Trevor Megill attempted to collect himself. Ninth inning, two outs, a World Series on the line. The air in Tropicana Field, that famous dome which had been overtaken by visiting fans, was thick with anticipation, with memory, with the consistent pain of your team being good but not good enough. Luckily, even the weight of history couldn’t stop the 2026 Brewers. The final out was recorded, and the air was made new. 57 years after their founding, 56 after they settled down on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee was a world champion. There was a fitting Midwestern-ness about the historic win, and the team as a whole: understated, humble, distinct from coastal counterparts. Don’t let this simple picture tell the whole story, though. Milwaukee was dominant, the best team in the regular season, and didn’t so much as stumble come October. With the offseason upon us, are there aspects of the Brew Crew that will try to be emulated going forward?
On the surface, it’s surprising that this was the result. The constant team payroll discourse and small versus large market comparisons should have meant the Wisconsin natives were written off a long time ago, but their steadfast commitment to their mission worked. They emphasize homegrown talent, focusing on drafting and developing rather than free agency. This is seen on the mound, with a stellar artillery capable of throwing some of the fastest pitches in the game. At the plate, the old “get on base” philosophy triumphed; they led the league in batting average and on-base percentage, despite ranking 29th in home runs.
I’m not trying to call any of this very easily replicable. The World Series champs have one of the most creative front offices in baseball and a venerated coaching staff. Also, not every organization can draft Jacob Misiorowski. I do think, though, that what has been built in the Badger State flies in the face of popular thought and will be deeply examined, and not just for the sake of winning. In the Dodgers era, right before a labor contract negotiation, it seems like the league wants smaller teams to throw in the towel, essentially. Apparently, the only way to win is to sign massive names to massive contracts. There’s just one problem with this narrative: someone forgot to tell the Brewers.
