MILWAUKEE, Wis. (670 The Score) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell had known well for six months what was brewing for him back at American Family Field on Monday afternoon.
Once a beloved figure in his home state, Counsell left his job as the Brewers’ manager after the expiration of his contract, and he accepted the same role for the rival Cubs in a stunning move that was announced on Nov. 6. The move was marked by renewed hope in Chicago and tremendous disappointment in Milwaukee. The divorce had been looming throughout much of last year, but the departure still felt so sudden and stunning at the time.
Despite the Brewers' success over Counsell's nine seasons as manager – and his 18 years of experience in the Milwaukee organization – the sentiment of disappointment lingered about the native son.
On Monday, Counsell and the Cubs visited the NL Central-leading Brewers for the first time this season. Counsell was met with loud boos in Milwaukee as a brief tribute video played on the newly expanded center-field video board at American Family Field, then again as he was announced as the Cubs’ manager with the starting lineups and each time after that he emerged from the visiting dugout.
"Cheer. Boo. Whatever, man. Just have a good time at the game,” Counsell said early Monday afternoon before the Cubs opened their four-game series against the Brewers. “That's what fans get to do. Just have a good time. It's Memorial Day. You don't have to work today. Let's all have a good time.
“It bothered me initially, of course. Some things that happened bother you, for sure. But as it goes on, you’re a fan and you can feel how you want to feel. You’re entitled to that as a fan. So, I'm good with that.”
As it turned out, the home crowd in Milwaukee would be the one enjoying Memorial Day at the ballpark. The Cubs dropped their fifth straight contest and 10th in the last 13 games, falling 5-1 to the Brewers. A scoreless game was decided in the Brewers’ five-run eighth inning after a costly error by Cubs third baseman Nick Madrigal, then Milwaukee punctuated the matter with a three-run homer from shortstop Willy Adames.
It seemed the only break from cheering in the eighth inning came in the form of boos for Counsell during a Cubs pitching change. The awkward homecoming was made all the more difficult because the Cubs (27-27) fell 4.5 games behind the Brewers (31-22) in the division.
“This one’s on me today, for sure,” Madrigal said.
The Cubs’ clubhouse was silent in each corner early Monday evening. In the first room around the corner, Counsell sat in the visiting manager’s office – filled with autographed baseballs from men who had occupied those quarters – and reflected more on his team’s latest loss rather than how he was received by the home crowd.
Counsell was 707-625 in nine seasons as the Brewers’ manager but just 7-14 in five postseason appearances – without a trip to the World Series. Though Counsell was beloved during his time in Milwaukee, the franchise’s struggles in the playoffs are what locals held against him after he left for Chicago.
The Cubs hired Counsell on a five-year, $40-million contract that’s the richest deal ever given to a manager. It put added pressure on Counsell to lead postseason success in Chicago and heightened scrutiny as part of his new chapter.
With the Cubs enduring a frustrating stretch in May, Counsell is carrying a great burden as he has returned to Milwaukee for the pivotal series. Counsell is also facing off against new Brewers manager Pat Murphy, his longtime friend and mentor. Murphy coached Counsell at Notre Dame and came to Milwaukee as his bench coach in 2016.
Counsell’s departure from the Brewers gave Murphy his first opportunity as a full-time manager in the big leagues. It’s yet another unique element of Counsell's move to Chicago.
One day after Counsell was officially hired by the Cubs, the sign at Craig Counsell Park in his hometown of Whitefish Bay was defaced. Counsell realized soon after arriving in Chicago that Milwaukee wouldn't welcome him with grace anymore.
In choosing to leave the Brewers for the Cubs, Counsell was simply ready to move on.
“There are not any moments and there wasn’t one thing that happened,” Counsell said. “There’s multiple things that happened and occur, and opportunities come up. But you’re looking for challenges. I was in a place for a long time, so I think when you’re in a place a long time, you just naturally think about, ‘What if I do something different?’ That’s part of it. That happened over the last couple of years, frankly.
“It happened over time, for sure.”
Counsell still proudly calls the state of Wisconsin home, even as he has now taken residency south of the border. He has been back many times since leaving last November.
Monday just happened to be his first time returning to American Family Field – and the moment that fans in Milwaukee had marked on their calendar. It was the first of seven regular-season games between the Cubs and Brewers at American Family Field.
Perhaps the boos will soften with time, just as time led Counsell to make his own change.
“Look, life takes different turns,” Counsell said. “I don’t want to play out my life forever. I want to do things that challenge me, that excite me. So, I don’t make plans like that. You got to take the ride of life and see what happens. This is not necessarily something I expected to happen, but you got to take the ride and go.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 .
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