Milwaukee Brewers centerfielder Garrett Mitchell hits a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game 4 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thu Oct 15, 2026 (AP News photo)
Small Market Milwaukee Sweeps Power Market Dodgers
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
Amaury Pi-González
Who said small-market teams cannot compete with huge-market teams? The Milwaukee Brewers are considered the smallest MLB market. Milwaukee Brewers play in the smallest metropolitan market in Major League Baseball, while the Los Angeles Dodgers play in a metropolitan area of 12 to 13 million people. and have money like Fort Knox, which they happily spent on the incredible Shohei Ohtani over a $700 million deal..
Who would even contemplate that what many consider the best baseball player ever was not even a factor in this NLCS. Ohtani finished the season with injuries and pain; what started as another MVP season for the Japanese star never happened, as that award would surely go to Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong. Shohei Ohtani has won 4 regular-season Most Valuable Player Awards, but he’ll have to wait until next season to win his #5.
The Dodgers won two consecutive World Series, but history denied them a third consecutive title, which would have made them the only team in National League history to win three in a row. Only the NY Yankees and the Oakland A’s are in that exclusive category, both in the American League.
The 2004 Boston Red Sox still are the only team in the 2004 postseason; they became the first—and only—team in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven postseason series, beating the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series and then sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
This upset of the Brewers over the Dodgers sets the stage for the very real possibility of an owner-led lockout over a salary cap. The battle of small-market teams over large-market teams and all that jazz.
Tampa Bay and Cleveland, still playing as one of those teams, will represent the American League and play the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2026 World Series. I like Cleveland because their manager is one of baseball’s good guys, Stephen Vogt.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
