After the Chicago Cubs officially announced Craig Counsell would be their new manager, the Milwaukee Brewers have also apparently found their new manager.
Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Milwaukee will be replacing Counsell with bench coach Pat Murphy.
Pat Murphy is New Milwaukee Brewers Manager
The news of Counsell potentially not coming back to the Brewers next season was shocking in itself, but once the ultimate spin move was made that he would be managing the Chicago Cubs, that was the cherry on top of an explosion waiting to happen.
Counsell was manager of the Brewers for nine seasons starting back in 2015 after Ron Roenicke was fired 25 games into the season. He then led the team to five playoff appearances in the last six years and three NL Central titles.
Pat Murphy has been with the Brewers since Counsell was named manager back in 2015, and was a top choice considered to replace Counsell, who Murphy coached at Notre Dame, prior to the Cubs announcement. Murphy spent 96 games as the San Diego Padres’ interim manager in 2015 before coming to Milwaukee and becoming their bench coach.
Fans Reactions
While Pat Murphy was a name listed as potential managerial candidates, no one thought it was actually going to happen. But, leave it to the Brewers to keep things in-house instead of branching out and welcoming someone else in.
Many thought that so many others deserved a shot at managing the Brewers, that the front office did a lazy hiring job by just staying in-house.
Promoting Murphy to manager when so many others deserve a shot is basically raising the white flag
— Willie (@WillieStrokerWI) November 14, 2023
Leave it to the Brewers to do the laziest possible hire
— Math (@BigMEMath) November 14, 2023
Many fans are frustrated as the Brewers really haven’t done much in terms of signing some big names, that if anything, they’re making payroll cuts. Milwaukee traded Mark Canha, who had an $11.5 million option for 2024, to the Detroit Tigers for a prospect, which was just one of the indicators that the Brewers weren’t going to offer a whole lot for Counsell to stay with the team.
Classic. Why would Brewers fans ever hope for better? https://t.co/kwEjQ02kx1
— Milwaukee’s Philliest Goose (@BucksinPhilly) November 14, 2023
This isn’t a knock on Murphy at all. Just seems like a bit of an uninspired choice for another years of contending for a division title but that really being the ceiling. I hope to be wrong. Just very pessimistic on the Brewers front office decision making as of late.
— Eric Fischer (@BigEWDUZ) November 14, 2023
There are some fans however, who are happy with the hire and glad the Brewers made this decision.
I like this hire a lot !!! Happy for him https://t.co/3d38vxXzVG
— Brian Butch (@Brian_Butch) November 14, 2023
Not shocked at all. Been with the org for a while and respected amongst the players and brass upstairs.
And on the plus, Mark will probably get him for cheap 😂💰
I think it can be a good hire if he can surround himself with a good staff. Time will obviously tell. Congrats Pat! https://t.co/B51r3yUiLt
— 𝕋𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕟 𝕎𝕀 𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕤 (@TavernWISports) November 14, 2023
The #Brewers new manager once got ejected before a game even started.
I love him https://t.co/5Ooj0NyRBj
— Robin Adams (@theotherRobin19) November 14, 2023
Brewers going 162-0 and winning the World Series. https://t.co/UBItgAoxEq
— Lucas (@RealLucaso345) November 14, 2023
Murph gonna have some cold kicks in the dugout, just watch 👀
Great hire. A familiar face & a guy who has been around & is not afraid to let the game come to him. Looking forward to this. https://t.co/eA73H9s30h
— Dallas Braden (@DALLASBRADEN209) November 14, 2023
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