veterans Brandon Woodruff<\/a> (shoulder surgery) and Yelich (back) would be able to provide.<\/p>\n

Both were able to be key players, although Woodruff\u2019s status for the postseason is in question after he went on the injured list Sunday with what the team described as a moderate lat strain.<\/p>\n

“Are we the most talented? No. Are we going to go up against teams far more talented with four times the payroll? Sure, but it doesn\u2019t bother this team,” manager Pat Murphy said.<\/p>\n

Since 2018, the Brewers have lost in the wild-card round four times, in the division series once and in the NL Championship Series once. The franchise\u2019s only pennant came in 1982.<\/p>\n

“I heard somebody say we\u2019ve got the regular season figured out, now we\u2019ve got to figure out the playoffs. That\u2019s one of the most absurd comments I\u2019ve ever heard,” Murphy said, emphasizing his squad\u2019s body of work.<\/p>\n

After losing 5-1 to St. Louis, the Brewers had to wait less than a half-hour before the Cubs\u2019 game ended. The team put on navy blue “division champs” shirts, sprayed bottles of chilled prosecco and dumped cans of Miller Lite on each others\u2019 heads.<\/p>\n

A blue flag with late announcer Bob Uecker\u2019s signature hung in the soaked visitors’ locker room.<\/p>\n

Owner Mark Attanasio suggested there was some “Brewer magic or Uecker magic” in this team.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s really just the culture. We show up every spring training with the goal of winning the division,” said Sal Frelick<\/a>, in his third year with Milwaukee. “So it\u2019s been great. I\u2019m fortunate to be able to do it every year.”<\/p>\n

The Brewers gathered on the Busch Stadium infield for a team photo and were about to disperse when Murphy came up the stairs from the dugout, almost left out of the moment.<\/p>\n

“When we started the year, nobody thought we\u2019d be here at this point. Obviously, we\u2019ve had our share of injuries. Nobody could have imagined we’d be in this spot right now,” Woodruff said.<\/p>\n

The Brewers were at their best during a 29-4 stretch in July and August, turning a four-game deficit into a commanding nine-game advantage in the division.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019ve done a heck of a job as a group to get to this point,” Woodruff said. “And you know what? There\u2019s still a lot of baseball left for the Brewers.”<\/p>\n

Last year, they won the Central by 10 games before dropping the wild-card series to the Mets<\/a> \u2014losing the decisive Game 3 after Williams squandered a two-run lead in the ninth inning. Pete Alonso<\/a>\u2019s three-run home run was the key.<\/p>\n

To Murphy, who took over as Milwaukee\u2019s skipper before last season, that\u2019s the fickle nature of the playoffs.<\/p>\n

“It takes a lot of things to go your way, and sometimes having great talent helps that,” Murphy said. “I don\u2019t worry about this team, and I don\u2019t worry about what anybody says about this team. I get to live it every day and see how special they are.”<\/p>\n

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Reporting by The Associated Press.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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