Of course I was. Who else had the guts? The intuition? It was my first prediction of the year. A proud moment. I saw something in that bountiful Milwaukee lineup -- a collection of bats as fierce as any in the National League: Fernando Vina , Mark Loretta , Jeff Cirillo , Jeromy Burnitz , Dave Nilsson , Alex Ochoa , Marquis Grissom , Sean Berry . I saw a pitching staff of untapped potential: the lanky Bill Pulsipher , the determined Jim Abbott , the overlooked Steve Woodard , the gawky Bob Wickman . Oh yes, Garner had something here. In the injury-ravaged National League Central, the Brewers would ... well, you know.

Two weeks back, Miller Park, the team's under-construction, state-of-the-art, ready-for-2000 stadium, had a bit of a boo-boo. Big Blue, a gazillion-dollar crane that's big and blue but not big and blue enough to stand high winds, crumpled in high winds. Part of right field came crashing down. Three construction workers died. The stadium might not be ready for 2000 after all. This is not good.

If the team doesn't finish with a winning record, Garner will likely be fired. Eight years and one season above .500 (1992) does not a career make. Sal Bando , a very good player and a very poor GM, should be banished, too. They have not produced.

Every day, upon opening the sports section, my eyes instinctively bolt to the Milwaukee box score. Maybe there's some hope, I think. A few wins here, a few there. Houston drops a couple ...

Then I remember: These are the Brewers. Temptation to an idiot.

Staff writer Jeff Pearlman offers his unique view on baseball every Tuesday during the season for CNNSI.com.

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.