Craig Counsell: Wisconsin’s Manager
As an athlete, it’s weird writing about other athletes. I know many of these guys as friends and professionals so I know what it’s like to be in their shoes (albeit a different sport). I would never come on here and rip any of them. Just want to get that out of the way. As an avid Brewers fan, I’ve really enjoyed the interactions from Wisconsin’s baseball community, so I’d be remiss to leave this kind of content out…
In what may be the most perplexing season (for many reasons) of my life as a diehard Milwaukee Brewers fan, the possibilities are still endless. This past week we have seen the Crew score 19 runs, be no-hit, score 3 total runs in a double-header, and score 18 runs. Still under .500 but just 1 GB from a playoff spot.
What does this mean?
Not sure. No one is really sure. But Craig Counsell is doing what he can do.
It hasn’t been a kind season at the plate to our home-state’s favorite team. No spring training at-bats, seemingly large strike-zones, pitchers being flat out nasty, and honestly a lot of bad luck. While I’m going to dive into hitting, I can’t not mention the great job the pitching staff has done all season. Without the work of the ‘arms’, this team would not be in the position they find themselves in today.
Craig Counsell has had to juggle almost every option this year. He has been thrown the kitchen sink, and hasn’t complained once.
Key bats Mike Moustakas, Eric Thames, Yasmani Grandal, and Trent Grisham hit the road via free agency and trades. That right there is an enormous hole in production to try to fill. So, the Brewers did what they usually do in the offseason - take a chance on some big bats with potential for big seasons. Guys like Justin Smoak, Logan Morrison, Omar Narvaez, Avisail Garcia, and Jedd Gyroko have all had big seasons at the dish throughout their big league careers. Moves like this usually pan out for Milwaukee, but all besides Garcia/Gyroko just couldn’t get it going.
Lorenzo Cain, the lifeblood of the clubhouse decided to opt out within weeks of the seasons restart. Thus forcing Counsell to find a lineup that can replace a Gold Glove Centerfielder, lead-off man, and World Series caliber leadership. But wait, there’s more.
Ryan Braun went down with injury early in the season. Young star Luis Urias had wrist surgery and then unfortunately contracted COVID-19, missing the early weeks of the shortened year. Manny Pina won the starting job behind the plate because his bat was one of the lone bright spots to start the year. Not usually known as a hitter, Pina was one of the only guys who “got it going”. Not to mention his prowess as a catcher, Manny quickly became a pivotal part of the Brewers chances to make a run. Of course, a month later, he heads to the IL with a torn meniscus.
But what about Christian Yelich and Keston Hiura? They can carry the load right?
In a perfect world, maybe. But this just isn’t a normal year. Coming off two MVP-caliber seasons, all eyes were on Yeli and how he’d bounce back after a tough knee injury to finish last season. Without the dangerous protection around him in the lineup, pitchers know they don’t have to give him anything good to hit. He’s still getting on base, taking his walks, and carrying near a .330 OBP and .750 OPS. But that hot streak just hasn’t come, YET. In writing this, Yeli just finished the night 3-4 with a homer. Signs hopefully pointing in the right direction. Christian takes his job and his role as the leader of the clubhouse very seriously. He wants to be great, and that’s what makes him great. It’s only a matter of time before he breaks out of this anomily.
The same goes for Keston Hiura. After an incredible rookie season, the 2nd Base keys have been handed to him for the foreseeable future. This is a lot for a young player. He’s one of the most natural young hitters the Brewers have ever seen, and while numbers aren’t quite where he would want, his production is seen in big moments. Like Counsell, Keston has been cool-headed throughout this rollercoaster year, and he’s primed for a huge stretch right here. In just his 2nd season, his maturity has been extremely impressive. He knows he can get hot, so do we.
Counsell has gone to endless options to find offense. Guys like Mark Mathias gave the lineup a spark early in the year. He’s turned to Jacob Nottingham to give some pop from behind the plate. Tyrone Taylor recently has been recalled and has put together some really nice at-bats (1.036 OPS in 22 Plate Appearances).
Through the inconsistency and shuffling, Counsell has stayed true. He trusts his guys and knows they are doing anything possible to get it going. He’s been there, he knows the mindset. His positivity to the media and in the clubhouse is exactly the guy you want to go-to-bat (literally) for. And in a really weird year, it’s been great to watch.
The good thing? The Brewers have a chance. 1 GB of a spot. Ryan Braun has looked healthy and confident the past few weeks. His experience will pay off greatly down the stretch. #RyanBraunForever is a hashtag for a reason. He’s batting .333 with 3 HR this month and we all know he holds the ‘clutch gene’. Gyorko’s a vet and his bat has been impossible to to keep out of the lineup. Yelich and Hiura are seemingly due to get things rolling. Guys like Orlando Arcia and Avi Garcia love hitting in September. (Garcia quietly hitting .356 this month and has hit .300+ in September three out of the last four seasons).
Another huge bat down the stretch is that of Daniel Vogelbach. The quick fan-favorite, Vogelbach has been awesome since coming to Milwaukee. In 7 games since being acquired, he’s just swatting the ball. Hitting at a .409 clip and homering in last night’s win. Vogelbach just oozes ‘Wisconsin’ and can be a key part of a big stretch here. He’s got unlimited pop, bats from the left side, and seems to have found his confidence that he had in Seattle when he was an All-Star just last season.
If these cases of upward trends continue at the plate, along with a few nightly contributions from guys like Narvaez, Urias, Gamel, and Sogard, there’s really no telling what could happen. Baseball is a crazy sport, all it takes is a few good nights. The pitching has kept them afloat. Now I think it’s the offense’s turn.
This team has done it in crunch time over and over throughout the last several years. Who’s to say it can’t happen again?
All-in-all, 2020 has been a grind for literally everyone in the world. So it makes sense our Brewers are grinding too. But they have the right guy at the helm to keep everything going. As an athlete and a fan, I can’t tell you how impressive Craig Counsell has been handling everything thrown at him. It can’t be easy, but someone’s gotta do it. He’s Wisconsin in a nut shell- no excuses, keep working. And just like Counsell repeats to the media on a nightly basis, he has faith in these guys. And I think Brew Crew nation should too. We’re in for a fun finish to September. Let’s go Brewers!
