After compiling one the best records in the major leagues, the Milwaukee Brewers’ season ended in crushing fashion last week, just two outs away from what would have been an exhilarating Wild Card playoff-clinching win over the New York Mets in front of a raucous crowd at American Family Field.
Instead, Mets’ slugging first baseman Pete Alonso connected for a three-run homer off Brewers All-Star closer Devin Williams to erase a 2-0 Milwaukee lead, leaving stunned players and fans to deal with what would turn out to be another frustrating first-round playoff exit.
Brewers General Manager Matt Arnold said he and other Brewers staff members remained at the ballpark until around 4 a.m. following the loss.
“A lot of storytelling. We talked about highlights, lowlights of the season. A little cathartic, just kind of working through our emotions,” Arnold said in a meeting with reporters at American Family Field on Thursday. “When you look at a lot of the peaks we had throughout the season, there’s a lot to be proud of certainly. But with that comes the emotions of wanting to still be playing right now. We all feel that.”
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Instead of what was certain to have been a wild clubhouse celebration, the team had to come to terms with the stunning defeat while also not losing sight of all that the team accomplished during the season, Arnold said.
“It’s certainly a lot for us to process. We’re still processing it,” he said. “I go through waves of emotion, honestly, when we’re talking about it. Sometimes it’s just driving in my car. The overwhelming feeling here is a lot of hurt. There are a lot of people in this building who care a lot about bringing a championship to Milwaukee. A lot of people were heartbroken with how we finished.”
Despite the bitter disappointment with the abrupt end to the season, the small-market Brewers far exceeded expectations this season. The team won the National League Central title in making the playoffs for the 10th time in franchise history and sixth time in the past seven seasons.
The Brewers finished with a 93-69 record to join the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers as the only major league teams with 86 or more wins in each of the last seven full seasons (this excludes the 2020 season, when the league played an abbreviated schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
“It’s really important to acknowledge a lot of the great things that happened here, all the things we overcame,” Arnold said. “It was pretty special. We had a lot of really great moments.”
Arnold covered a wide range of topics during his season wrap-up session with the media. Here are some highlights:
On what moments from this season stood out most:
“A lot. The first thing that comes to mind are those moments in Games 2 and Game 3 (in the Wild Card playoff series) when this building was absolutely electric. All the ingredients that have to come together for that to happen. And that includes our fans, it includes all of you guys, everybody – the ushers in this building, everybody who cared so much. It all came together right there. I don’t want to lose that feeling. That requires a lot of people in this building to work incredibly hard to get to that moment. Having the Jake Bauers home run followed up right behind by a Sal Frelick home run (to give the Brewers the lead in Game 3). Honestly, I wasn’t even sure (Frelick) was going to play in this series. He was that hurt. You think about the moments that led up to that environment. I want to maintain that level of energy in this building.”
On being open about the challenge of re-signing free agent shortstop Willy Adames, a fan favorite and clubhouse leader:
“You guys all know how we feel about Willy Adames and what he brings to this team and this building. Every day he makes that room better in the clubhouse. We all know that. We had opportunities to trade him, and we didn’t because of how much he means to this team and this franchise. It’s not just what he does on the field. It’s who he is. Absolutely acknowledge the reality that he’s earned the right to explore the market, and he deserves that certainly. But we love him to death here, and he knows that.”
On whether Devin Williams will return to the team next season (the club has a contract option for 2025):
“We never want to close the door on anything. We have to stay open minded. We’re the smallest market in the league, so that’s something that’s required in the place that we are. But as far as Devin Williams goes, one moment shouldn’t define who he is, who we are. This guy was absolutely crushed, just like the rest of us, after the season. This guy was unbelievable this year, and he’s a two-time relief pitcher of the year. I still believe he’s the best closer in baseball and I’m happy to have him.”
On the injury to catcher William Contreras that limited him to being designated hitter in the playoffs:
“It was a minor knee sprain. He wanted to be in the lineup and was able to get in the lineup. There was no talking him out of that. Not that we tried to. He was adamant about playing but he was hurt. That just speaks to who he is and the type of player he is. He never wants to come out of the lineup.”
On 20-year-old Jackson Chourio’s sensational rookie season:
“Unbelievable, especially with what he dealt with at the start of the season. He was struggling, as you would expect a young player to struggle. He had a lot of expectations on him from the contract we presented to him. As far as what he was doing in huge moments for us, that was awesome for a young kid to put the team on his back at times. Incredible. His energy when he walks into a room and he’s smiling every day. He’s a lot of fun to have around and I’m excited for what he’s going to do in the future.
On any glaring needs that need to be addressed this winter:
“We’ll spend time on that. We got contributions up and down our roster this year. I think we used closed to 60 players throughout the season. Same thing last year. We know it takes a village to get through a long season. We had a ton of contributions up and down the lineup and in our rotation and in the bullpen. Guy after guy had to step up this year. We’ll continue to asses that.”
On rookie Tobias Myers’ spot in the pitching rotation (Meyers compiled a 1-15 record in the minor leagues in 2022 yet developed into one of the Brewers’ most reliable starters this season):
“Zooming out and looking at where he was to being the guy we saw in game three (of the playoffs). There are moments that are certainly crushing about game three. There’s also what Tobias Myers did in game three, and that makes you smile. For that guy to become who he is today after what he’s been through, he deserves to be a big leaguer. He’s been awesome.”
On the performance of first-year manager Pat Murphy:
“I can’t say enough good things about him. It would be a crime if he doesn’t win manager of the year. The way he connected with our fans and the staff and our players and how much he cares day to day. His ‘win tonight mentality,’ his ‘undaunted’ mentality, all those things, they’re real for us in this building. He’s meant a ton to this franchise and he has for a long time.”
On who, aside from Myers and veteran Freddy Peralta, will be part of the starting pitching staff next season:
“It starts with some tough decisions we have upcoming with certain players. We’re going to assess all that in the coming days and weeks. I want to spend time with Murph. I want to spend time with our staff in talking through that. A lot of guys have certainly put themselves in consideration and we have a lot of good young players in the system as well that’ll certainly be in consideration going into the spring.”
On the culture that’s been created within the organization:
“At the end of the season, a lot of emotion comes out – good and bad – but what I’m most proud of is just hearing how many people enjoyed playing here. That speaks to the culture that we have. That’s not something that happens overnight. That takes years to establish. The credit goes to our staff, our players, Murph, everybody in the room who helps contribute to that culture. I’m certainly proud to be a part of that as well.”
On the message to the fans about next season:
“It’s hard for all of us when you have to make tough decisions and I can point to a number of guys, whether that’s Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, Freddy Peralta or Aaron Ashby. They’re players we’ve invested in to keep here. You can’t keep everybody. That’s the reality of what we are. But that also means that puts more pressure on our scouting and player development (departments) to develop the young guys and make sure that they’re up here and ready to go and continue that development at the major-league level. We saw some really exciting flashes from our young guys. That’s the kind of group that I think our fans can continue to connect with and cheer for going forward, as well.”
