Brewers followers are sometimes jolly however they made an exception for Craig Counsell.
Counsell, who managed Milwaukee for the final 9 years earlier than leaving for the NL Central rival Cubs this previous offseason, was booed loudly in his return to American Household Subject on Monday.
The ballpark has gotten known as Wrigley Subject North in a recurring joke about what number of Cubs followers drive up I-94 and take over the stadium as opposing followers, however there was nary a cheer to be heard as Counsell walked towards the Cubs dugout or because the Brewers performed a tribute for his or her former supervisor on the video board.
Cameras for the Cubs’ Marquee community captured Counsell, who nonetheless stored his home in his native Whitefish Bay outdoors of Milwaukee, smiling on the reception.
It didn’t come as a significant shock to him.
“Cheer. Boo. No matter, man. Simply have an excellent time on the recreation,” Counsell stated to reporters earlier than the sport on Monday.
“That’s what followers get to do. Simply have an excellent time. It’s Memorial Day. You don’t should work at the moment. Let’s all have an excellent time.”
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Brewers made the playoffs 5 occasions throughout Counsell’s managerial tenure, and received the NL Central 4 occasions.
The furthest the staff went below Counsell was the 2018 NLCS, which they misplaced to the Dodgers in seven video games.
Counsell additionally performed for the Brewers from 2007-11.
Counsell signed a contract with the Cubs price a reported report $40 million over 5 years.
“It was simply the fitting match for me,” Counsell stated of the Cubs. “Every thing that I … ended up in search of, it turned out to be the fitting slot in Chicago.”
Counsell was succeeded in Milwaukee by Pat Murphy, who was a bench coach below Counsell and really coached him throughout his time at Notre Dame.
Coming into the sport on Monday, the Brewers had a three-and-a-half recreation lead over the Cubs for first place within the NL Central.
