Pat Murphy's introductory speech to the 2026 season will have Brewers fans fired up

Being a perennial playoff contender in the smallest market in baseball while competing in a league as financially lopsided as MLB requires the Milwaukee Brewers to possess a self-awareness that often doesn't align with the way the rest of the league views them. The Brewers, winners of the NL Central in four of the last five seasons, have to live with the fact that every season, regardless of the success that they've displayed in recent years, doubts from the baseball world are bound to arise.

However, as respect from the national media continues to elude the Brewers, Pat Murphy's squad isn't busy worrying about the labels assigned to them in the offseason. "Call us whatever you want. Underdogs? Call us whatever the hell you want. We found out what matters is who's in this room," said Murphy as he addressed his team down in Arizona. The quote is courtesy of the Brewers unmatched social media team, which put together the following video that is bound to have the Milwaukee faithful fired up for baseball season.

Murphy goes on to say that it doesn't matter what your past is, or what success you've had up to this point in your career as long as you "commit to winning baseball." He doesn't care about "Major League Baseball's way of saying 'on paper, this team is this.'" Rather, he cares about who his team wants to become.

The video ends with Murph saying "we don't care about what anybody thinks. We stick to our standards and you'll have another incredible season. And don't be shocked."

"Don't be shocked" Pat Murphy sets the standard with his introductory speech at Spring Training

Those last three words hold some serious weight. While the baseball world, the national media, and many of the Brewers' opponents chalk last season's success up to "lucky breaks" or Milwaukee out-performing their underlying metrics, the Brewers themselves can't afford to think like that. Such a mindset inevitably invites an excuse through the door if the Brewers struggle in 2026 -- one that takes the shape of the national media claiming that the Milwaukee magic has run out.

No, while projection models and major publications continue to predict a Brewers downfall that has yet to arise, the team itself must rise above the doubters and maintain the high standards that have led them to three straight division titles. Murphy's motto of "don't be shocked" instills a great deal of confidence in his players -- a skill that has been the 2x Manager of the Year's calling card as the Brewers' skipper. The Brewers shouldn't be shocked by success; they should expect it, because they are a talented group of ballplayers who have controlled the NL Central this decade.

What MLB or the national pundits predict about the Brewers' 2026 season matters not. What does matter is the people in the room, just as Murphy said. And who's in the room is a group of hungry, diligent players who don't take any opportunity or any pitch for granted. While another successful season in Milwaukee might shock the projection models and those who consistently doubt the Brewers, Murphy's squad won't share in this surprise. They know who they are and what they are capable of achieving.