Cubs manager Craig Counsell on Brewers players Jacob Misiorowski and Jackson Chourio
Craig Counsell talks about Jacob Misiorowski and Jackson Chourio after game 2 of the National Legue Division Series against the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field in Milwaukee. The Brewer beat the Cubs 7-3.
Craig Counsell was the kid from the neighborhood who became a local fan favorite before taking a heel turn, and boy, that pendulum sure did swing.
Perhaps no one is booed more heartily at American Family Field than Counsell, who practically grew up at old County Stadium, who played six seasons with his hometown Milwaukee Brewers and settled back in Whitefish Bay to set a club record for wins as a manager before committing the cardinal sin of joining the Chicago Cubs.
Pat Murphy, Counsell’s college coach at Notre Dame, his bench coach with the Brewers and ultimately his successor, completely understands the fans’ reaction – “they’re fanatics, so they do what they do” – but that doesn’t mean he likes it.
“I hate it because I know how much he loves Milwaukee. I know how much he loves this city. He loves this state,” Murphy said before Game 2 of the Brewers-Cubs National League Division Series on Oct. 6 at American Family Field.
“There’s no one that’s more fond of the high school athletic performances than Craig. He follows the guys in basketball, football, baseball, women’s basketball. He follows all of it. This is his residence.”
Counsell played in 711 regular-season games over six seasons with the Brewers, the most he did at any stop in a 15-year career, as well as 10 in the playoffs.
He returned to Milwaukee in 2012 as special assistant to then-general manager Doug Melvin, got his first opportunity as a manager in 2015 and stayed for nine seasons, taking the Brewers to the playoffs five times, winning three NL Central titles and winning 707 of 1,332 games (.531).
After Counsell’s contract expired at the end of 2023, he made the surprise move southward, where his teams finished second and third in the Central, both times behind Murphy’s Brewers.
The Cubs won seven of 13 meetings with the Brewers in the regular season, but Milwaukee jumped out to a 2-0 advantage to start the best-of-five playoff series.
Game 3 is set for 4:08 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Wrigley Field, where Counsell’s reception will be considerably friendlier.
Game 4, if necessary, would be there as well a day later, but a fifth game would come Saturday, Oct. 11, back at American Family Field, which, with a National League Championship Series berth on the line, would be deafening.
“You’re getting booed, you’re good at something,” Murphy said.
“I think he’s above that, and he knows they never boo a bum. … I think the fans will come around someday. I do.”
