2024 Gameday Catchall

[MrSheps]

Yeah, I went in for the belief that Counsell was worth 3-5 WAR as a manager, and I don't think that's been the case at all. Not just because the Brewers continue to cruise without him, but I just haven't had many moments this season of thinking he's done much of anything notable in terms of strategy and decision making. Steady hand, sure. And the players seem to think he's smart. I do like that the bullpen has been totally rebuilt, should he get some credit for that? I suppose. But the double steal last night and other such head-scratchers don't seem less common with him, nor do I recall many moments of thinking he made a bad move only to see that he had pushed the right button and it paid off. Maybe one time in which his DHing of Wisdom paid off about a month ago...

The knock on Ross was that he was too slow to recognize that the vets on the team shouldn't be in the lineup and he was anti young guys. Under Counsell, they did jettison Yan earlier that others may have, and PCA has truly come into his own. Again, maybe he gets some credit for that.

FWIW, Suzuki said the decision to steal third was his own. If you look closely at the replay, you can see that Belli reacted to Suzuki, and that it wasn't a planned double steal.

Anyway, I see both sides of this one, and fall somewhere in the middle. I do think he's a better manager than our record indicates, and the main reason our record isn't better is because of how historically bad our bullpen was for most of the first half combined with lackluster offense for large portions as well, both of which weren't really his fault. However, in general, he does leave a fair amount to be desired.

Ah, didn't know that it was Suzuki making that decision, thanks for sharing that. We lost that game because of bad baserunning. That shouldn't happen at the MLB level. But since I haven't seen it much this season, I'll say it's on the players, not the manager/base coaches. And I agree with you about the pen for sure.

And Butch, you nailed it, it's clear the Cubs paid him to be a difference maker. It doesn't feel like he's been much of one. But I'm obviously willing to give him more time before deciding that for sure.