Jake McKibbin

The Brewers' top prospect is making some loud noise in one of the world's top winter leagues. More than ever, it feels like the team's 2024 hopes depend substantially on him, so this is worth close watching. Image courtesy of © Curt Hogg / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK Jackson Chourio is playing against professionals in a league generally compared to being similar to Triple A, but it doesn’t seem like anyone told him. Over his last eight games he's slashing an astounding .526/.697/1.223 and has shown exactly what Milwaukee can dream of next season. Alongside him, there are several other notable performances from Brewers prospects, one of whom may also be on the fringes of the 40-man roster next season. Chourio’s appearance this offseason was something of a surprise, given his full-season escapades in the Brewers minor leagues this year, and with very little to prove. As a youngster aged just 17 and 18, he played for Águilas del Zulia, so it stands to reason he may have pushed this to the Brewers front office, who permitted him to play 15 games for them. Here’s how he’s been getting on: The 12 Games So Far After a relatively unlucky start wherein he had just three hits across his first four games (all of which came in his debut), Chourio looked a bit weary. Many could be forgiven for thinking the rigors of a long season, combined with an experienced veteran league in which he struggled last season, would make this a tough ask. Laughing in the face of this thought, he’s currently sporting a 1.037 OPS, with just five strikeouts in 53 plate appearances. He's approaching a .500 on-base percentage. It’s truly remarkable, especially when you consider that, after a jaw-dropping 2022 season, Chourio hit just .256/.291/.354 last year in 21 games. This is not an easy league, and it shows just how much Chourio has improved in terms of his strike zone coverage. Last night’s game was, perhaps, his most raucous so far, as he went 3-5 with a double (smoked down the left-field line) and a triple whammed to the opposite field, highlighting both his plus-plus speed and the supreme bat speed that makes him such a coveted prospect. His athleticism just bursts off the screen. Here's another double in which every inch of his speed was needed: His power has been sufficient to clear the fences, too. To wit: a frozen rope that got out of here in a hurry: Are there any drawbacks? There have been some continuances from the regular minor-league season, in that (for all the incredible exit velocities) Chourio’s power hasn’t come to the fore quite so much as one would expect, with an ISO of .174 and five extra-base hits in total. It’s not to be sniffed at, but the propensity to chase pitches he can’t do damage on early and make poorer contact or hit ground balls seems to have migrated south with him. However, it should be noted that four of the extra-base hits have come in his last five games. He can elevate the ball with authority and regularity, it’s merely a pitch selection issue, which hopefully he can resolve quickly. He also doesn’t seem to have been permitted to steal bases--understandable, from the Brewers perspective, given the number of freak injuries they had on the basepaths this season (Keston Hiura, Garrett Mitchell, and Sal Frelick, to name but a few). Chourio has been a human highlight reel, and it’s uncertain at this point whether that will be played out over 15 or 20 games. That may be the biggest drawback: that he can't play more games down in Venezuela. More extra-base power would just add fuel to the fire, but in reality all you’d hope for is to finish his time unscathed and injury-free, with an offseason to further develop physically. At just 19 years old and listed at just 165 pounds, he has a lot of growth to come in this regard. Who else has been on show from the Brewers? Carlos D Rodriguez - .303/.411/.368 Rodriguez has continued where he left off in the minors, showing incredible bat-to-ball skills over his 19 games for Navegantes, and also some premium center-field defense, including a sensational catch to rob Chourio of extra bases earlier last week. The question (as always) with him is whether or not he can show more power, which at age 22 and just 5-foot-8 may be a pipe dream at this point. He can use his speed to leg out doubles and triples on occasion, and does have four extra-base hits so far in Venezuela, as well as 13 walks to just seven strikeouts. The Brewers eschewed their chance to add Rodríguez to the 40-man roster and protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, adding only Jeferson Quero and Bradley Blalock. The deadline isn't until Tuesday at 5 PM Central, though, so maybe Rodríguez will either be added at the last second or traded to a team who is willing to take that step and put him on their 40-man list. Hedbert Perez - .222/.222/.222 Injury curtailed Pérez just as he started to show some signs of accessing the power that made him a much-hyped prospect two years ago. At just 20 years old, he has significant strikeout worries, but has only gone down once so far in nine plate appearances. He showed up late, hence a relatively small sample size, but that represents a promising development for a player with a career ponche rate of significantly over 30 percent. His first start came on Sunday evening, and he recorded two hits from his five at-bats. Hopefully, he'll garner more playing time as the Venezuelan league comes to its conclusion. Does Chourio's outburst have you even more excited for his 2024 debut? It's hard to tell how much winter league success matters, but this can't be a bad thing. View full article

