Pat Murphy has the perfect response to Brewers’ near historic loss to Giants

The Milwaukee Brewers have been a regular-season juggernaut this decade, winning four of the past five NL Central titles. So, you can forgive them for playing things a little loose in Spring Training.

However, things got really tense in their exhibition contest against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon, when four pitchers for the NL West squad (Robbie Ray, Carson Seymour, Tristan Beck, and Matt Gage) combined to throw eight perfect innings against the Crew. Gregory Santos took the mound in the ninth to try and complete the elusive combined perfect game, but after securing two outs, a walk (to Cooper Pratt), and a double (by Blake Burke), ended the Giants' bid for history.

Still, they cruised to a 7-1 win, and Pat Murphy could only laugh at the result in a post-game interview captured by Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Well said, Murph.

For what it's worth, the Giants have been an absolute powerhouse this spring, owning a league-best 16-6 record. Perhaps someone should inform Tony Vitello that he's not in college anymore and that the wins in March don't count.

History proves Brewers' Spring Training lull won't affect team come Opening Day

The Brewers have made a habit of starting slow in recent years, especially in Spring Training, but that hasn't stopped them from picking up steam once the weather heats up. They barely eclipsed a .500 record last year (16-14) in February and March before turning things around to the tune of a franchise-record 97 wins.

Look further down last year's Cactus League standings, and you'll find the San Diego Padres (12-17) and Seattle Mariners (11-19) bringing up the rear. Both teams went on to have great seasons, winning 90 games and making it to October (and the Mariners came a few innings shy of making the World Series).

And again, this isn't a new phenomenon for the Crew. In 2024, they went 16-15 in Spring Training and then won the division behind a 93-69 record. The year prior, they went 12-15 during the exhibition slate and followed that up with a 92-70 division title.

This is a time for experimentation, especially for great teams. Prospects getting big swaths of playing time, fringe roster candidates soaking up valuable innings, and minor-league scrimmages are par for the course during this portion of the calendar. It's the truth that Spring Training performances (at least a team-wide level) just don't matter all that much.

With that being said, thank you Blake Burke for keeping the Brewers away from some ignominious history.