Brewers are once again....

tied for the wild card.

JSOnline.com photo credit: Bennie Sieu

Game story

The Brewers' tumultuous, now-you-like-them, now-you-don't season comes down to one final plot twist today: Win, and guarantee at the least a one-game showdown with the New York Mets for the National League wild-card berth.

"It's been a roller-coaster ride," said interim manager Dale Sveum. "But when we started, if you would have said, 'If you're tied after 161 (games), would you take it?' All 30 teams would have taken it."

Box score

The last time the Brewers were tied for a playoff spot on the last day of the regular season was October 3, 1982. Milwaukee and Baltimore were tied for the AL East lead with 94-67 records. That turned out alright for the Brewers as they beat the Orioles thanks to Robin Yount's two homers and Cecil Cooper's three RBI.

It's quite different in 2008. The Brewers are tied with the Mets, but Milwaukee isn't playing at Shea today. The Mets host Florida with former Fort Wayne Wizard ('01) Oliver Perez pitching for New York against Scott Olsen for the Marlins. The Brewers have the Cubs at Miller Park today.

One similarity that jumps out to say, "Hello!": Milwaukee's starting pitcher with the 1982 season on the line was picked up in a mid-season trade, Don Sutton. Milwaukee's starting pitcher with the 2008 season on the line, C.C. Sabathia.

Sutton's opponent in 1982 was Jim Palmer. Sabathia's opponent today: Angel Guzman.

Tenuous Timber Rattler tie-in: Guzman pitched with Lansing during the 2002 season and with Peoria in 2005.

Guzman made a start against the Rattlers on May 13, 2002 and picked up a win as he allowed two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts over seven innings. He only made two appearances for the Chiefs in 2005 -- neither against the Rattlers.