'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday-Friday on OutKick.com.

Over the hump and safely onto the other side of the week. Is this the biggest weekend of the year to date?

I think it might be.

We've got football all weekend long, obviously. Duh. More importantly, we also have Halloween, which lands on a Saturday. I did some big J digging, and it's the last time that'll happen until 2037. True story. Eleven years! Lord knows what this place will look like in 11 years, but I assume if this column is somehow still alive, it'll be run by a robot. That's almost a guarantee.

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Beyond all of that, we also get an extra hour of Halloween this weekend! That's right. The dreaded "fall back" weekend is upon us. I loved this time of year in college, but that was, admittedly, a long time ago. Nothing hit better than being at a party and seeing the iPhone 4 clock switch back to 1 a.m.

It was the best.

But I have kids now, and they do not care what the clock says. So, come Sunday morning when it says 5:30, they'll be up and ready to roll.

"Just put them to bed later!"

Doesn't work for a 2-year-old, folks. They don't care. Hard hats on, parents. We're all in this together.

On that note, welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps — the one where Lane Kiffin, somehow, finds something else to complain about. College football fans ain't having it.

Nor should they.

What else? I've got Paige Spiranac teasing her Halloween costume ahead of the big day, another subdued baseball celebration last night, and where did this MLB postseason rank for you?

I gotta be honest ... it wasn't great. And now we're going into a lockout.

The vibes aren't the best right now! But we'll get into it.

OLIVIA DUNNE POURS BEERS LIKE A PATRIOT WHILE HER LSU TIGERS RUN UP THE SCORE, GATOR BAIT & LANE'S SUBTLE SHOT

Grab you a tiny violin for Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers, and settle in for a Thursday 'Cap!

LSU-'Bama takes an afternoon seat

Let's get this ball rolling, because the rain has finally stopped here in Florida for the first time since Sunday and I've got a pumpkin patch to get to before it starts back up.

Big weekend of college football, as I said earlier. Now, I hate to jump ahead a week, but Lane Kiffin has left me no choice.

For about six months now, fans have had Nov. 7 circled on their calendars. It's shaping up to be, arguably, the greatest weekend of college football ever.

• BYU-Utah
• Kentucky-Tennessee
• Ole Miss-Georgia
• Miami-Notre Dame

And, of course, Alabama-LSU. That's the big one, right?

... Right?

...... RIGHT?!

Fans aren't buying it this time

"If someone thinks the SEC wants us to win this year after what’s been going on, they must have just been on Mars the last four months. So I guess when I look at it that way, I’m not surprised."

So, Lane Kiffin sent shots at the SEC for next weekend's big game not being in primetime, which is hilarious for a couple different reasons.

1. The SEC doesn't make those decisions, ESPN does. Sure, I'd imagine the SEC has plenty of input, but it's still an ESPN call to make.
2. LSU has already played more home games under the lights than any other SEC teams this season. The Tigers have had four night games. Texas has had three. Everyone else has no more than two.
3. Miami-Notre Dame on NBC will be a juggernaut. ESPN putting its best game in a standalone(ish) time makes sense. Some will say they're scared to go up against that game. Perhaps. But there was no reason to fight that battle when 3:30 on ABC is a perfectly fine time.
4. Totally unrelated, of course, but here's Lane Kiffin on LSU ... just two short years ago:

So, when Lane was at Ole Miss, everyone was out to get him. Now, he's at LSU and ... everyone's out to get him?

See a pattern? It's silly. I used to love Lane Kiffin, by the way. He was a content machine. He was fun, and likable, and somewhat relatable.

Now? I think he just whines a lot.

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I'm not alone:

Wrapping up the World Series & Paige's Halloween tease!

For what it's worth, LSU is 1-7 since 2012 against Alabama in night games in Baton Rouge. Perhaps Lane should be thanking ESPN/SEC for this one?

OK, let's rapid-fire this Thursday class into a big night of FOOTBALL!

