In the weeks leading to the end of the MLB regular season, I’ve realized that, apparently, my downfall as a sports fan is that I’m an optimistic realist.

After the start, I knew this season would be different for my hometown Milwaukee Brewers. The team had chemistry, they were having fun, and they were winning games while doing it. That’s more than anything I could have ever asked of this team that seems to always be rebuilding.

The 2017 Milwaukee Brewers proved that the rebuild is working, and not just in the way of rebuilding the team.

I’ve said my piece about this specific team of Brewers a couple times now, but after the season came to a heartbreaking end with the loss to the St. Louis Cardinals last week, I’ve got to give my final thoughts.

This team did so much more than contend when everyone thought they wouldn’t. They rekindled the love of baseball in the hearts of Milwaukee Brewers fans, myself included. They showed heart, and skill, and determination. Baseball was made fun again, not only for the fans, but also for the players.

Before this season, I never really knew how it felt to love a team wholeheartedly. Anyone who knows me is calling BS on that statement with how much I love the Chicago Blackhawks, but it’s true. Every time I was at Miller Park, or every game I could witness at Wrigley Field, I never lost hope in this team. One of those games was a terrible outing by Matt Garza, and the Brewers ended up losing 10-2, and I still didn’t lose hope.

From first pitch to the final out, this team gave me memories to last a lifetime. Every outfield celebration and every angrily broken bat will hold a place in my heart. This team played with a passion, one that was contagious, even for the most fair-weather of fans.

There were games that I got frustrated, like watching Matt Kemp hit not one but three home runs in an 11-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. There were games that were nail-biters, like the 3-1 win of over the Cubs to complete the series sweep at Wrigley. There were games that were just overwhelmingly fun, like the Mother’s Day matchup against the Mets where the Crew came back from being down 6 runs to win 11-9.

This team has made me want to tear my hair out, chew my nails to nothing, and make me lose my voice from screaming, sometimes in one game. Even so, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m so proud of this team for everything they accomplished, for being the best underdogs, and fighting all the way up to game 162.

Before I get too emotional -- because there’s no crying in baseball -- I just want to extend a few thank you’s. To the writers at Brew Crew Ball, thank you for the fun coverage all year long. To our TV Broadcasters Brian Anderson and Bill Schroeder, thank you for the calls I’ll never forget. To Caitlin Moyer and Aaron Oberley, thank you for the fun social media interactions and never getting sick of me tagging the Brewers in literally everything.

Finally, to the players. Thank you for helping me fall in love with baseball again. Thank you for playing with heart, and for never giving up. Thank you for giving me a team to tell my eventual kids about when I’m schlepping them to the ballpark night in and night out.

Thank you for giving it your all. See you March 29th.