Pat Murphy Appreciation Thread

[Underachiever]

Heading into the last game of his third season, Murphy is doing something historic. Even including his 96-game interim gig with the Padres in 2015 (42-54 record), he has crept into the top 25 in baseball history in winning percentage. His Brewer gig alone puts him just outside the top 10. That's in all of baseball history. According to Baseball Reference, here are the numbers: 

		#Seasons	Wins	Losses	Pct.
1	Bullet Rogan HOF	5	258	111	0.699
2	Vic Harris	11	637	322	0.664
3	Andy Cooper HOF	4	208	114	0.646
4	Rube Foster HOF	7	341	194	0.637
5	Dave Malarcher	7	267	159	0.627
6	Frank Warfield	6	238	145	0.621
7	Dave Roberts	12	1043	638	0.62
8	Joe McCarthy HOF	24	2125	1333	0.615
9	Jim Mutrie	9	658	419	0.611
10	Charlie Comiskey HOF	12	839	540	0.608
	MURPHY AS BREWER MANAGER	3	292	193	0.602
11	Frank Selee HOF	16	1284	862	0.598
12	Billy Southworth HOF	13	1044	704	0.597
13	Bill Joyce	3	179	122	0.595
14	Frank Chance HOF	11	946	648	0.593
15	John McGraw HOF	33	2763	1948	0.586
16	Al Lopez HOF	17	1410	1004	0.584
17	Aaron Boone	9	790	565	0.583
18	Earl Weaver HOF	17	1480	1060	0.583
19	Mickey Cochrane HOF	5	348	250	0.582
20	Harry Wright HOF	23	1225	885	0.581
21	Cap Anson HOF	21	1295	947	0.578
22	Eddie Dyer	5	446	325	0.578
23	Pants Rowland	4	339	247	0.578
24	Fred Clarke HOF	19	1602	1181	0.576
25	Pat Murphy	4	334	247	0.575

He's done it in baseball's smallest market, at a time when the disparity between the haves and have-nots has never been greater, with one of the youngest rosters in MLB. He has worked with rookies, established vets, waiver wire acquisitions, minimum salaried players, etc. He and the front office have managed the Nashville shuttle and the 40-man, and done it with a brand of baseball that maximizes the margins and leverages market inefficiencies. 

Our opponents and their fans are befuddled by the Brewers' success, and a lot of the credit has to go to Murphy. There are a good number of posters who think he can't build lineups, is poor at managing a bullpen, bad at in-game replacements, don't like how he calls out players, hate him bringing his kids to pressers, but you cannot deny the winning. Outside of Aaron Civale (and Jesse Winker), have we heard of players unhappy within the org even after they leave? Some posters like to imagine that certain decisions won't go over well in the clubhouse but can't point to any concrete evidence of it.

He's the perfect manager for this organization, and this team. Now go win it all!

[Frisbee Slider]

Soon to be three time manager of the year?

[Brewcrew82]

If he wins another MOTY and leads the smallest market in baseball Brewers to a World Series or two, he could be building a very late in life HOF case. 
 

He’s way behind the 8 ball because of his age, but I mean just look at those names he’s with right now.

[formerlybis]

Murphy, for as old school as he looks, talks, and really is, has a decidedly modern way of managing *people*, at least IMO. People focus on strategies, which is a mix of throwback and analytics, but there is a saying that culture eats strategy for breakfast. That’s the secret sauce, and IMO, accountability and authenticity are key ingredients. It would fail, however, without the right players. 

[sveumrules]

Best record in MLB this year, and last year, and over the last three years with the Brewers at a 293 W - 193 L record since Murphy took over. One Hundred more wins than losses.

Even with May and Senzatela putting up 57 IP of -1.69 WPA (JoJo was small sample OK though with 13 IP of 81 ERA- | 92 FIP- and +0.28 WPA) the Brewers still managed an MLB best 34 W - 16 L record after the trade deadline. While the Padres were blazing hot at 17 W - 3 L to close the season out the Brewers were just humming along at a 15 W - 4 L clip over the same date range.

With RISP since 2024 the Brewers have 247 more PA than the Cubs in second place, their 118 wRC+ with RISP is also tops just ahead of the expensive star studded Dodgers (117) and Yankees (116) lineups, add it all up and they've scored 82 more runs than the Diamondbacks in second place over the last three seasons with Murphy setting the tone and expectations.

Last year, BaseRuns thought the Brewers should have scored around 4.77 R/G (10th) with neutral sequencing. They actually scored 4.98 R/G (3rd) due in large part that RISP performance plus elite base advancement (+14.4 XBR | 1st).

