Craig Counsell was just shielded from angry Brewers fans by most unlikely source

Ever since Craig Counsell left Milwaukee to manage the division rival Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers fans have considered him a traitor. While there was a general sentiment that Counsell was likely to leave after the 2023 season when his contract expired, most fans thought he would end up in Cleveland or with the New York Mets to follow former GM David Stearns. Moving to a hated division rival was a bridge too far for a lot of people and that choice has been a focal point during the NLDS against the Cubs.

There were already signs that Brewers fans still consider Counsell treasonous especially as other former Brewers coaches and players ended up in Chicago. A big part of it is the in-division competition, but Brewers fans were also genuinely hurt the Counsell would give up on what was a pretty good Brewers team to chase a bigger paycheck.

As a result, Counsell heard a lot of boos before the start of Game 1 of the NLDS even with all of the positive things that Counsell did for the team and the city. In the wake of that reaction, Brewers manager Pat Murphy somewhat surprisingly went to bat for Counsell and noted that they will eventually come around.

Pat Murphy went to bat for Craig Counsell after Brewers fans booed him mercilessly in Game 1

Is it a little weird that Murphy took the time to vouch for the opposing manager right before a playoff game against that manager? Well, yes...but there is more context than that. Murphy coached Counsell when the latter was at Notre Dame. He served as Counsell's bench coach from right after the 2015 season until Counsell left. If any current Brewers employee was going to speak up for Counsell, it was going to be Murphy.

It is a little odd that Brewers fans would still be so upset now. Yes, Counsell did leave Milwaukee for Chicago of all teams, but there were a lot of good times that he oversaw and it isn't like the Brewers ended up with a scrub as their manager. Murphy feels like the perfect manager for this organization and is one that is very familiar and respectful of the team's history and importance to the city.

Maybe one day Murphy will be right and Brewers fans will welcome back Counsell with open arms once everyone is a little further away from what became a bitter divorce. However, you can probably bet forgiveness isn't coming at least until this series is over.