Craig Counsell’s stunning departure from the Brewers did not sit well with everyone in the community.
Counsell left the Brewers after nine seasons as manager for their NL Central rival Cubs on Monday, and by Tuesday, a sign at Craig Counsell Park in Whitefish Bay, the Milwaukee suburb where he lives, was vandalized with the word “ASS” spray-painted.
While Brewers fans had grappled for weeks that Counsell could leave for the Mets, the Cubs news came from out of nowhere, as the organization had just given a vote of confidence to David Ross, the 2016 World Series hero who seemed to have the organization on the upswing.
Wisconsin sports radio host Grant Bilse , “The Brewers extended good faith and patience to Craig who repaid them by making demands through media leaks before cloak-and-daggering his way to a rival. [Owner Mark] Attanasio is far from perfect but Craig is the villain, folks.”
Meanwhile, Brewers players could not believe it when they heard the news.
“I think my reaction is the same as everyone in the organization and the fan base,” former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes said, . “We’re just shocked initially.”
Burnes added that he was happy Counsell raised the bar in managerial salaries, after agreeing to a deal worth more than $40 million over five years, but that “on the personal side, it’s going to be strange.”
“Lord, have mercy,” Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff said, .
“I had just left rehab and got in the car and was eating some food on the way home and got a couple texts from some friends. I thought they were messing with me,” Woodruff continued. “One said the Cubs and I’m like, ‘What does this even mean?’ It’s crazy.”