At 64 years old, Pat Murphy is getting his first managerial job. Immediately, we must wonder what the Brewers want from him. Is he a stopgap and a bridge, or did they just feel he's the best man for the job? And what kind of roster will he oversee? Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Throughout the month of November, Brewer Fanatic releases its Offseason Handbook. This publication is funded by Brewer Fanatic Caretakers and is only available to Caretakers, who also receive ad-free browsing across Brewer Fanatic. During the publish period of the handbook, we are offering 25% off all Caretaker packages using the coupon code HANDBOOK. To become a supporter of Brewer Fanatic, click here. 100% of Caretaker funds are reinvested into the content creators of Brewer Fanatic. Please consider supporting the Brewers coverage we provide every day, 365 days a year. During the brief period in which the Brewers conducted a search for Craig Counsell's replacement, Matt Arnold commented that they were looking for “if you’re using the scouting scale, an 80 human.” In other words, personality was the biggest thing on their list, something Pat Murphy fills with abundance. He’s a much-beloved figure in the Brewers clubhouse, having been appointed in 2015 alongside Counsell to be his bench coach, and will avoid some of the distress and uncertainty that could come with a new face in the dugout. That being said, at almost 65 and with recent-ish health issues, there remains a question of how long he will keep going--a question made more compelling by the fact that his replacement as bench coach is Rickie Weeks. What Does Murphy Bring to the Table? With 35 years of experience around a baseball dugout, including 22 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Murphy became the youngest college baseball manager to reach 500 victories. Including four College World Series appearances. In 2010, he joined the San Diego Padres, taking up roles as a special assistant and minor-league coach throughout his tenure. He was named interim manager for the Padres after a midseason firing, going 42-54 before being let go and joining the Brewers as their bench coach. Murphy brings something many newer hires could not: an understanding of how to fill Craig Counsell’s job as close to the original as possible. He will obviously be making slightly different decisions, and will still have that initial pressure and scrutiny, but he knows the ins and outs of the organization intimately, including how much reliance to put on analytics, relative to his baseball instincts. We have also seen (such as with the St Louis Cardinals in 2023) how a different manager can destroy the clubhouse, something that derailed their season before it really got off the ground. Murphy will avoid all of that, providing a significant element of stability and comfort with every other staff member who stayed. Mark Attanasio said he could spend half an hour just listing the names of every person who had made the Brewers’ recent history so successful, and this gives the organization a chance to demonstrate that they have more than just Counsell to laud for their prolific success in close games. Is Rickie Weeks the Manager-in-Waiting? When Weeks’ name came up as a possibility for the managerial job, there was a lot of skepticism about him even being an option. Part of this is due to Weeks’ reluctance to change positions in 2014 to left field-- understandable, in some ways, as it would have severely impacted his value going into free agency, especially asking him to adjust mid-season. It does leave an imprint of a person who’s not so much of a team player, however right or wrong that may be. He also was a quiet, thoughtful type, which despite his vast community efforts could make him difficult to connect with from the fan base side. On Feb. 4, 2022, he was hired by Milwaukee as an assistant to the player-development staff, allowing him to see the inner workings of the whole Brewers system. He later obtained a promotion to special assistant to player development. It feels like his transition to bench coach is an attempt to groom him for the top job at some point in the next couple of years, while also providing a balance between the old-school baseball nous of Murphy and the fresher viewpoints of Weeks that can allow the Brewers to thrive on the field. It’s clear from the interview process that he’s someone the Brewers can see in a managerial capacity. There's one other distinct advantage brought by Weeks. Over the last two years, as an integral part of the player development structure, he will have been in and around the workings of, and potentially forming relationships with, the stars coming through the Brewers farm system, something that may be heavily leaned upon with Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Joey Wiemer, Jackson Chourio, Jacob Misiorowski, Brice Turang, Tyler Black, Robert Gasser and more impacting the big-league team at some point this year. Understanding how these players work, and how they've developed could be a vital step in helping their transition to the majors go smoother than some of the Freshmen found it last year. Will Anything Change? Murphy may have less of an ability to push back against the front office than had Counsell. However, there have been certain trends in recent seasons that it will be interesting to see play out. One is the use of players with reverse platoon splits against pitchers against whom they’re historically weaker, and a stubbornness to admit that it wasn’t working. It saw an improper selection of at-bats going to players like Luke Voit, Brian Anderson, and (most notably) Keston Hiura over recent seasons, and it could be intriguing to see if this was a front office dictate or a Counsell predilection. It may also be intriguing to see whether or not some bullpen roles change, with Hoby Milner deployed often to face just three hitters and kept away from right-handed bats where possible, despite his ludicrous success in 2023, combined with the management of youngsters like Abner Uribe. Make no mistake: Murphy has a sizable task on his hands, whichever way the Brewers decide to go during the offseason. He must create an environment in which both old and new heads can thrive, particularly the likes of Misiorowski and Chourio when they arrive, while continuing to implement the statistical plans from the front office and developing a potential replacement. It’s a lot of responsibility. Time will tell how he handles it all, and how they start the season will be crucial to his success. At this point, it appears the answer is that Murphy is both exactly who the Brewers want to lead the team, while also potentially bridging a gap to a younger face with front office experience. What direction do you expect the front office to go for the rest of the winter, in light of this move? Do you view Murphy as a viable selection to sustain contention in 2024? Let's chat about this fascinating dual hire. View full article