PS: I know there's an NFL game on tonight, but don't forget about college. Did you know there's a game on ESPN tonight with an OVER/UNDER set at 76.5?!

That's right. North Texas and FAU. A biggie. Does anyone here have the stones to take the over when it's at that number? I think I'll dabble.

Speaking of stones ... how about the Milwaukee Brewers just quietly completing one of the most dominant postseason runs of all time? Think about it.

They manhandles the Padres, swept the Dodgers, and then pretty much had their way with Tampa ...

And then treated winning it all like they'd just polished off a three-game sweep of the Marlins in June:

Thoughts? I've honestly thought all the celebrations this postseason have been pretty t(l)ame. There's certainly something to be said about "acting like you've been there before."

I get that ...

Except this was Milwaukee's first ever World Series title! And that's what we got? I don't know. Just seemed a bit off.

Frankly, this whole postseason did:

I love baseball. I watch every Red Sox game all year long. I'm a 162-er. I'm not trying to knock it here ... but yeah, it was a bad postseason. Sometimes it just happens, right?

The best part was watching the Dodgers lose. I think we can all agree on that, right? But otherwise, there really weren't any moments. I guess you could point to Milwaukee's walk-off against Mason Miller a month ago as a pivotal moment. That was fun.

But you just never really felt it, right? Again, sometimes that's just the way it goes. You're not gonna bat a thousand every year.

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Regardless, we're gonna be BEGGING for one of these games in about six months when all we're talking about is salary caps and floors.

Sadly, winter is here — and I fear it's gonna be a long one.

OK, that's it for today. I'll be damned if I end it on a sour note, so here's Paige Spiranac's Halloween tease on the way out.

Zoinks!

William Contreras is on top of the world right now.

The Milwaukee Brewers star catcher was named World Series MVP for his outstanding performance at the plate and behind the dish. During the process of the Brewers’ 4-1 series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, Contreras also made history.

During the series, he stole a base and threw out four runners attempting to steal, including American League stolen base leader Chandler Simpson. He became the first catcher since Bill Dickey of the New York Yankees in 1938 to steal a base and throw out the opposing team's leading base stealer in a World Series victory, according to OptaSTATS.

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"I don’t want to offend any of the other catchers in the league. The last thing I want to do is offend any of them," Contreras said, speaking through a translator. "But sitting up here today, champion of the world, I feel like I’m the best catcher in the league. Again, that’s no disrespect to any of them. That’s the last thing I want to do. But today I feel like I’m the best catcher in the world."

Throwing out Simpson is no easy feat, as he stole 46 bases during the regular season and five more in the postseason.

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The 28-year-old catcher was omnipresent during the World Series, hitting .381 with four RBI while anchoring the Brewers’ elite pitching staff, which held the Rays to just 11 runs in five games. Contreras also excelled with the automated ball-strike (ABS) system, winning 10 of his 13 challenges.

"He's our pit bull. You don’t just walk up and pet him. There’s a chance you get nipped," manager Pat Murphy said.

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Contreras became the eighth catcher to be named World Series MVP, joining Gene Tenace (1972), Johnny Bench (1976), Steve Yeager (1981 co-winner), Darrell Porter (1982), Rick Dempsey (1983), Pat Borders (1992) and Salvador Perez (2015) as catchers to win the award.

Contreras has been a linchpin in the Brewers' lineup since they acquired him from the Atlanta Braves in 2022. This season, Contreras hit .270 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI in 147 games before elevating his performance in the postseason.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The New York Yankees are still catching strays.

The Bronx Bombers were obliterated in the postseason, getting swept in the American League Division Series and tying their longest World Series drought since winning their first in 1923.

When the Milwaukee Brewers won their first-ever Fall Classic, the Yankees continued to be a topic of conversation.

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National League Championship Series MVP Jake Bauers handed manager Pat Murphy the ball from the final out, and the two shared a hug. Murphy then shared some words with Bauers.

