The stellar performance of the Milwaukee Brewers over the first two months of the season ranks as one of the biggest surprises in the major leagues.
After completing a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox over the weekend, which came after winning three of four games against the Chicago Cubs and former manager Craig Counsell, the Brewers sit atop the National League Central with a 36-23 record, a season-best 13 games above .500. Under first-year manager Pat Murphy, who spent the previous eight seasons as bench coach, the Brewers hold a seven-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers’ divisional lead is the largest in baseball at this point in the season.
Brewers owner Mark Attanasio expressed confidence in spring training that the Brewers would be competitive and field a winning team this season despite the offseason trade of 2021 Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles and the departure of Counsell, the franchise’s all-time winningest manager, to the rival Cubs.
The Brewers’ winning ways are even more remarkable considering a rash of injuries to key players like All-Star closer Devin Williams, who has yet to pitch this season due to stress fractures in his back, and starting pitcher Wade Miley, who had season-ending elbow surgery. Also missing is two-time All-Star pitcher Brandon Woodruff, who’s expected to miss the 2024 season while recovering from shoulder surgery last fall.
Franchise cornerstone Christian Yelich and key off-season acquisition Rhys Hoskins have missed extended time with injuries. Garrett Mitchell, one of the Brewers’ talented crew of young players, has yet to play in the regular season after fracturing a finger in the spring. Pitchers Jakob Junis, Joe Ross, DL Hall and J.B. Bukauskas all are currently recovering from injuries, further depleting the Brewers already-thin staff.
Attanasio, accompanied by Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Arnold and President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger, conducted a lengthy and wide-ranging session with select local media members on Friday night at American Family Field.
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Here’s what was discussed (responses were provided by Attanasio unless otherwise noted):
On the team’s strong performance despite a rash of injuries
“I was with Commissioner Emeritus (Bud) Selig before I came over, and we both feel very good about where we are at. You always expect injuries and we have had more than our fair share. I might not have been quite as optimistic in the spring considering the spate of injuries we have had, but it feels terrific. There have been so few games that we have not been in right to the end. The energy that the team has and the energy that the community has for the team is infectious. I couldn’t be happier.”
On his relationship with Murphy
“We had a very easygoing relationship before. A lot of jokes. I imagined there would be fewer jocular interludes, and that’s right. Our conversations are more serious than they were before. I actually talk to him less now. I don’t want to be calling Murph all the time. He reached out to me maybe 10 days ago and said I haven’t heard from you, and we were in a little bit of a losing spot then. I said I don’t want to call you when we’re losing. I don’t want to put any pressure on you. I sent him a couple of texts since then to make sure he knows I still love him.”
On the process that led to Murphy’s hiring
“I don’t want to dwell on it, but it was quite a surprise that Craig (Counsell) would not be returning. We had gone through interviews internally. Murph had been given an interview, the first of which was a courtesy, and he did so well that there was a second. It was a substantive interview, and it went quite well. I knew at that moment that Murph would be a candidate. We hadn’t really reached out to anybody else at that point. One of things I did talk to Murph about is that you just need to be who you are. Don’t try to be Craig. Don’t try to be somebody you admire. I know he really looks up to Craig. You’ve got to be yourself. He focused on what he is very comfortable doing, and his staff has taken on additional duties.”
On efforts to retain slugging shortstop Willy Adames, who will be a free agent after the season
“He’s the best. Yes, there were conversations. We’ll now see what happens after the season but he’s going to command quite a significant package as a free agent. We had plenty of (trade) offers for Willy this offseason. You just can’t put a price on his leadership. Adames does not want to miss a game. Now William Contreras doesn’t want to miss a game. Sal Frelick never wants to miss a game. You develop a culture and Willy is a key to it.”
Matt Arnold: “From my perspective you can never close the door on anything, but he is the heartbeat of our team. We always want to stay open-minded, but we want to recognize the value he brings to us every day.”
On 20-year-old rookie Jackson Chourio
Chourio signed an eight-year, $82 million deal in December despite playing only six games above Double-A and has struggled at the plate and in the field at times. (These comments came before Chourio’s game-changing, three-run homer in a 6-3 win over the White Sox on Sunday.)
“Player development is critical for this organization. I don’t see where he’s going to learn anything at Triple-A at this point. We’ll look for development signs. He may have let a ball drop in front of him, but also made a sliding catch shortly thereafter. I’m completely good with being patient with Jackson and frankly anybody else. Brice Turang did a lot of learning at the big-league level (last season), and look where he is this year.”
