A VERY SAD AND BRUTAL NEWS: MILWAUKEE BREWERS COACH MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN 3-MATCHES DUE TO BRUTAL.......

Brewers announce Pat Murphy as their new manager after Counsell’s departure
By Rachel Ryan and Associated Press Milwaukee
UPDATED 11:41 AM ET Nov. 15, 2023 PUBLISHED 11:00 AM ET Nov. 15, 2023

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday announced Pat Murphy as their new manager, becoming the 20th skipper in franchise history.

Murphy is signed for a three-year contract through the 2026 season.

It comes just a little over a week since the Chicago Cubs announced they had hired former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell to be their new manager.

A new era starts now…

Pat Murphy is officially the 20th manager of your Milwaukee Brewers! pic.twitter.com/3xBUd67gzQ

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) November 15, 2023
“Pat Murphy brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and passion for the game of baseball as well as a familiarity with the Brewers organization, players, staff and culture,” said Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Arnold in a statement. “Pat has been a significant contributor in the run of recent seasons of unprecedented success in franchise history. We are pleased to have Pat remain in the Brewers family and excited to name him manager today.”

On Thursday, the Brewers will hold an introductory news conference for Murphy.

The Brewers also announced that All-Star Rickie Weeks will become Murphy’s right-hand man as the new associate manager. Weeks, 41, served as the Brewers assistant to player development in the last two seasons. He was recently promoted to special assistant to player development earlier this month.

“Rickie was a hard-nosed, homegrown player for the Brewers for many years and is now a valued member of our coaching staff,” said Arnold. “We look forward to him bringing many of the attributes that he possessed as a player into the dugout in his new role.”

Officials said the remainder of the coaching staff is scheduled to return next season. That includes first base coach Quintin Berry, Major League field coordinator Néstor Corredor, hitting coach Connor Dawson, assistant pitching coach Jim Henderson, pitching coach Chris Hook, third base coach Jason Lane, run prevention coordinator Walker McKinven and hitting coach Ozzie Timmons. However, Corredor, Henderson and McKinven will all have new titles next season.

Murphy, who turns 65 on Nov. 28, has served as the Brewers’ bench coach for the past eight seasons under Counsell.

Murphy has big shoes to fill.

Counsell set a Brewers record for career managerial wins and led the franchise to its longest run of sustained success, including four playoff berths over the last six seasons. Counsell took over as the Brewers manager when Ron Roenicke was fired in 2015. He hired Murphy as his bench coach following that 2015 season.

Murphy coached Counsell in college at Notre Dame, where he posted a record of 318-116-1 and was named Midwest Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year three times. Counsell and Murphy will be rivals in the NL Central.

Murphy’s only managerial experience in the majors came in 2015, when he went 42-54 as the San Diego Padres’ interim manager after the firing of Bud Black. When the Padres hired Andy Green as their full-time manager after the 2015 season, Murphy joined Counsell’s staff in Milwaukee.

Before that, Murphy spent about three decades as a head coach in the college ranks and manager in the minor leagues.

Prior to joining the Brewers, he was the interim manager of the San Diego Padres.

Murphy takes over a team that went 92-70 and won the NL Central this year before getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in a Wild Card Series. But the Brewers also find themselves at a crossroads because of the contract status of several key players.

The Brewers must decide whether to tender a contract to two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff, who could miss the entire 2024 season after having shoulder surgery. All-Star pitcher Corbin Burnes and shortstop Willy Adames could become free agents after the 2024 season. And All-Star closer Devin Williams has two more seasons before he’s eligible for free agency.