"You're going to be a rich f---er. Just remember when you were on that horses--- Yankees team and you guys were all playing for yourself? Just remember, say, 'This is the way we used to do it,'" Murphy appeared to tell his first baseman.

Bauers spent one season with the Yankees, and it was the only time since 2016 they missed the postseason after going 82-80 in 2023. Bauers hit .202 with New York and was traded in the ensuing offseason.

YANKEES PRESIDENT RANDY LEVINE SAYS HE IS 'CONFIDENT' MLB WILL AVOID A LOCKOUT DESPITE CAP FIGHT

In any case, the Yankees have been criticized a decent amount since their elimination by executives, media, and even their own legends.

Alex Rodriguez said the team's "philosophy" has to change, and Derek Jeter hinted that the Yankees don't do the "little things."

CC Sabathia, Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Posada, two of whom have their numbers retired in Monument Park, have also lambasted the organization for their postseason failures since 2010.

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Bauers had the best season of his career this year, as his .266/.389/.484 slash line represented all the best marks of his career. He also hit 26 homers and drove in 86 runs, both career highs.

El trío venezolano firma una proeza inédita para peloteros internacionales tras conquistar el Clásico Mundial con su país y la Serie Mundial junto a Milwaukee en un mismo año.

Welcome to Screencaps, "America's Best Daily Column," as named by the readers. Screencaps, which publishes seven-days-a-week, is a mix of sports, pop culture, and emails from sane readers from around the world. This column isn't for the coastal elites. Give us a week to steal your heart. Our track record is pretty good. Let's have some fun.

Kylie Cantrall is back and she's hinting that the Brewers might want to bring her back for future anthems

You might remember Kylie from Monday Screencaps where I asked you guys if Kylie's Game 2 anthem performance in Milwaukee was the best anthem since Whitney Houston at the Super Bowl. It was Kylie's big breakout performance and it felt like that would be the end of the story.

Nope. There was Los Angeles-native Kylie, 21, Wednesday night leaning right into her relationship with Milwaukee as the franchise was on its way to winning Game 5 and the World Series. "@brewers happy i could b your good luck charm for game 2 ;) thx for having meee," she wrote.

This IG post now has nearly 40k likes.

Kylie's going to mess around and sell out Miller Park one of these days over a simple gesture of a pop singer showing she cares about the people of Milwaukee. This woman is wise beyond her years.

📩 Email: joe.kinsey@outkick.com
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Screencaps Field Trip: I watched Game 5 of the World Series at COSM Detroit

For those of you who don't know what COSM is, it's like going to a massive movie theater with a MASSIVE wraparound IMAX screen that broadcasts the game as an immersive experience where the camera angles make it feel like you're inside the venue.

Last night, it felt like we were sitting on the field behind home plate at Tropicana Field.

Quick hitters:

IT'S EXPENSIVE. UNLESS YOU'RE LOADED, YOU'RE NOT GOING THERE AS A FAMILY VERY OFTEN. You're probably never taking your family there, to be honest. It WILL get expensive very, very fast. Just so we're all clear this is #NOTSPONSORED. I paid my own money.

Price: We paid $77 per person to sit on a three-person couch dead-center on the lowest level they offer in the dome. There were high-top tables on the floor below us, but I highly don't recommend those because you're going to be sitting at a high top for three hours. There are cheaper options to sit in other parts of the building where there are massive screens that will remind you guys of ESPN Zone, but on steroids.

Food prices: Barbacoa nachos were $16 and easily shared between three people. The Bavarian pretzel was $14 and easily shared between at least two people. The pretzel came with pimento cheese, Stroh's beer cheese and mustards. I thought it was wonderful.

Beer prices: I looked, but didn't really look. I think they were $16 for 22 oz or something like that. Again, not cheap.