That sounds good, but I think he'll be getting 12m AAV or so on the market so can't see him taking that unless he has an injury plagued season. He does get outs, and as you said, a solid back end starter, but that'd be awesome if they got him on that deal

I'd agree if he gets 120 IP but he's definitely more injury prone than I realised pre writing this. I think his ARB 3 number being low is exactly where his value comes from, in that for 120 innings he's worth 12-15m, and that brings the trade value.

Brewers pitcher Adrian Houser had a good 2023 season, pitching 111 ⅔ innings with a 4.12 ERA. Going into his final year of arbitration, Houser is estimated to receive a value of $5.6 million. Should the Brewers consider that a fair price for his services? If they traded him, what kind of haul could they get in return? Image courtesy of © Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports Whatever his warts, Adrian Houser has been reliable for quite some time for the Brewers. They know that they’ll get a large number of ground balls from him for their defense to eat up, and that occasionally, he'll get on hot streaks that can shut down even the most prolific offenses. His sinker is one of the best in baseball, but on the other hand, he’s historically struggled against left-handed batters, who own an .824 OPS against him in his career. Houser can oscillate in terms of quality throughout a season. What, exactly, should the Brewers do with him in 2024? What Houser Brings To The Table Houser has his aforementioned high-quality sinker, but he also showed significant improvement this year against lefthanders in his use of the four seam fastball, which he aimed up and in to prevent them leaning out over the plate to get on his sinker. They had an xBA of .180 and xSlg of .288, vastly better than the .282/.447 numbers on his two-seamer. Behind this, however, his curveball and changeup got destroyed, preventing him from accessing the full benefits of his modified arsenal. The changeup, in particular, saw a big downturn from its 2022 level of effectiveness, and is a worry going into next year. Houser has struggled to get through serious innings over the course of a season, too. He’s only pitched over 112 innings once, back in 2021, when he recorded 142. He won’t be able to be relied upon to make every start, and his injury-prone nature will affect his value. The Burnes Dilemma A potential trade of Corbin Burnes in the offseason has big repercussions for both the Brewers (generally) and Houser (specifically). He instantly becomes more valuable, as starting pitching will be at a premium in his absence, barring a strong Brewers presence in the free-agent starter market. They wanted to have seven or eight competent starters for depth going into 2023, and if they intend on competing, they may well need that same level of depth in 2024. Houser can provide versatility, with the capacity to move between the bullpen and the starting rotation, and allowing other non-optionable starting pitchers onto the 26-man roster. Burnes will be central to everything the Brewers do this offseason and have a mighty impact on their decisions regarding their goals for the 2024 season. Houser’s own role will depend heavily on this, as either someone who can get outs and get through a lineup, or someone that can give flexibility to the starting rotation if he remains in 2024--both of which would be more than worth his current contract should he remain injury-free. Sign and Trade? Baseball Trade Values estimates Houser has a surplus value of around $7 million, which could fetch some enticing prospects on the trade market. Up-and-coming players include: Conor Norby Second Baseman, Orioles - .290/.359/.483 at Triple A, with 21 home runs A powerful second baseman with solid fielding skills at the keystone, Norby could be tough to pry away from the tight Orioles front office, but with a packed infield and Jackson Holliday motoring through the minors, he may find himself redundant on a team in dire need of pitching. Roansy Contreras Starting Pitcher, Pirates - 6.59 ERA in 68 ⅓ innings Contreras struggled mightily last season, but his raw movement on every pitch (save the rarely-used changeup) is above-average, and the Pirates have a history of seeing pitchers go away and become better almost overnight, due to issues with their pitch mix and getting the most out of their spin rate. The Brewers could turn Contreras into a gem controllable for many years after a down year in 2023--but this all assumes the Pirates consider themselves ready to trade up and compete next season. That’s probably the most unlikely part of this deal. Gleyber Torres Second Baseman, Yankees - .273/.347/.453 The Yankees have spoken openly about their desire for Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe to be their middle infield going forward, which could make Torres expendable. His estimated $15-million contract brings that value on the market down somewhat, but this could be a very attractive option for the Brewers if they want to compete next season, particularly if Willy Adames gets traded and Brice Turang moves to shortstop. Torres has hit 49 home runs over the last two seasons, while not quite being as mobile as the Brewers would prefer defensively, but an .800 OPS would massively upgrade what they got from Turang last season. He also struck out at just a 14.6% clip, good enough for the 91st percentile in baseball. In short, Houser has enough trade value to assist the Brewers in obtaining either several lottery tickets, or some MLB-ready players, which could be something they look into for 2024 should they go down the route of a reset. Should The Brewers Pick Up His Contract Houser’s excess value on the trade market, combined with the uncertainty over the Brewers' own rotation needs coming into 2024, picking up this contract is a no-brainer. I would lean toward then trading him away, should a suitable offer come in from some team who needs starting pitching depth, but the Brewers would be okay with rejecting subpar offers and taking a $5.6-million contract into 2024 and hoping for 120 innings of solid work. What would you do with Houser? How can the Brewers best fill out their rotation, and sustain depth, while addressing their needs this winter? View full article

Freddy peralta on his current cotract is worth an absolute fortune. Easily comparable with a high end prospect at least, such as Jordan lawlar plus one other, or even in the realms of a junior Caminero potentially (although the Rays wouldn't do that) Certainly brings you either a top 5-10 prospect in baseball, or multiple top 50 players

Yeah I think the Brewers have talked openly in the past about how no-one is untradeable, and they'll always have to take calls, but that certainly doesn't imply they want to sell them. And to be fair to Arnold, every deal so far he's been on the winning side of, and again I could quote the Brewers as saying something along the lines of trying to get the better part of every trade in their eyes at the time

