Greatest Brewers Team of All-Time: The Quarterfinals

Now that the original Round of 16 teams has been narrowed down to eight, we’re one step closer to naming the top Brewers team of all-time.

Harvey, Paulie, and Robin are still alive on multiple teams in the tournament.

To recap last Monday’s action in the Round of 16:

The top-seeded 2011 Brewers rallied to avoid an upset to the everyone’s all-time fave 81-81 Brewers of 1989. The 1991 Brewers, the twelfth seed, took down the five-seed and (sorta) 1981 AL Central champs. Our beloved 2012 Brewers somehow won and, even more shockingly, Shaun Marcum won the clinching game. Harvey’s Wallbangers advanced, but Team Streak was not so lucky. Lary Sorenson somehow won a game and CC Sabathia gave up a grand slam in a playoff game, something he would obviously never do in real life.

Once again, I tried to keep all scenarios as realistic as possible – such as not allowing a pitcher to start Game 2 then turn around and pitch Game 4, and platooning Carlos Gomez and Nyjer Morgan – even in a simulation that has many given variables toward creating the outcome. I also didn’t have to worry about travel days, so I trashed the stupid 2-3 format Major League Baseball adopted and went with the good ol’ 2-2-1.

Anyway, to the simulations!

Quarterfinals (Best of 5)

(1) 2011 Brewers (96-66) vs. (9) 1988 Brewers (87-75)

Game 1: 2011 Brewers 7, 1988 Brewers 4- W: Yovani Gallardo (1-1) L: Teddy Higuera (1-1) SV: John Axford (1)

Game 2: 1988 Brewers 5, 2011 Brewers 1- W: Chris Bosio (1-0) L: Zack Greinke (1-1) SV: Dan Plesac (1)

Game 3: 2011 Brewers 6, 1988 Brewers 1- W: Randy Wolf (1-0) L: Don August (1-1)

Game 4: 2011 Brewers 6, 1988 Brewers 4- W: Takashi Saito (1-0) L: Chuck Crim (0-1) SV: John Axford (2)

2011 Brewers advance, 3-1. MVPs: Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder hit 2 homers and drive in six runs each, including Braun’s go-ahead homer in the ninth to clinch the series.

(12) 1991 Brewers (83-79) vs. (13) 2012 Brewers (83-79)

Game 1: 1991 Brewers 3, 2012 Brewers 2- W: Jaime Navarro (2-0) L: Yovani Gallardo (0-2)

Game 2: 1991 Brewers 4, 2012 Brewers 1- W: Bill Wegman (1-1) L: Mike Fiers (0-1) SV: Doug Henry (1)

Game 3: 2011 Brewers 3, 1991 Brewers 0- W: Marco Estrada (2-0) L: Don August (0-1) SV: John Axford (2)

Game 4: 2011 Brewers 6, 1991 Brewers 2- W: Shaun Marcum (2-0) L: Chris Bosio (1-1)

Game 5: 1991 Brewers 8, 2011 Brewers 7 (10) W: Chuck Crim (1-0) L: Manny Parra (0-1)

1991 Brewers walk off and win series in five games. MVP: Paul Molitor hits .333 and drives in game-tying and game-winning runs in Game 5. 

(3) 1979 Brewers (95-66) vs. (11) 1980 Brewers (86-76)

May 18, 2012; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke takes out pitcher Manny Parra (26) in the sixth inning during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-US PRESSWIRE

Game 1: 1980 Brewers 7, 1979 Brewers 3- W: Moose Haas (1-0) L: Bill Castro (0-1)

Game 2: 1980 Brewers 6, 1979 Brewers 4- W: Bob McClure (1-0) L: Jerry Augustine (0-1) SV: Bill Castro (2)

Game 3: 1980 Brewers 6, 1979 Brewers 1- W: Larry Sorenson (2-0) L: Reggie Cleveland (0-1)

Aaaand the 1980 Brewers move on to the semis with an upset over the three seed. MVP: Lary Sorenson throws a three-hit complete game in the final game.

(2) 1982 Brewers (95-67) vs. (10) Brewers (87-75)

Game 1: 1982 Brewers 12, 1983 Brewers 8- W: Jerry Augustine (1-0) L: Tom Candiotti (0-1) SV: Jim Slaton (1)

Game 2: 1982 Brewers 11, 1983 Brewers 1- W: Mike Caldwell (1-0) L: Don Sutton (0-2)

Game 3: 1983 Brewers 2, 1982 Brewers 0- W: Mike Caldwell (1-0) L: Moose Haas (0-1)

Game 4: 1983 Brewers 8, 1982 Brewers 1- W: Moose Haas (2-0) L: Bob McClure (1-1)

Game 5: 1982 Brewers 4, 1983 Brewers 2- W: Pete Vuckovich (1-0) L: Tom Tellmann (0-1) SV: Rollie Fingers (2)

Harvey’s Wallbangers advance. Breathe easy. MVP: Roy Howell hits two homers, including a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning of Game 5.