Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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52 NOV. 5, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED IRISH IN THE PROS BY COREY BODDEN T he Milwaukee Brewers took a chance on Craig Counsell in 2015, betting on his background and expe‑ rience as a player, and it paid divi‑ dends this season. Even though Counsell had no managerial experience, the Brewers tabbed him to lead the club after a 7‑18 start in 2015 led to the firing of former manager Ron Roenicke. Counsell, at the age of 44, took over on the field after spending the previous three seasons in the Brewers front office. He served as an assistant for then‑general manager Doug Mel‑ vin, who is now a senior advisor for the club, after retiring from baseball following the 2011 campaign. During his 16‑year MLB career, Counsell posted a .255 batting aver‑ age with 42 home runs, 390 runs bat‑ ted in and 103 stolen bases. He may be best known for scoring the winning run for the Florida Mar‑ lins in game seven of the 1997 World Series and getting hit by Mariano Ri‑ vera during the 2001 World Series as a member of the Arizona Diamond‑ backs, which allowed Luis Gonzalez to get to the plate and deliver the series‑winning hit in the ninth inning of game seven. His career statistics won't wow anyone, but playing 16 years at the top level of baseball is astounding. "He was released, put on waivers, designated for assignment," Melvin told ESPN when asked about Coun‑ sell's background as a player. "You name it. He kept battling back. What player can't appreciate that? "And don't let his physical pres‑ ence let you think he's not a tough guy." The trials and tribulations of a long playing career helped shape Coun‑ sell into the manager he is now from the person who was born in South Bend and played for the Fighting Irish collegiately. "He's not afraid to tell players something they don't want to hear," Melvin said. "I don't think he sugar‑ coats it. He'll tell you in a nice, diplo‑ matic way if you're not doing well or you have to go out. "He'll do it in a professional way because he's had it happen to him a number of times." That may not have been more evi‑ dent than when Counsell had to let starting third baseman Travis Shaw know his playing time would be go‑ ing down after the team traded for former All‑Star Mike Moustakas. "I went in there and talked to him one‑on‑one — not pleased at the time — and he did a great job of commu‑ nicating with me," Shaw told ESPN. "That's all you want. "You're not always going to agree with everyone over six months, but as long as there is an open line of communication and you voice your opinion and he can come back and voice his, and no one has to worry about anyone's feelings getting hurt, that's all you can ask." Milwaukee has improved its win total in each of the three seasons fol‑ lowing his first in 2015 when Coun‑ sell went 61‑76 after taking over for Roenicke. The Brewers posted a 73‑89 mark in 2016 and then finished 86‑76 in 2017, falling just short of reaching the postseason. H o w e v e r, M i l w a u k e e b ro k e through dramatically this year. The Brewers notched the best record in the National League (96‑67) — which included a victory over the Cubs in a NL Central tiebreaker game in Chi‑ cago — to earn the top seed in the National League. The Brewers then swept the Colo‑ rado Rockies 3‑0 in the NL Division Series before falling to the Los Ange‑ les Dodgers just one game short of a World Series appearance. "Frankly, you're a little bit still mad, sad, humbled for sure of what's Craig Counsell Leads Milwaukee To A Deep Postseason Run Counsell has led the Brewers to an increase in wins in each of his three full seasons at the helm, while compiling a .524 winning percentage (255-232) during that time. PHOTO BY SCOTT PAULUS/COURTESY MILWAUKEE BREWERS