Haha me either! Nice to know he's off the board

I'd be all for this, I couldn't agree more. I think his floor is really sizeable, he's got a ceiling that could still be reached (genuinely unsure if the concussion did have a large effect on him for a while) but the question is whether or not he would sign low, or want to wait on a better 2024 season. He's been very durable, but maybe the Woodruff injury can show that the sport is fickle and one injury could cost him a lot. I wrote about it in the free part of the handbook, but I could see a six year deal (buyout out this years arbitration) in the $100-110m range being good for both parties. Adames set up for life, and will be an incredible second basemen if age hits him. Maybe people have different valuations, but coming into the season he seemed like a six year $135-140 guy for me, and last year maybe took a dent in that value I totally agree, it depends on the value offered, and the Brewers have stipulated they won't trade unless they feel they win that trade. They almost have in every Arnold trade so far, even the Winker vs Wong deal If they go for it, it may click, especially if Chourio tears up and has a promotion in early May, but I feel he'll be down until late June/July until he has a stretch like EDLC last year. He has enough workons still If he did get aggressive, I wondered about Chapman coming in, but I'm not sure they'd want a longish deal if they believe in Wilke or even Black developing at the hot corner defensively. It's if there's a second baseman or maybe even first baseman on the market that would really push them forwards. I don't know if there's many middle infielders, but Rhys Hoskins would definitely make the list if they wanted to make a splash

