Pat Murphy Appreciation Thread

[Local Man Brewer Fan]

As a Brewer fan for 5 decades, I really appreciate the job that Murphy is doing. Is he perfect? No. Could he manage any team? No,

However, part of what is making the Brewers great is the alignment throughout the leadership. To me - it says a great deal about this organization that they have added the Ebel brothers in the first round the last 2 years. I have no clue whether either of these guys will make it to the bigs, much less become stars.

BUT - I know this. These two guys are all about baseball, and understand the work and sacrifice that it takes to develop and give themselves a chance. They also represent guys that will likely never be a distraction to a clubhouse - and likely will be very much aligned for how Murphy runs the team.  

You think about the type of guys the Ebel's are - and I could say the same thing about Pratt, Lara, Frelick, Ortiz....... The Brewers have identified a type of player that they want in the organization - and Murph is the right guy to lead a clubhouse of those guys.

We shall see if a team comprised of these types of guys/players can win the WS. I think it can happen, but it is not done until it is done. Enjoy the ride!

[Frisbee Slider]

5 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Give Aaron Ashby a day off, man

Fair.

At the same time, the Brewers gave Ashby $20 million reasons to be alright with his usage. I bet they pick up at least one team option year, too.

I assume Ashby is aware of the Brewers plan with him.

[Brock Beauchamp]

20 minutes ago, Frisbee Slider said:

Fair.

At the same time, the Brewers gave Ashby $20 million reasons to be alright with his usage. I bet they pick up at least one team option year, too.

I assume Ashby is aware of the Brewers plan with him.

I'm not worried about Ashby; I think it's just good bullpen management on a team that expects to contend deep into October. And Ashby had some pretty ugly outings, often with strong correlation to periods of frequent use.

It just felt REALLY unnecessary. I don't want to see guys like Ashby if the Brewers are losing, unless Ashby just needs reps because he hasn't pitched in a week.

[SeaBass]

On 9/29/2026 at 6:35 PM, Underachiever said:

Because the fewest seasons a hall of fame manager has is 16, and the fewest number of games managed is 2100. Managers need longevity, so unless Murph goes until he is 80, he's not getting in.

Managing until you're 80 isn't hard. Tell him, Wash.

Ron Washington is still coaching at age 74 (for the Giants this season) so maybe he still has a chance to manage again.

 

[Samurai Bucky]

17 hours ago, Frisbee Slider said:

Fair.

At the same time, the Brewers gave Ashby $20 million reasons to be alright with his usage. I bet they pick up at least one team option year, too.

I assume Ashby is aware of the Brewers plan with him.

Here are the details of the Brewers' and Ashby's contracts:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIL/milwaukee-brewers-salaries-and-contracts.shtml

[Frisbee Slider]

1 hour ago, Samurai Bucky said:

Here are the details of the Brewers' and Ashby's contracts:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIL/milwaukee-brewers-salaries-and-contracts.shtml

This link reminded me we have Angel Zerpa expected back late next year.

[jw5511986]

3 hours ago, SeaBass said:

Managing until you're 80 isn't hard. Tell him, Wash.

Ron Washington is still coaching at age 74 (for the Giants this season) so maybe he still has a chance to manage again.

 

Hey, anything worth doing is.

[Brewcrew82]

Interesting because I've been told many times on here that Murph is a moron and just blindly hates Vaughn and Ortiz...

 

[wiguy94]

3 hours ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Interesting because I've been told many times on here that Murph is a moron and just blindly hates Vaughn and Ortiz...

 

I'm already mentally preparing for the backlash in game 2 of the NLDS when Ortiz is on the bench because Michael King is starting.

[Playing Catch]

Excellent article from Hogg. I did have to chuckle at this line in the article...

"[Along with the RH sinker,] Ortiz also historically struggles with righty changeups, curveballs and sweeper/sliders."

[Underachiever]

Need to bump this after the last two nights. In a world of matchup baseball, Murph has "set it and forget it" with his lineups. Even his pitching decisions have largely been to let guys finish an inning. 

Man is good at his job.

[MrTPlush]

His relievers are certainly allowing him to manage on ‘rookie mode’. Especially Ashby and Uribe in key spots. Neither has really forced him into a tight situation.

I do like his managing of the lineup so far. Really just trusting the guys and letting them get their chance. Every “why is this guy in the lineup” or “get him out of there already” guy has proven to be a huge part of a win eventually.

[Turning2]

He’s a unique character. From the pancakes to having his kids at the post game pressers to the not shaking his players hands as they line up on the baseline during starting introductions … he’s a different cat. It carries over into his managing style 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

1 hour ago, Underachiever said:

Need to bump this after the last two nights. In a world of matchup baseball, Murph has "set it and forget it" with his lineups. Even his pitching decisions have largely been to let guys finish an inning. 

Man is good at his job.

This.

