Article: When No News is Not Good News

[Harold Hutchison]

The Brewers have fallen behind Pittsburgh, trailing the surprising Pirates by a single game as of June 13. But while the weekend sweep by the A’s has knocked the Crew out of first place for now, that is not the bad news that Brewers fans should fret about, given that there are still 97 games to play.

Image courtesy of © Sam Greene-USA TODAY Sports

The real bad news is what Brewers fans haven’t heard anything about: To wit: whether or not the Brewers will be looking for a new manager in the offseason. There is no word on whether Craig Counsell will still be wearing the blue and gold of the Brewers.

This silence is very concerning, particularly given the fact that Counsell has probably been the best manger in Brewers history by just about every possible metric (be it wins, playoff appearances, longevity) that can be looked at on paper.

Is that hyperbole? Let’s look through some of the record: In five of the six full (162-game) seasons under Counsell, the team posted 86 wins or more, according to the Brewers’ 2023 media guide. The only exception was 2016, which saw the Brewers win a not-too-shabby 73 games, considering the fact that the team dealt Jonathan Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress for Lewis Brinson and Luis Ortiz, who each were components in deals that enabled the team’s 2018 run to Game Seven of the NLCS.

Counsell has the highest win total of any Brewers manager in history–surpassing Phil Garner in 2022, and Garner’s tenure with the Brewers was sub-.500 overall. The Brewers manager with the most wins and a winning record prior to Counsell was Tom Trebelhorn, and he never got into the playoffs (although he did not have the benefit of Wild Card spots or the three-division format).

Harvey Kuenn had the highest winning percentage over two stints (1975, 1982-1983), but only had the one playoff appearance that netted the Crew the 1982 AL pennant. The team got single playoff appearances from Buck Rogers in 1981, the duo of Ned Yost and Dale Sveum in 2008, and Ron Roenicke in 2011. Counsell has equaled that total in his tenure, which is the longest of any manager in Brewers history (1235 games as of June 10 and counting).

Furthermore, Counsell’s Brewers have won 21 games more than their Pythagorean record would indicate from 2016 through the games of June 10, 2023. That includes four in this injury-riddled 2023 season, and a stunning eight in the 2019 Wild Card season. Counsell also exceeded the Pythagorean by five games in the 2018 season–so his managing got the Crew to Game 163 against the Cubs that year.

It's not even up for debate at this point: Counsell’s done a superb job as manager of maximizing the talent on the Brewers roster. He’s clearly managed the clubhouse very well over the past eight-plus seasons in charge of the team. Sure, the team is scuffling offensively, and there have been a lot of injuries this season.

The manager can play an important part. For all some Brewers fans like to dump on Ned Yost, can anyone deny that his enthusiasm to be the manager of the Brewers played a role in turning the team around after that horrendous 2002 season that marked the franchise’s nadir?

But at this point, can anyone point to someone who is a certain upgrade over Counsell as the on-field manager? Right now, that seems to be highly doubtful. If anything, Counsell has clearly earned an extension from the Brewers. The apparent lack of any apparent movement to keep Counsell in the fold should be of great concern to fans hoping to see a run of success for the franchise continue.

View full article

[Dwat7205]

He is going to have two kids playing College baseball for the next several years.  He has missed nearly all their HS games.  Lurking in the back of my mind is whether he might try to work out a deal like Brian Anderson has with the TV side -- Let him miss some time to go watch his kids play.

They have a very capable Bench Coach there that could cover the away time.  

Let him have the time off to watch his kid and recharge the mental side of things as well.

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 minute ago, Dwat7205 said:

He is going to have two kids playing College baseball for the next several years.  He has missed nearly all their HS games.  Lurking in the back of my mind is whether he might try to work out a deal like Brian Anderson has with the TV side -- Let him miss some time to go watch his kids play.

They have a very capable Bench Coach there that could cover the away time.  

Let him have the time off to watch his kid and recharge the mental side of things as well.

Welcome to Brewer Fanatic!

It's an interesting situation, no doubt. I was convinced Counsell was gone already but just a few weeks ago, the Twins announced they had extended Baldelli... last year.

Now, I don't think that's the situation in Milwaukee, as Counsell is more integral to the team (IMO anyway) than Baldelli is in Minnesota. But it's an interesting thing to note.

[Team Canada]

1 hour ago, clancyphile said:

The apparent lack of any apparent movement to keep Counsell in the fold should be of great concern to fans hoping to see a run of success for the franchise continue.