Atmosphere: Let me repeat, it's expensive. You're not getting many dirtbags at this place. That doesn't mean it's not possible, but the clientele last night was like sitting in an expensive suite at a sporting event. There were a group of kids with their dads, but we're not talking about kids raising hell like they're at Chuck E. Cheese. You have to buy a ticket to even get into COSM. People aren't just walking in like old sports bars.

Cool Factor: Off the charts. Guys, at our age, we've all lived through Damon's Steakhouse (RIP) with its four 100" screens and speakers on the tables that mesmerized all of us. ESPN Zone (RIP) was life-changing. Dave & Busters has great screens to watch games, but the cool factor isn't even close to COSM.

Would I pay $300 to sit in the COSM dome to watch NFL games? No chance. A $300 ticket (yes, Lions fans are paying that) is going to turn into a $600 day at the bar. I'll say it again, the common man should not go here thinking he's at ESPN Zone grabbing a beer and a table. You might be able to sit in one of the other rooms and enjoy yourself, but then you're paying to watch games at a bar.

Yes, I highly recommend it if you need to take a client out for a night: The client is going to have a blast on your company credit card and you're probably going to make the sale because he'll want more trips to COSM. Just make sure you get chair seating along one of the rails in the five lowest levels. A couch with a client is going to be awkward.

Conclusion: Go see it. Don't complain about it being expensive. Let yourself be transported for a few hours and then go back to watching games in your man cave with dollar beers from Costco.

It's no wonder we have a ref shortage in youth sports

Did you guys see this out of Ohio? Watch what happens at midfield. And some people wonder why I'd be so happy that Screencaps Jr. selected cross country as one of his sports. I've never seen a runner snap on the official timing clock at the finishing line.

• Jake in Charlottesville, VA emails on the state of youth soccer: Sports is the one place where 'socialism' is actually required, especially at the youth level. If you let one kid take all of the reps from the other kids, the other kids' parents are going to pull their kids out and you're not going to have a league.

Either suck it up and know that your prodigy child isn't going to be allowed to take all of the reps from the other kids, or move the kid up a level. We had a case in our soccer rec league where a girl was completely dominating her rec league, so they moved her up with the boys.

Needless to say, her domination stopped. The thing was, this girl had become so accustomed to dominating, she had become a spoiled little brat, and couldn't emotionally deal with the fact that she was now very average when she played amongst the boys (this was U8). But hey, there are life lessons for all involved, kids and parents alike.

Questions about Florida Gators girl

• Lee D. in Tampa asks: Two questions: Is this the Gators girl that was "discovered" at a Gators game by ABC? Is this AI?

Kinsey: Yes. I don't think so, but I'm positive. That's definitely Peyton Bloomquist or whatever her name is. As for the video, I've seen the Amalfi Jets guy do content for probably 18 months or so. I think this is the same guy.

Keep in mind that right now, sororities are teaming with major brands on content marketing. Massive corporations like Nike are working with sororities to push clothing. I could see Amalfi throwing Peyton a free flight for appearing in a video.

Resealable cereal boxes and weirdos picking your produce and groceries

• Chris A. emails: Really, it took this long for a cereal box to have a liner that actually keeps the cereal fresh? It's almost impossible to open the plastic bags inside the boxes without tearing them halfway down the side, but trying to open the aluminum foil-like bags in a box of Sugar Smacks without tearing it all the way to the bottom was futile. I've been wondering when this day would come.

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And BTW, I would NEVER have someone else pick out my groceries, even the canned stuff. But when I go to Walmart for groceries, the aisles are filled with grocery pickers who outnumber the pick-your-own shoppers. Unless you're really old or really handicapped, put down the phone and get your lazy behind to the grocery store. But those same people would park in the fire lane to shop, so maybe they should stay home.

Video work calls and beer cans

• 'Sheriff' John in Houston checks in: 1) I hate it intensely, but the age of "conference calls" and "dial-ins" is coming to an end. Everything is a zoom or teams meeting now. I much prefer sitting and listening on my headset while farting around doing something else. Hate having the camera on. At least I don't have a boss telling me that I MUST turn on my camera as a matter of POLICY, that would really suck.