Between developing teams in their division that look ready to strike, a new manager at the helm of the organization, and the specter of more big losses of star players this offseason, should the Brewers rest in 2024, or still stick to their “bites of the apple” approach? Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports The very young offseason has been one disappointment after another, from Brandon Woodruff’s surgery to Wade Miley’s declined option, and now Craig Counsell is leaving to work for the enemy. The foundation of their 2023 season on which they may have hoped to build has crumbled. Is there any point in trying to compete with the big boys in 2024? The Absentees Anyone who denies the impact held by Miley, Woodruff and Counsell on last season has their head in the sand. Woodruff joined Peralta and Burnes in August to provide some of the most dominant pitching in MLB, while Miley covered 120 ⅔ innings at a 3.14 ERA. That just doesn’t grow on trees, and it underestimates the impact Miley had off the field, which brings us to the biggest loss perhaps of the lot: Counsell. For the last nine years, Counsell has emerged as one of the best managers in the major leagues, blending the front office with a seamless clubhouse environment that allows players to enjoy playing in Milwaukee while getting the most out of them, particularly in high-pressure situations (playoffs aside). Adding to this is the possibility of a trade off of Willy Adames, Corbin Burnes, or even both this offseason. Burnes racked up almost 200 innings last year with a 3.39 ERA, has made every start over the last two seasons, and still flashes his Cy Young upside for prolonged periods at times. In total, on the starting rotation side of things, the Brewers will need to replace 381 ⅓ innings at a 3.12 ERA--a monstrous task. To put that in context, it would be akin to finding and acquiring the 2022 Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nola combo, something the Brewers can’t afford to buy on the open market. Adames, on the other hand, was supposed to have been covered by the emergence of Brice Turang. The eye test said that Turang’s defense was Gold Glove-worthy at second base, and that showed in his Defensive Runs Saved total at the end of the season, but Adames is one of the premier defensive shortstops in the league, with a cannon of an arm and incredible range. Turang is capable over there--maybe even above average--but he's no Adames. Add to that a bat that produced a 62 OPS+ in 2023, and it’s clear that Turang will need to develop considerably at the plate to be an everyday infielder for the Brewers. This development may come next season, but it’s unlikely to occur straight out of the gate in March or April. The returns from an Adames or Burnes trade could be high enough to obtain a high-upside pitching prospect, or several newish mid-rotation major leaguers, but there are going to be a lot of question marks behind Freddy Peralta next year in this event. Robert Gasser spent all of 2023 in Triple A, and now looks ready for a shot in the rotation. Adrian Houser is as mercurial as they come. Colin Rea may be asked to eat innings, and many expect some regression from last year with him. Aaron Ashby was not the same post-injury in his rehab starts, and a big question mark remains over whether he can reacquire the vicious movements that give him such high potential, or even if he can stay injury-free in 2024. If everything goes right for the Brewers--even if they keep Adames and Burnes, Ashby and Gasser perform at or above expectations and Houser and Rea can pitch well enough to keep the Brewers in games--then they’ll be very much in contention. However, that's a lot of ifs, buts and maybes on which to stake a season, and a gamble (depending on offers coming in for Adames and Burnes) that may have severe repercussions down the line. The Rising NL Central Amid the Brewers' turmoil, some foes are rising on the east. The Cubs have been heavily linked with both Juan Soto and Pete Alonso this offseason, while currently possessing the best defensive infield in baseball, and with some rookies coming through with various levels of hype. Pete Crow-Armstrong is yet to show signs of any hitting ability against major-league pitching, but his defensive capabilities in center field are mind-boggling. They also may get reinforcements later this season in the form of Cade Horton, who’s been confounding hitters all of 2023, as well as outfield power in the form of the exciting Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara. They may lose Marcus Stroman this winter, but an acquisition of a first baseman and a starting pitcher to go with the Counsell switch