I am not sure fans of both the Cubs and Brewers respect either team yet, but the people who matter most do respect each other. Anyone who follows college football realizes 112% of what coaches say about the opponent is b.s. That’s not the case with either of these teams and not because of the relationship of their managers.

For the better part of the regular season, one or both of the teams were the best in baseball much to the chagrin of New York and MLB proper. As much a good story as the Brewers and Pat Murphy are, they are clearly underappreciated.

Even with the uncertainty of their game one starting pitcher, everyone had the rusty Brewers losing at home. And by everyone, I meant everyone but the Cubs and Brewers.

These teams know each other so well and have played so closely this year that nobody else appreciates what they’ve both accomplished. On paper, the Cubs have the upper hand, talentwise and home run wise, yet the Brewers have scored more runs and have had better pitching. Neither of that tracks with the national narrative.

As confident as Brewer fans were heading into the game, nobody was talking sweep or anything but a barroom fight-without the actual fight. Even as the team was piling on the runs, nobody was looking beyond the 9th inning.

In his postgame press conference, Freddy Peralta talked about having to battle the Cubs whom he knows so well and who knows him so well. Other than the rare new addition, I don’t think anyone on either team needs to study tape. At this point it’s a matter of changing patterns, making adjustments and performing.

Let’s be clear, it’s the responsibility of the fans and media to assign blame and react. It’s so much easier to react without knowing the facts or what goes on in clubhouses and dugouts. That’s also the problem with relying too heavily on analytics, one loses the sense of context.

Almost simultaneously, I listened to both radio stations that cover the teams. For a change, the Brewers didn’t take any calls from fans/listeners. Instead, former pitcher and longtime college coach, Jerry Augustine offered his thoughts on everything from Craig Counsell’s decision to start Matt Boyd in lieu of any third-rate guy on the roster. Augustine and his cohost didn’t believe the Cubs won’t make it a series, likely going the full five games. And it’s more than the Cubs having won the season series 7-6.

Call it provincialism, but I think both teams realize how good they are and that competing against each other has brought out their best. I don’t know if it’s civic pride, but playing in the best division means something. It’s not all that different than when the division had three teams with 90+ wins and playing in the postseason-Pirates, Cardinals and Cubs in 2015.

Even on the Cubs station, the host who is only an employee of the team and not a former player, had to concede that the series will likely play out. Yet, he was all about the hot take and all of the obvious (To him and the callers) mistakes Counsell had made. He and a couple callers made more out of the interaction between the fans and Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Brewers, especially those that played with him on the All-Star team obviously respect him, but the fans have no reason to warm up to him. At this point in his career, I’m not so sure he doesn’t mind playing the villain on the road.

It’s clear that the fans haven’t gotten over Counsell’s exodus to Wrigley for more do re mi and a bigger stage, but the players have gotten over the initial shock and are generally happy for him except when they face off directly.

Whatever the result of Monday’s game both fanbases will lean in with the help of the media and touts. I’m not sure how any of the pros make any money on baseball without inside information from the players because their predictions are horrible.

I expect that yesterday was an outlier and that the rest of the series will be more competitive. As it stands right now, I’ll be watching and listening from home, and am not the least bit concerned with the ratings. Regardless of who wins, I think Jackson Chourio will emerge as a rising star.