Nonetheless, I've lately had contractors and counterparties make comments during meetings lately that they prefer to have the cameras on and they don't trust people who just do audio only. ARRRGGH. You don't need to see me for me to tell you your proposal costs 20% too much. I feel like the guy who insists on using a paper ticket at the airport. Just old and out of date.

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Cameras are so prevalent now, I've procured a green screen to pull down behind my desk so that I can just project an image of my office cleaned up behind me and not show the pile of papers and junk and extension cords that accumulates behind me. It's literally a picture of my own office during my zoom calls, but it's cleaned up.

2) My older son isn't quite as old as Rick's sons, just a sophomore in college, but he too makes a mess with beer cans and bottles when he's home. Drives me and my wife crazy. We ask him to clean up after himself and he gets about 90-95% of the way there, but still a mess. He needs to find a woman of his own to snap him into gear and be less of a slob. I think that's just part of normal male growing up. I think back to my bachelor days and I was pretty terrible, too, until I met my wife.

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That's it this morning. The sun is out & it's going to be 76 today. I'm dragging after getting five hours of sleep, but there's work to do and a yard to mow tonight. It's time to get after it before a critical Halloween weekend and Mrs. Screencaps' birthday.

Go have a great one.

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El triunfo en el quinto juego estuvo respaldado por una brillante actuación del joven abridor Jacob Misiorowski, quien se adjudicó la victoria tras trabajar durante 5.2 entradas sin permitir carreras limpias.

The small-ball Milwaukee Brewers playing in the smallest market in the majors are World Series champions for the first time in franchise history

© Reuters

For the first time in franchise history, the Milwaukee Brewers can call themselves World Series champions. 

The Brewers couldn’t get the job done in seven games against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1982 World Series, and it took them 44 years to get back to the Fall Classic this season. 

In Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Bays, one night after getting walked off in the bottom of the 13th inning, the Brewers defeated their AL opponent, 4-1, to claim their title. 

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Game 4 was a suspenseful thriller, where it seemed like 22-year-old rookie Cooper Pratt would go down in World Series history after belting a top of the 13th solo homer to finally break a 2-2 tie. 

But, facing a potential sweep at the hands of the Brewers, who did the same to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, the Rays strung together four straight singles in the bottom of the frame to walk off Game 4 and keep their season alive. 

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In Game 5, the Brewers didn’t blink despite momentum swinging in the Rays’ favor ever so slightly. 

Once again, it was Pratt, three years removed from playing high school baseball in Mississippi, coming through in the clutch with an RBI single in the top of the second inning off Drew Rasmussen, who made a start on short rest given the circumstances, to take a 1-0 lead. 

Meanwhile, Jacob Misiorowski, the likely NL Cy Young winner, was dealing triple-digit fastballs the Rays couldn’t handle in the bottom frames. He went 5.2 innings before cramping in the bottom of the sixth inning forced manager Pat Murphy to finally go into his bullpen, which was exhausted in Game 4 due to extra innings. Misiorowski gave up just two hits and one walk, while striking out two. 

The Milwaukee bullpen took over with run support, though, as David Hamilton shot an RBI single past a diving Rays defender in the top of the fifth, and two more runs would come across one inning later thanks to another RBI from Pratt on a sac fly and Williams Contreras roping a double to score Christian Yelich. 

A 4-0 lead was just what the Brewers needed, as the bullpen continued to get its outs and the suspense this time was felt from Tampa Bay all the way to Wisconsin, where fans were inching closer toward a history-defining victory. 

HISTORIC 5TH INNING AND MUCH MORE: BREWERS' WORLD SERIES GAME 3 BY THE NUMBERS

This was a team that had the best record in MLB this regular season at 103-59 despite having a payroll in the middle of the pack (19th overall at $146 million). The Rays' payroll was even lower at $95.6 million, which ranked 28th among the 30 teams, making this a World Series matchup of two teams that operated in another spectrum compared to those at the top of the list filled with All-Stars in every facet. 