puts the Cubs in a great position. Also in contention will be the Cincinnati Reds, who through promotions during the season found themselves in contention for a playoff spot. Few prospects can do what Elly De La Cruz is capable of, and in addition, they have Spencer Steer, Matt McLain, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Noelvi Marte and Andrew Abbott (each with several years of team control remaining) to form a devastating lineup. If their cheapskate owners get involved at all this offseason for some pitching reinforcements, they’ll be a force to contend with. The Pittsburgh Pirates felt some hope for the future at the beginning of last year, when they surged to lead the NL Central, but even after their June swoon and second-half slump, they do have bright spots coming into 2024. Henry Davis could develop into a regular at catcher, or even playing a capable right field. The return of Oneil Cruz will lend their lineup new upside and dynamism. If Ke’Bryan Hayes manages to get the ball in the air and access his in-game power more often, they'll have rounded out nicely. They still have holes to fill, with their starting rotation faltering around the struggles of Roansy Contreras, but they have shown themselves perhaps a light at the end of the tunnel. The St. Louis Cardinals, who struggled mightily in comparison to their expectations last year, will have a final year of Paul Goldshmidt to use, and have some stirring from the depths themselves. Jordan Walker improved significantly as the year went on, although his defense was holier than Swiss cheese, and Masyn Winn provided supreme coverage at shortstop. Victor Scott II has looked electric in the minors so far, but otherwise, their farm system isn’t in the same league as the Brewers, Cubs and Reds. However, they do have deep pockets, and a few free-agent signings (particularly to reinforce that starting rotation) will be all they need to get right back into contention. In short, all four other teams could contend in the Central this season, with the Cubs in particular looking like they could become a 100-win team if they make the right moves. The Brewers will not be able to scrape into the playoffs next year; they might need as many as 95 wins to claim the division. Can the Brewers Farm Have the Same Impact? The Brewers have some developing superstars in their system, in the form of Jacob Misiorowski (if you haven’t yet, this video will explain all the hype here) and the phenom that is Jackson Chourio. Neither are going to be up to start next season, with Chourio needing to lower his chase rate and Misiorowski still refining his command, but both could catapult the Brewers forward. That being said, most prospects need an adjustment period at the majors before they find their feet, so it’s unlikely that either would be able to contribute fully until perhaps 2025. Add any reservations about Chourio's 2024 to the concerns around Sal Frelick (lack of power), Joey Wiemer (swing and miss), and Garrett Mitchell (injuries and strikeouts), and the Brewers outfield picture may not be as crowded as once thought. It’s likely one of these three will also be traded this offseason. Then there’s the next tier of prospects. Tyler Black’s bat looks about as major-league-ready as they come, with impeccable plate discipline and contact skills and burgeoning power. The question is whether he can play a solid third base, or if he’ll need to move to first. Brock Wilken could come into the picture later in the season, if he can find the right balance of patience and aggression at the plate, while Eric Brown, Jr. may be there or thereabouts, if less of an impact player than Black or Wilken. Also in the wings is Carlos F. Rodriguez, a high-quality pitcher with a strong changeup and developing command. By the time these prospects are ready, it may already be too late for the Brewers, and as demonstrated last year, expecting them to come up and dominate from the get-go is a tall ask. It’s yet another reason why 2025 would suit the Brewers far better in terms of assessing their talent pool at the highest level and knowing where to fill the gaps in their squad. How would you feel about the team taking a small step backward in 2024 to accomplish a leap ahead the following year? Let's discuss the options for the offseason ahead. View full article

Does this mean he's less likely to play players in positions they're not so good at? For example maybe Weeks is less likely to make reverse platoon split righties face left handers? It'd be interesting for sure to see him there, and be interesting how the players would view that. Would there be any of Weeks' traits people feel would be good in a manager?