Analytics are great. Especially over the long haul. In little micro-moments, though, you always run the risk of over-tinkering. Plus, Murphy's got the kind of prepared chill that serves us well here.

[Jopal78]

On 9/30/2026 at 3:53 PM, Frisbee Slider said:

Fair.

At the same time, the Brewers gave Ashby $20 million reasons to be alright with his usage. I bet they pick up at least one team option year, too.

I assume Ashby is aware of the Brewers plan with him.

They’ll most likely trade him after ‘27 if they can find someone willing to give them something for those team options.

$9M option for ‘28, and $13 million dollar option for ‘29. 

While Ashby is a key bullpen contributor, outside of Hader (in the year he was traded) the Brewers have not carried a reliever with a salary of  $9M a year especially for a non-closer. 
 

There are exceptions to every rule, but with their methods of roster building, it would be surprising if either of those options were exercised by the Brewers. 
 

It’s kind of like Vaughn in a way. He’s excellent in his role, but the team does not have any history of investing that kind of money in a role player. 

[liveforoctober]

1 hour ago, MrTPlush said:

His relievers are certainly allowing him to manage on ‘rookie mode’. Especially Ashby and Uribe in key spots. Neither has really forced him into a tight situation.

I do like his managing of the lineup so far. Really just trusting the guys and letting them get their chance. Every “why is this guy in the lineup” or “get him out of there already” guy has proven to be a huge part of a win eventually.

Murph is the man.

We are 2-0, so hard to say any wrong buttons have been pushed. We will see if any lingering effects take place as the series progresses. They have seen Uribe twice now, Ashby twice. I'm glad Megill was spared. We are going to need to get outs from Senza, Drohan, and Patrick at some point. The hopscotch from Henderson to Uribe using May and Romero was really great to see.

[Brewcrew82]

But the kids at the press conferences! And the phony Uecker letters! Trying really hard to like the guy but he just makes it so hard!

[Underachiever]

8 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

But the kids at the press conferences! And the phony Uecker letters! Trying really hard to like the guy but he just makes it so hard!

It's especially difficult if you hate winning.

[markedman5]

56 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

They’ll most likely trade him after ‘27 if they can find someone willing to give them something for those team options.

$9M option for ‘28, and $13 million dollar option for ‘29. 

While Ashby is a key bullpen contributor, outside of Hader (in the year he was traded) the Brewers have not carried a reliever with a salary of  $9M a year especially for a non-closer. 
 

There are exceptions to every rule, but with their methods of roster building, it would be surprising if either of those options were exercised by the Brewers. 
 

It’s kind of like Vaughn in a way. He’s excellent in his role, but the team does not have any history of investing that kind of money in a role player. 

A lot probably depends on what the next CBA looks like…..if there is some form of revenue sharing with a salary floor/cap…..or something not called that but functions similarly…….brewers and other small market teams will have bigger payrolls and all of the old formulas won’t necessarily apply.

[Frisbee Slider]

1 hour ago, Jopal78 said:

They’ll most likely trade him after ‘27 if they can find someone willing to give them something for those team options.

$9M option for ‘28, and $13 million dollar option for ‘29. 

Short of being an effective starting pitcher, I think Ashby has done as much as possible for the team to consider the option years. I think he is “our guy,“ which goes a long way.

If we needed it, Ashby probably could still become a starting pitcher for 2028 or 2029.

Eric Gagne signed for $10 million in 2008 dollars. Ultimately, wasn’t the closer.

 

[Team Canada]

I wonder if they'll decline one or both options but look to spread the money out farther and retain him. Probably depends on what Ashby wants to do.

[Jopal78]

1 hour ago, Frisbee Slider said:

Short of being an effective starting pitcher, I think Ashby has done as much as possible for the team to consider the option years. I think he is “our guy,“ which goes a long way.

If we needed it, Ashby probably could still become a starting pitcher for 2028 or 2029.

Eric Gagne signed for $10 million in 2008 dollars. Ultimately, wasn’t the closer.

 

It’s always money. The “our guy” stuff means something to fans, but teams generally are not that nostalgic (They declined Contreras’s club option for ‘26 to save $2.5M).

It will come down to whether $9M for 90 maybe 100 innings is a good deal for the Brewers or not. Given how they build their roster it probably will not be. 

You’re right about Gagne though.  Signed to be a closer and almost immediately lost it. Forgot about that one, but it was Melvin not the Stearns/Arnold era. 

 

 

[owbc]

2 hours ago, Brewcrew82 said:

But the kids at the press conferences! And the phony Uecker letters! Trying really hard to like the guy but he just makes it so hard!

Murph still hasn't won over @TURBO yet. Even hoisting the trophy might not be enough 🤣

[Brewers Downunder]

He has his quirks, but you need them in this caper. In a cookie cutter world he's a breath of fresh air.

I like the man 😀 

[Yaz]

This is dedicated to you Murph!  (Thanks for helping Greg all those years)