Arnold: “From my seat, you see what some of these other guys are doing at the same age – Jackson Holliday and Wyatt Langford – guys that haven’t been able to survive here. If you zoom out, he’s on pace for something like 20 homers and 30 stolen bases, which is pretty incredible for a 20-year-old. Certainly, we see flashes where he hits that big ball, the ball in the gap and then other days where a ball drops in front of him (in the outfield) and you’re frustrated. I think that’s the natural evolution of a young player. But this kid is as talented as anyone we’ve had here in a while.”
On the team’s television contract with financially troubled Diamond Sports Group, owner of Bally Sports
“We don’t believe it’s going to impact us this season. We’ll see where we are next season. We’ve had some preliminary discussions. We have an over-the-air situation in this state that’s maybe better than others. With all these years of having the smallest media contract in baseball, because we only serve the state of Wisconsin, the good news about that is we now have the smallest problem.”
Rick Schlesinger: “There are some interesting options that we are evaluating.”
On whether Attanasio feels any vindication to this point with the Brewers leading the division and the Cubs struggling
“It’s too early. If we have a 2-8 stretch, then I won’t be so cheery. There will probably be one of those at some point. The commitment to the city, the community, the state, especially now with the money we have, it’s critical for me to continue on the trajectory that we were on. And I feel like we’ve done that. Not only with Murph but with Matt on the baseball (operations) side. Matt has kept his whole staff and Murph has kept his whole staff. That’s very important from a continuity standpoint, while understanding that in life nothing is forever. (Associate manager) Rickie Weeks has been a huge benefit for us. Unbelievable to have him back in the fold. He’s adding a lot in the dugout and the clubhouse. And the veteran leaders of the team. Murph talks about the four pillars, with (Yelich), Hoskins, Willy Adames and William Contreras. Everybody now knows nationally who William Contreras is. But quietly in the clubhouse we also have Wade Miley, Brandon Woodruff and Devin Williams. None of them are pitching now but all of them are part of the leadership group. And then there’s this huge amount of energy that’s been injected with the young players we have. It’s really been fun.”
On Counsell’s recent comments that the departure of former Brewers President of Baseball Operations David Stearns prompted him to consider managing elsewhere
“There is movement in all sports. Craig is the winningest manager in our history. So, (we are) a team that has mostly a local and regional focus, not a national profile. He wanted to explore that.”
On fans vociferously booing Counsell in his recent return to American Family Field
“The fans speak for themselves. There are times when I’m sure that they’re not that happy with me either.”
On where the team would be with a significantly higher payroll
“Obviously, you’d love the luxury of that, But I think we’re forced to maintain a discipline. I don’t know we’d maintain that if we had another $100 million. The math is you have 26 roster spots. So, as you fill those spots with veterans or any players who are on a long-term contract, that’s one less opening you have to develop. We’ve believed in all the guys we brought north this year from Maryvale, but we’ve had some definite pleasant surprises. Bryan Hudson’s had an unbelievable year. People keep writing, ‘He was on the Dodgers, he was on the Cubs.’ Well, those teams have a lot of very high-quality, long-term contracts that are taking those spots. So, you don’t get that much opportunity if you’re not as well-known.”
On the possibility of retiring Ryan Braun’s number
“We have a whole process on this. He’s going to be in the Walk of Fame. We have a Wall of Honor, which he’s on. I’d bet (the Walk of Fame) is no more than 25 players and I know we’ve had over 1,000 in uniform. Really just to get to that is extraordinary. Once you’ve made it to the Walk of Fame, (number retirement) is the next inquiry. Then after that, it’s statue time.”
On whether the Brewers will be in the mix for an All-Star Game now that the stadium funding issue has been resolved
“It’d be great for the community. They tend to do that for the newer ballparks. We haven’t had one since 2001. It’s on our list with the commissioner’s office. It’s not the highest thing on our list. Maybe we should move it up.”
On Brewers playing games in another country or taking part in a special game domestically
Schlesinger: “We have put our hat in the ring for Field of Dreams (in Dyersville, Iowa) and other places.”
Arnold: “I always thought Mexico City would be good.”
On incorporating Negro Leagues stats into Major League Baseball record books
“To shine a spotlight on some of their stars to see how superior their performances were and having them become more of a household name is a good thing.”
Arnold: “I think honoring what happened is a really cool thing. How to reconcile all that together is probably above my head. But I think it’s really good to acknowledge all the things that happened over the course of time.”
On the franchise’s community efforts
“I made pledges 20 seasons ago that we’d be a leader in the community. Everyone realizes that what we have here is special because we have enormous fan support. We’ve always made it a premium to give back. When I talk to the players in spring training, I always talk about our Community Foundation and how they can lean in and help, especially for the younger guys. You don’t have to feel pressure to write a check. Make an appearance for us (instead). We donate to over 200 area charities a year. The amount of money that goes to the community from us is more than $2 million a year. We have an initiative to try and develop youth activities in the central city. We’d like to do more.”