Batting average up to .300 with just two strikeouts in eight games... but it's the damage he can do, just getting that quality of contact more regularly is going to be huge. Once he does, sky is the ceiling for him

Murphy and all coaches are contractually with the brewers for next year, meaning unless they give permission for the Cubs to interview him (unlikely) Murphy will be with the Brewers next season

I certainly would be, but entirely unsure if Rosenthal is. Weeks was recently promoted to special assistant of player development, so perhaps that was an interview and got mixed up in the maelstrom, however entirely possible as a player with on field connections, young enough to be relatable and an understanding of the front office that he's a candidate. How far that goes, I guess we'll see

The most pressing question, in the wake of the huge gut punch that was the news of Craig Counsell departing the Brewers in favor of the division-rival Cubs, is who will replace him on the top step of the Crew's dugout. Still, we also have to wonder: why did it come to this? Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports Notably, the Cubs did not request permission to talk to Craig Counsell before his contract expired on Halloween. They entered the sweepstakes for his services only within the last week. Thus, in addition to discerning who should take over, we have to try to suss out why Counsell and the Crew couldn't find common ground on a new deal long before this could happen. Who Takes Over? Mark Attanasio, while clearly stung and shocked by the final decision, was asked about a new manager and said: One criticism of Counsell is his playoff record since 2018, and in particular, how poorly managed the team was in key situations during the Wild Card Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Brewers will be looking to keep as much in place as possible, and hope that with fresh impetus and energy, they can get over that “hump”. Retaining a lot of the staff behind Counsell will be absolutely key to ensuring a smooth transition, potentially avoiding the type of pitfalls endured by David Ross and Oli Marmol. Carlos Villanueva Villanueva has been in the role Counsell held right before moving into the dugout--that is, special assistant to the front office. He's headed up the player development segment of the organization, giving him a real feel for the baseball club at all levels. He’s bilingual, which helps a lot of managers in this multicultural sport. However the Brewers recently announced his promotion into a broader role that encompasses baseball operations as well, signifying (perhaps) that he is out of the running for the managerial vacancy, and is more likely to be groomed for high-level front office positions. Victor Estevez Estevez has just finished his eighth season as a minor-league manager in the Brewers organization, capped by winning Carolina League Manager of the Year in 2023. With the current rookie crop coming through, hiring from within (with a manager who knows and has worked with Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer, Garrett Mitchell, Jackson Chourio) and, again, the bilingual ability is just invaluable in the major leagues in this day and age. However, there may be a concern with a lower minor-league manager, whose role is more centered around getting players game time than how best to win each individual game. To him, managing a bullpen effectively may be new. The Brewers analytical staff will no doubt be a big help in this, and Estevez is definitely a dark horse for the vacant position. Clayton McCullough The Dodger’s first-base coach, McCullough has been interviewed for openings with the Mets and Royals in recent years, as well as with the Guardians in October. Players such as James Outman and Mookie Betts have spoken incredibly highly of him, and he’s been a popular name of late in managerial discussions. Rumors are that he may fit other current vacancies neatly as well, so there could be competition here. He comes from a perennial winning club culture, and seems more than ready for the job. Other potentials include current bench coach Pat Murphy, Astros bench coach Joe Espada, ousted ex-Giants manager Gabe Kapler, Padres skipper candidate Mike Shildt, the just-replaced David Ross, Brewers pitching, strategy and catching coach Walker McKinven, and A’s manager Mark Kotsay, whom the team has allowed to interview elsewhere amid their rebuild and pending relocation. Ken Rosenthal just shared this nugget, containing a truly wild candidate: Why Did Counsell Feel the Need to Leave? Primarily, it’s financial. The Brewers had an offer on the table for the biggest managerial contract in the current market, rumored at around $5.5 million in annual value, but the Cubs blew way past that with their $40-million contract. It’s close enough that Counsell won’t have to uproot his entire family, and he can still be in the vicinity for his children who are at university in Minnesota and Michigan. It all made sense for him, from that point of view. With such a big upgrade in salary and a relatively small amount of inconvenience forced on him, it’s tough to begrudge him the change, even if he could have chosen literally any other team to go to. He also could have seen a reset coming with the Brewers, particularly with Brandon Woodruff’s injury, whereas the Cubs are coming out of their own downcycle and are looking to become a true force again. Combined with a potential stagnancy arising from being in one place for too long, it could benefit both parties to have fresh faces and fresh challenges to drive them forward. Craig Counsell was the best manager the Milwaukee Brewers have ever had. He may be sorely missed, and should be hailed for bringing a winning mentality to an organization that was largely bereft of playoff opportunities prior to him. He can’t be given all the credit for it, but he definitely played a part, and for that he deserves gratitude. Who's your favorite potential Counsell replacement? Is it one of those I listed, or do you envision someone else? Should the Brewers have foreseen this major pay raise and gotten more proactive with Counsell? Let us know what you think. View full article

