Surprising Beginnings in the Mid-West

Though I use my now regular cautiously optimistic voice when making this proclamation... has anyone noticed how great two teams that have struggled for years are doing? I speak of one team, roaring back into contention in their division from the cellar of the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers. I mention another, slowly regaining its strength through a good farm system and fine pitching, the Milwaukee Brewers. These two midwestern facotry towns- one for automobiles, the other for beer- have regained new life following much of the same philosophy. They have both been steadily developing yound pitching and a few good young players in their farm systems, while making good trades and free agent signings to fill the holes. One should not underestimate the success that these teams will have over the next few years by following these clear plans. After not finishing with a .500 record for over ten years the Brewers did so last year and look to improve this year. The Tigers have had the same trouble and still not resurfaced from the sub-.500 abyss but look to do so this season. In the next few years both these teams will be competitors, and for doing nothing more than following a very simple philosophy and getting good coaching together. Of course they may not get to the playoffs for a couple of years, and may never win World Series rings, but these two teams will have made leaps greater than any other team this season. Its about time someone noticed these two cities with fine baseball traditions that have fallen by the wayside in recent years.