When the Milwaukee Brewers let Craig Counsell walk to the Chicago Cubs — walk as in lost him to a record-breaking contract, of course — the initial reaction out of Wisconsin was one of betrayal. Counsell should and will be booed at American Family Field for quite some time, and he can’t be surprised by the overwhelming anger of a fanbase that once loved him.
However, what Brewers fans didn’t expect was that losing Counsell might actually be a blessing in disguise. Milwaukee holds a 10.5 game lead over Counsell’s Cubs in the NL Central, and they aren’t going anywhere. Even if not viewed as World Series or even pennant favorites, the Brewers are used to playing the role of underdog.
In a column by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Brewers — which have MLB’s 22nd-ranked payroll and play in one of its smallest markets — have embraced their role as spoilers. No, it’s not the Cardinals or Cubs which are the Central’s most likely postseason representative. It is little ol’ Milwaukee, led by Pat Murphy and a group of players who know 2024 is their time to shine…