“April is the cruelest month.”

Just ask a Milwaukee Brewers fan.

It has been 25 years since the Brewers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. I was a very young fan, and my memories are minimal. My Don Sutton commemorative placemat from McDonald’s reminds me that the Brewers were once a playoff team.

With the conclusion of spring training and the beginning of the regular season, prominent sports prognosticators are picking the Brewers as a playoff team. They state Milwaukee has the pitching and depth to contend for a pennant. “This could be the year,” cheer fans.

The Brewers are fueling speculation with their quick start. They are currently tied for the lead of the NL Central with a 5-4 record. Their starting pitching and bullpen have been dominant, while their lineup is getting better with every game.

While excitement and intrigue builds amongst causal fans, those of us who have followed the Brewers the past two decades have come to expect disappointment. The Brewers have not made the playoffs since their World Series appearance despite high expectations and strong performances early in the season.

April has been one of the Brewers best months statistically, as they have compiled a 257-249 record since their last playoff appearance. Compare this with an overall record of 1791-2026 since 1982, and you can see why I am skeptical of their fast start.

In 1983, the Brewers were projected to repeat as AL Champion. Injuries hampered the team, and they ended up finishing fifth in their division.

In 1987, the Brewers started the season by winning their first 13 games. Juan Nieves throwing the first no-hitter in Brewer history highlighted the streak. Paul Molitor’s 39 game hit streak would help the Brewers finish third in their division.

1992 was the last great playoff run for the Brewers. The team finished April 10-9, and came within four games of making the playoffs. Robin Yount reached career hit 3,000, and Pat Listach became the first Brewer to win Rookie of the Year.

The Brewers followed up their close finish in 1992 by taking the next decade off. From 1993 until 2004, the team averaged almost 90 loses per year. In 2005, the Brewers finished 81-81, snapping their 13-year skid of losing seasons.

Last year, the Brewers started 5-0, and were a trendy pick by analysts to contend for the playoffs. Injuries to Ben Sheets, J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks, and Corey Koskie hindered their chances, and they finished fourth in the division.

As the Brewers prepare for a weekend series against the Cardinals, the idea that maybe this year will be different erodes my logic. Maybe the Brewers will be able to avoid the injuries that plagued the team last year. Maybe their pitchers will continue to dominate. Maybe this year is different.

I feel like a woman who is trying to convince herself that her husband has cheated for the last time.

So I maintain some skepticism, and continue to watch and cheer on the team I have loved since I was a child. If the Brewers continue to win into the fall, my skeptics will fade and I will contemplate the possibility of a playoff game in Milwaukee.

That would make April a little less cruel.