This year BaseRuns thought they should have scored around 4.92 R/G (3rd) with neutral sequencing. They actually scored 5.14 R/G (2nd) again adding an extra two tenths of a run per game with their RISP performance and a cut in half but still MLB best +7.1 XBR advancing bases on batted balls.

During the 2017 to 2023 run of winning at least 86 games every full season, winning the sixth most games in all of MLB, I pretty much believed that was the best we could hope for as small market fans at the bottom end of a tilted financial landscape.

Wild to think that Stearns and Counsell leaving of their own volition for perceived greener pastures would end up being the best thing that ever happened for a franchise that's improved season over season over season for three years running now.

All that's left to do is win eleven games in October.

[Playing Catch]

4 hours ago, formerlybis said:

Murphy, for as old school as he looks, talks, and really is, has a decidedly modern way of managing *people*, at least IMO. People focus on strategies, which is a mix of throwback and analytics, but there is a saying that culture eats strategy for breakfast. That’s the secret sauce, and IMO, accountability and authenticity are key ingredients. It would fail, however, without the right players. 

All of this.

He uses his old-school persona when it fits his purposes, but the organization fed him all of these players and all of their contemporary analytics to use according to their models. His ability to embrace and help to guide change, rather than reject or fear change is a huge credit to him. 

[MrTPlush]

22 hours ago, Frisbee Slider said:

Soon to be three time manager of the year?

We will see if there is Murphy fatigue, but this is probably the most deserving of any of his years. The strong finish to the year will get it for him, imo.

Would be the first 3-peat in MLB history. Which is a bit crazy when you consider the record for total awards is 4.

[Frisbee Slider]

7 minutes ago, MrTPlush said:

We will see if there is Murphy fatigue, but this is probably the most deserving of any of his years. The strong finish to the year will get it for him, imo.

Would be the first 3-peat in MLB history. Which is a bit crazy when you consider the record for total awards is 4.

I wonder who else could possibly get first place votes? Dave Roberts? Craig Counsell? Were the Braves that much of a surprise to win the division for Weiss?

[MrTPlush]

2 minutes ago, Frisbee Slider said:

I wonder who else could possibly get first place votes? Dave Roberts? Craig Counsell? Were the Braves that much of a surprise to win the division for Weiss?

ESPN had them projected for 90 wins. Padres weren’t a huge surprise for a WC…Cubs were supposed to win the division.

To be honest, I’m not sure what mental gymnastics it would require to even pick anyone not named Murphy.

[formerlybis]

3 hours ago, MrTPlush said:

ESPN had them projected for 90 wins. Padres weren’t a huge surprise for a WC…Cubs were supposed to win the division.

To be honest, I’m not sure what mental gymnastics it would require to even pick anyone not named Murphy.

About 2 weeks ago, there was a lot of chatter about Don Mattingly who took over a 9-19 Phillies team and guided them to the playoffs. But, they fell off a bit and they also have a very high payroll. Should be Murphy

[baseball101]

Murph is a great manager. A few posters literally said he was insane. The ridiculous takes from 3-4 posters are legendary. Then they report for calling it out.

[owbc]

9 hours ago, formerlybis said:

Murphy, for as old school as he looks, talks, and really is, has a decidedly modern way of managing *people*, at least IMO. People focus on strategies, which is a mix of throwback and analytics, but there is a saying that culture eats strategy for breakfast. That’s the secret sauce, and IMO, accountability and authenticity are key ingredients. It would fail, however, without the right players. 

Strongly agree with this -- Murph seems to have a pulse on the clubhouse and knows when to hit the right buttons. It's not one fixed style either -- each of the last three iterations of the Brewers has looked and felt a little different. The first year had the Wily Adames energy and fun. Last year was the "win it for Ueck" year -- a team that was grieving but loaded with unsung heroes. This year it's all business. Whatever Murph said to these guys in that closed door meeting after the Padres series won him the award. I get the impression that it's largely a player-lead clubhouse (made official perhaps with Yelich getting the C), but Murph knows the right moments to interject. 

 

[markedman5]

“ I get the impression that it's largely a player-lead clubhouse (made official perhaps with Yelich getting the C), but Murph knows the right moments to interject. “
 

Yep……I remember when Pratt got pulled……(some posters went crazy)…….after  he got back in the dugout Joey immediately told him to go sit next to Jake………the players enforce the standard……..

Pratt proceeded to play his best ball of the season after the incident.