 

I'm 99% sure this is on Counsell. There was a past quote where he basically said he wasn't sure what he wanted to do next year. If he decides he wants to continue, he'll be back. If he wants to watch his kids, can't fault him for that.

[jerichoholicninja]

Until they can put an un-embarrassing offense together the manger won't matter.

[sveumrules]

Hader first last deadline, then Stearns last offseason, maybe Burnes and/or Adames (though he isn’t an OG) at the upcoming deadline, then possibly Counsell and/or Woodruff in the off season.

Definitely getting close to the end of this particular era of Brewers baseball and looking increasingly like they’ll go out with more of a whimper than a bang unfortunately.

But hey, who knows, at this time in 2021 the Braves hadn’t even acquired NLCS MVP Eddie Rosario or World Series MVP Jorge Soler yet so I’ll keep an open mind towards potential future outcomes for a lil while longer yet.

[Playing Catch]

2 hours ago, Team Canada said:

I'm 99% sure this is on Counsell. There was a past quote where he basically said he wasn't sure what he wanted to do next year. If he decides he wants to continue, he'll be back. If he wants to watch his kids, can't fault him for that.

Would having a unique contract that allowed him more days off during the season be feasible? Do we think that would be detrimental to the team as a whole? Probably. An organization can't not have the leadership on site as much as possible.

[Samurai Bucky]

He also has two daughters who either are in high school or will be attending high school.

For me, I would be sad if he left, but I would certainly respect that decision.  I took a job where I was allowed to take time off to coach my kids in softball, baseball, or soccer.  Of course, when I was travelling, I would be working between games to keep up on the work, but at least I had that flexibility.  The job also paid enough and had benefits so that made it worth it.

Counsell makes a lot more money than I do.  I'm sure he is set financially, so he doesn't need the job.  However, he can't get back the time with his kids.  My guess is he takes a different job with the organization to keep his foot in the door.  I saw him frequently at soccer events before he was a manager after he retired from baseball.  I truly believe his family is very important to him.

To echo other comments -- the higher-ups in the organization aren't helping him out.

[WV Brew]

Counsell has had a pitching staff that those other managers could only dream of.  That doesn't make him a better manager. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

Would having a unique contract that allowed him more days off during the season be feasible? Do we think that would be detrimental to the team as a whole? Probably. An organization can't not have the leadership on site as much as possible.

No & yes.

If he gives up his post I also think he'll take another job within the organization. And unless his replacement is a home run hire it'll be more a leave of absence than anything.

[brewmann04]

I really don't believe CC is returning to this team  just a hunch

[wibadgers23]

I’m going to guess he takes some sort of advisory role in the front office that allows him more flexibility to see his family.

[MrTPlush]

3 hours ago, brewmann04 said:

I really don't believe CC is returning to this team  just a hunch

His comments have always hinted at "I won't be around for a rebuild".

Well, this team is embarrassing...not winning it this year and the outlook after this year is really pathetic in the short term. Counsell is gone, for sure. I don't think it is that much of a loss and it honestly won't matter for the foreseeable future as we try to rebuild. 

Matt Arnold should get fired at the end of the year to leave with him.

[BlightyBrew]

2 hours ago, MrTPlush said:

His comments have always hinted at "I won't be around for a rebuild".

Well, this team is embarrassing...not winning it this year and the outlook after this year is really pathetic in the short term. Counsell is gone, for sure. I don't think it is that much of a loss and it honestly won't matter for the foreseeable future as we try to rebuild. 

Matt Arnold should get fired at the end of the year to leave with him.

Does Arnold's run out at the end of year? I thought I read somewhere that Stearns and him had with the contract ending in 23.  Or do we not know really the details of Arnolds contract?

[MrTPlush]

20 hours ago, BlightyBrew said:

Does Arnold's run out at the end of year? I thought I read somewhere that Stearns and him had with the contract ending in 23.  Or do we not know really the details of Arnolds contract?

I wouldn’t be surprised if their contracts were identical year wise. It doesn’t matter either way. They can fire him if it is past 2023 if they wanted to move on.

[BlightyBrew]

3 hours ago, MrTPlush said:

I wouldn’t be surprised if their contracts were identical year wise. It doesn’t matter either way. They can fire him if it is past 2023 if they wanted to move on.

Agreed.  I know anyone can be canned just wasn't sure what the actual contract duration was.