Joey Votto, the former Cincinnati Reds legend and now an analyst on MLB Network, just dropped a bombshell about Milwaukee Brewers fans that honestly? It makes so much sense when you look at how that team is performing right now. On the “MLB Now” show this past Friday, Votto didn’t hold back, flat-out calling the Brewers’ fanbase the *best* in Major League Baseball. Yeah, you read that right. The best, with the only caveat being his own beloved Reds fans, of course.
The Undeniable Loyalty of the Cream City Crowd
So, what’s got Votto, a guy who battled against Milwaukee for years, so convinced? He pointed straight to the 2010s, a decade when both the Reds and Brewers weren’t exactly setting the world on fire. He remembered how his own Reds fanbase often wouldn’t show up when the team was struggling. But Milwaukee? Man, they were different. Votto vividly recalls them consistently filling the stands, even when their club wasn’t strong. That kind of unwavering support, day after day, year after year, doesn’t get enough credit in baseball.
He brought up the tailgating scene, too, something that’s practically a religion there. “There’s not many fanbases that tailgate before a game, and they would do that every single day,” Votto stated, clearly impressed. He has true admiration for that consistent effort and believes this is why they’re able to reap rewards now. To him, they’re the “best non-Cincinnati Reds fanbase in all of baseball.” When a rival player who played against you for 17 years says that, you know it’s legit.
Small Market, Big Results: The Brewers’ Masterclass
But Votto wasn’t done singing Milwaukee’s praises. He also highlighted their incredible ability to build a winning organization as a small-market team. This is a point he argues with practically every other small-market club out there. He sees teams like the Brewers consistently, year over year, finding methods to put out a fantastic product. They’re not out there signing the biggest free agents. They don’t keep a lot of their superstar players long-term; they let them go. Yet, the savvy teams, the ones that focus on the right long-term keepers, they’re consistently in the playoffs.
And guess what? That strategy is paying off in a HUGE way right now. The Brewers are sitting pretty with the best record in Major League Baseball! Votto played in Milwaukee for years and knows what he’s talking about. He’s genuinely happy for the Milwaukee front office, especially seeing them maintain that pedigree even after losing their former general manager, David Stearns. He summed it all up perfectly: “To me, they’re getting their payback for the decades of effort.”
This is what happens when a community stands by its team, through thick and thin. You earn this kind of recognition from a baseball legend and you earn the success on the field. The Brewers, with the best record in MLB, are showing everyone what consistent effort from both the fans and the front office can build. It’s a testament to loyalty, and Votto’s praise just solidifies what Milwaukee has known all along.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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