Bedlam for Brewers: The Fall Classic has concluded

By Alfie Eville

On Oct. 28, the Major League Baseball season came to a close, crowning the Milwaukee Brewers as World Series champions; their first title in franchise history. 

The 2026 playoffs were some of the most entertaining with how much parity there was. Unexpected runs with the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians made the American League race very interesting, as well as the maligned Los Angeles Dodgers getting swept by the eventual winners in the Brewers. 

The AL pennant-winning Tampa Bay Rays got knocked out in a gentleman’s sweep, but that is not to say their run was weak. They cruised through the New York Yankees’ and aforementioned Guardians’ squads with ease, and created a much needed battle between two small-market teams. 

Over the last two seasons, fans witnessed the Dodgers, with their towering payroll, win back-to-back championships. A three-peat would almost certainly lead to a 2027 lockout. To then see two teams with some of the smallest payrolls and no real “superstar” players make it to the World Series was refreshing, and possibly season saving for 2027. Both Milwaukee and Tampa Bay specialize in small-ball — bunting runners over to second, stealing bags with intelligent baserunning, working pitch counts and playing stellar defense. The entire series was indicative of this, with no “big” moments like grand slams or walk-off dingers. While there was an extra-inning walk-off courtesy of Tampa Bay, it was through grinding out long at-bats and being pesky on the base paths. 

To some, this was a boring series to watch. Those people, in my humble opinion, are not true fans of the game, for this was evocative of baseball’s roots. It felt like a good and proper showcase of how this game should truly be played. Add on the fact that neither team had ever won a championship, and I cannot fathom how anyone was not enjoying every second. I myself am a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan, yet was cheering for the Brew-Crew like I lived there my whole life. 

Seeing a gritty, young and likeable team finally have their moment was more rewarding than seeing Yankees v. Dodgers for the umpteenth time. Even watching the Rays and their shining moments throughout was enjoyable. Their pitching depth and ability to will any minor-leaguer into an MLB-caliber player is fascinating and makes them ever the more likeable. A big congratulations to them for making it as far as they did; I am sure we will see them back on this stage soon enough with how young their roster is. 

As for the winningest team in baseball, barring the freakishly talented Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers pitching rotation is far from the best; it is their bullpen that eats away innings and crushes teams. Watching Abner Uribe, Trevor Megill and, especially, Aaron Ashby — who had specifically gone a record-breaking 18 innings pitched with only five hits allowed to the tune of a 0.00 ERA — dominate the second half of games instead of one starter stealing the show was incredible. This bullpen really added to the team’s overall identity of not putting yourself above the team. 

I feel as though MLB will be a phoenix from the ashes after this playoff run. I truly hope that players and owners take away the lesson that, in this game, any team with any budget can win, thus avoiding a lockout. Diversity is strong in baseball, and small-market teams proved this year that they can go toe-to-toe with the big guys. The Milwaukee Brewers not only won the World Series, but have the chance of saving baseball’s future.

Alfie Eville is a sophomore history and secondary education major