"Brewer Ball," however, became a fascinating watch for both baseball traditionalists and modern-day fans. New York Yankees great Derek Jeter said, "Quite frankly, that's how baseball's supposed to be played."

The Brewers do everything needed to win games, especially those close ones. They did it during the regular season, and they did so in the postseason, including Games 1 and 2 against the Rays before blowing them out in Game 3, 10-1, at Tropicana Field. 

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So, in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Brewers did exactly what was needed one last time to cap their magical season in the best way possible. 

Time to celebrate, Brewers fans. Your team just won it all. 

Mark Walter, amid a federal investigation into his businesses, shockingly sold his stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers and Chelsea Football Club, which begged the question: what about the Los Angeles Dodgers?

The billionaire purchased the franchise in 2012 under his Guggenheim Baseball Management business, and if he continued a fire sale of sports ownership, that would be the next target.

But Walter stood firm when asked by the California Post if he planned on doing so.

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"We’re going to keep the team no matter what," Walter replied to the outlet. "We’re going to be winning for 10 years or more. I think our commitment to do so will be just like it has been in the past, And, you know, we don’t win every year, but we’re going to try to."

Walter’s team running the show — president Stan Kasten and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman — have been saying their majority owner plans to run his team like they usually do.

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The man himself reiterated that sentiment.

"I certainly hope we can look forward to winning another World Series next year under my ownership," he added. "And I think we’re just trying to win consistently, and do so for not just next season, but for the next decade and decades beyond that."

Under his ownership, the Dodgers have become a villain of sorts with their ability to land superstar talent over the years, while paying record-breaking contracts. But with the federal government’s investigation into the alleged use of investment funds to make loans directly to other businesses, some of which within Walter’s business, speculation that there was fraud within the Dodgers started trickling out on social media.

Walter’s company, TWG Global, addressed those comments earlier this year, denying the conspiracy theories that the Dodgers’ payroll, the second-highest in MLB at $322.39 million, was supported by loan fraud.

"Over the past several weeks, multipronged attacks against TWG have been advanced by unnamed sources with self-serving interests that have been reported in the media. It is important to set the record straight," it said. "TWG stands firmly behind the integrity of its business and remains focused on continuing to deliver value to its stakeholders."

But with the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission looking into these allegations, Walter’s move to sell his controlling stake in the Lakers, another iconic American sports franchise like the Dodgers, sounded alarms, especially considering he had bought the majority stake with a $10 billion valuation from the Buss family just one year ago.

The Lakers were sold to Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger at a $12.5 billion valuation.

Walter then began the process of selling his stake in Chelsea, the English Premier League club, which he held alongside business partner Todd Boehly, who is also a member of Guggenheim Baseball Management. Reports also emerged that investment firm Guggenheim Partners was trying to raise funds for its insurance operations amid the federal investigation.

TWG Global denied any wrongdoing.

"There is no victim here. No one has been harmed, and no one has claimed they were harmed," the statement said in August. "TWG is committed to working with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve their inquiries.

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"The Dodgers have the highest revenue in baseball, and it significantly exceeds the team's obligations to its players."

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Until late Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Brewers coasted through the 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs.

They had won eight straight games against the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays. The hottest team in baseball in the second half of the season, a high-powered, star-studded, expensive roster that won 100 games, and the best team in the American League that also won 98 games.

It seemed like every single move manager Pat Murphy made worked perfectly. Better than perfectly. When they started light-hitting utility infielder David Hamilton, he hit a home run off Edwin Diaz to give the Brewers an insurance run in the ninth inning of a clinching Game 4 in the NLCS. Sal Frelick was perfectly positioned to run down a 106 mph line drive to right center field off the bat of Freddie Freeman, potentially changing the course of game two.