Craig Counsell’s decision to leave the Milwaukee Brewers for their arch nemeses, the Chicago Cubs, had shockwaves rippling through the neighboring states. How valuable was he to the Brewers, and can they replace him--or even upgrade at the position? Let's break down the nitty-gritty of what this means for the Crew. Image courtesy of © MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK Craig Counsell might have just reset the value of a top-tier manager like himself, with a whopping contract from the Cubs dwarfing the record-setting extension reportedly offered by the Brewers. However, this type of money brings with it an expectation of significant, real value added. It remains to be seen whether Counsell can provide that in his new job. Counsell’s Value Counsell’s role was to be someone that seamlessly merged the front office with the on-field product, and he did that incredibly well. He was open and honest with his players about what he needed from them, providing a high level of clarity in each role and maintaining a clubhouse unity that helped the Brewers to thrive in tough situations. They have consistently outperformed their Pythagorean expected wins and losses (which is based on total runs scored vs runs conceded on the season), but a lot of this benefit came in 2017-2019. The Brewers won 40 games more than they were expected to over that three-year period. Also, for seven straight years, the Brewers won more one-run games than they had lost, with Counsell briefly (this August) leading all managers in baseball history in this specific split. However, this is a slightly skewed way to analyze his performance. Over the last seven years, the Brewers have been armed with a bullpen that carried lights-out relievers, from Josh Hader, Devin Williams, Corey Knebel, and Jeremy Jeffress, to this year's Joel Payamps and the developing Abner Uribe. It means that, although the Brewers have struggled offensively since 2019, they could hold onto tight leads by shutting games down at the back end. At least some, if not most, of this credit should go to the relievers in question. Yes, Counsell is probably more adept than most at knowing when to use different relievers, but to say he excelled at this when he had many head-scratching decisions too (such as throwing the southpaw Hoby Milner out to face a red-hot, dominating Albert Pujols who had crushed left handers all season) might be too generous. With a bullpen like this, a lot of managers could have made different decisions over the course of a season and come out with similar results to Counsell's. His true value came in facilitating an environment where players could thrive with their backs against the wall, and in that, he did excel. It’s a big reason for the Brewers coming up clutch so often in the regular season, and will no doubt improve the Cubs significantly next year. He did also get a lot of support in this area from the likes of Brent Suter, Wade Miley, and other veterans, each of whom who took a lot of responsibility for setting the tone in that clubhouse. That being said, players have come out and talked about running through brick walls for him. He’s someone they like to play for, and that’s crucial in both acquiring talent and in getting it to perform. There were a lot of queries about bullpen decisions and lineup construction under David Ross last year, and Cubs fans should expect raw scalps to continue with all the head-scratching next year. Counsell’s success is undeniable with the Brewers, but it's fair to ask just how much of an impact he had, as opposed to the teams the Milwaukee front office built around him. What will you miss most about Counsell's stewardship of the Brewers? Did he get too much credit for their recent regular-season success? Does he get too much blame for their playoff disappointments? Tell us what you're thinking about his specific managerial skill set, as he takes it down I-94. View full article

He may do, but Hader realistically only ever had two pitches, working on a changeup in his latter seasons Misiorowski has three plus pitches and working on a fourth currently, makes all the difference