Brewers 2022 Report Card: Craig Counsell

No matter how you spin it, you can’t get around the fact that this season was disappointing. It was inarguably Craig Counsell’s worst year as a manager in recent memory. Missing the post-season after four consecutive berths seemed extremely avoidable. Counsell’s eighth season as skipper of the Crew was simply lackluster. It wasn’t especially terrible, but it didn’t meet expectations.

In Counsell’s defense, the odds were somewhat against him. He dealt (and continues to deal) with the monetary restrictions that come with being a small market team. Trade decisions, which had a huge impact on this year’s team, aren’t up to him. (However, the team’s morale and response afterward are definitely affected by his leadership, something we saw the repercussions of after the Hader trade.) He also dealt with an injury-riddled roster for most of the summer. However, at the end of the day, none of that excuses Counsell’s performance this season. 

2022 Season Grade: C-

As expectations for the team continue to rise, so does the disappointment when they fail to meet those expectations. Counsell’s biggest pitfall this season was pitching, which is ironic given that the pitching staff was the most dependable part of the roster. He had a habit of pulling starters early and then leaving relievers in and letting them struggle for too long. This is reflective of his larger problem of playing conservative in pursuit of being “good enough”. In a word, Counsell’s management this season was complacent.

This team and its fans deserve so much more than just good enough and this season demonstrated that. To have the worst season in 5 years and finish just out of the playoff race was heartbreaking; even worse, it was completely preventable.

Moving Forward

Do I think that Counsell should be fired? No, and I don’t think he will be. But do I think he’s as untouchable as he has been? Also no. Milwaukee’s golden boy has a lot to prove—and a lot to lose— next season. 

To keep up with the rest of our 2022 report cards, click here.

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