RAYS STAY ALIVE IN WORLD SERIES, WALK OFF BREWERS IN THRILLING EXTRA-INNING GAME 4

Aaron Ashby, a very good reliever, had become the best reliever in postseason history. Better than Mariano Rivera, better than Kenley Jansen, or Billy Wagner, or other elite pitchers. His 18 scoreless innings to start a postseason set a new baseball record. Robert Gasser, an average to below average starter, had allowed just one run in 15 innings, despite getting few swings and misses or strikeouts.

In Game 4 of the World Series, Hamilton, who had just four homers in the regular season, hit another one to tie the score at two. Then rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt hit a go-ahead homer in the top of the 12th inning, putting the Brewers three outs away from clinching their first ever championship.

If that doesn't sum up Milwaukee's postseason run, it's hard to imagine what would. But in the bottom of the 12th, it all fell apart in the blink of an eye. Junior Caminero reached on an error. Liam Hicks singled, sending Caminero to third. Jonny DeLuca tied it with a single to center. Chandler Simpson singled to load the bases. Then Ben Williamson ended it with a very Brewers-like hit, a ground ball to the right side that took a huge bounce over first base to reach the outfield.

Innings like that happen all the time in baseball. An error to start the inning, followed by things quickly spiraling. There are a few well-placed hits, a lucky bounce goes the opposing team's way, and before you know it, two runs have scored and the game is over. But what made this outcome especially frustrating for Milwaukee was that it might not have needed to happen.

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The Brewers had Antonio Senzatela on the mound to start the inning, then replaced him with little-used reliever Shane Drohan. Drohan hadn't pitched since Oct. 15, when he gave up a run to the Dodgers in the NLCS. He'd pitched in a competitive game just once in the past month. At first glance Murphy had few other choices, as all of his best relievers had already been used. Aaron Ashby went over two innings. Trevor Megill was used for just one out. DL Hall had pitched, as had Abner Uribe and JoJo Romero.

And it's easy to second guess, knowing the outcome, but there was one other option to get the final three outs against the heart of the Tampa Bay lineup: the likely NL Cy Young Award winner, Jacob Misiorowski.

Misiorowski was set to start game on Wednesday, which complicated the decision somewhat, but there's one guaranteed way to avoid having to worry about Game 5: win game four with three outs to go. After the game, Murphy explained his thought process on going to Drohan over his young ace. Which, uh, wasn't great.

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Per Brewers beat reporter Curt Hogg, Murphy said Misiorowski was not an option he wanted to burn in a one-run extra innings game while the Brewers had a 3-0 series lead.

As for game five, Murphy added that it's now "all hands on deck" for Milwaukee.

"Yeah, it’s all hands on deck," he said. "You can write it up and hope that they perform like the back of their baseball card, but that doesn’t always happen. You go with what you believe is the deal. I trust our guys. I trust them. They put themselves in a position to win."

Here's the problem with that: you don't need all hands on deck if you win Game 4.

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There are two schools of thought here, and again, it's easy to second guess in hindsight. One is that Drohan, any reliever, really, has a very high likelihood of getting three outs against Liam Hicks, Jonny DeLuca and Chandler Simpson. The other? You're three outs from winning the World Series, and you have arguably the best pitcher on the planet available to finish the game. It's not worth worrying about tomorrow, or rest, or injury risk if you win the World Series that's right in front of you.

Yes, it would be out of Misiorowski's comfort zone, but the downside was exactly what happened. Instead of scheduling your parade for downtown Milwaukee this weekend, you're going to Game 5.

The Brewers are still overwhelming favorites to win the series, and especially win Game 5 with Misiorowski on the mound. But they used all of their high leverage relievers, and given Ashby's drop in velocity towards the end of his outing, their suddenly unhittable multi-inning super reliever might not be available. If the bullpen falters again in Game 5, you're looking at going home for a Game 6. And history for Tampa starts to look a little bit more possible.

Instead of a title, Milwaukee is now facing a bit more uncertainty. Murphy forgot the golden rule of World Series baseball: flags fly forever.