Local restaurant chain George Webb has been promising free burgers if the local baseball team won 17 consecutive games for decades, starting way back when Milwaukee was home to the minor-league Brewers of the old American Association.

The Brewers, thanks to their 12-game winning streak they extended Wednesday night against the Pirates, now have the best record in baseball by 6 ½ games. Given not only that but also the major struggles every other serious contender have suffered this season -- most of them very recently -- one might think the Brewers' are the odds-on favorites to win the World Series.