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Milwaukee Brewers News Clips Monday, July 21, 2015

MLB.com  Brewers’ recent surge reflects well on Counsell  Garza aims to start his second half strong

Journal Sentinel  Manager a hometown hero in Whitefish Bay  The Drill: ’s best deals

Associated Press  Preview: Brewers vs. Indians

WISN  Brewers fans go gnome hunting around Milwaukee

FOX Sports  Brewers giving away Harry Doyle bobblehead as part of ‘Major League’ night

http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/137556314/mil-brewers-surge-reflects-well-on-counsell Brewers’ recent surge reflects well on Counsell Milwaukee showing improvement with regular lineup finally playing together

By Mike Bauman / MLB.com | July 20, 2015

The 2015 were 7-18 when was relieved of his duties as manager. They are now 34-34 with Craig Counsell as manager.

Even more encouraging for Counsell's relatively short tenure in office, in their past 22 games, the Brewers are 16-6. Over the weekend, they accomplished a three-game sweep over the Pirates, who came to town with the second-best record in the .

The numbers say that the change in managers was beneficial and that Counsell is a success so far, in both relative and absolute terms. Beyond that, there are varying explanations for Milwaukee's marked improvement.

Counsell goes with the position that improved health, particularly the return to the lineup of and center fielder Carlos Gomez, has been the driving force behind the Brewers' improved play.

"I think we've been able to put our best players on the field regularly," said Counsell on Sunday. "I think going into the winter, you feel like you put a team together, and you try to have as much depth as you can. But when you lose players like Gomez and Lucroy, they're defensive players, they're offensive players... we just had trouble covering for it. And you had other guys in and out of the lineup.

"The regular lineup has produced more offense, for sure. And I think we've gotten the pitching to a good point now. We struggled a little with the pitching early, but I think we've gotten the pitching through it."

Beyond that, there have been differences in personnel evaluation between Counsell and Roenicke. The one that stands out is the usage of Gerardo Parra.

Parra, obtained from Arizona in a Trade Deadline deal last year, was seen by Roenicke as a useful spare part. In left field, he was more inclined toward the power potential of Khris Davis.

But Counsell looked at Parra, a two-time Gold Glove winner, as an all-around solid player. Outfield injuries opened up playing time for Parra earlier this season, but when Davis returned from the DL, Counsell said that Parra would remain as the regular left fielder. It is no coincidence that Milwaukee's offense developed more continuity and production after Parra was installed as the leadoff hitter.

"Since he's been [in the leadoff spot], he's been a really important piece of our offense," Counsell said. "He's been one of the best hitters in the league, really. He's been excellent. He's definitely set the tone of our offense."

Parra is hitting .420 in July, but he's been on a roll much longer than that, hitting .337 since April 25. The irony of it may be that Parra's success makes it more likely that he -- in the final year of his contract -- will be traded. But one way or another, the Brewers are getting considerable value from him.

Milwaukee played Pittsburgh six times in April, and lost five of those games. In June and July, the teams have played another six games, and the Brewers have won five. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle has had a look at both versions of the Milwaukee club.

"They're in a different place now," Hurdle said. "Sometimes with clubs, it's not who you play, but when you play them. I mean, they've been through a lot. I think they've let a lot go. They're focused now on probably just playing the game. They've got an offense that's more than capable. They've got young pitching that has skills. They've got experienced guys.

"I think the more challenging question, and I know they've thought it through, is: How did it go the way it went for so long, through the end of last year and into this year? It's a talented group and they've got a bridge to the closer that's Major League-worthy.

"So this is the Major Leagues. Nobody goes away, nobody disappears. There can be vacuums at times where things don't go right and it looks like things aren't connected. But nobody gives you games up here. You've got to go win games. They're playing with a lot of confidence over there now."

It remains a riddle as to how a club that was in first place for 150 days last season could finish the year 9-23 and then start this season by putting itself in something more like a crater than a hole.

The recent play, on the other hand, has been encouraging. The Brewers are still likely sellers as the Trade Deadline nears, but their level of play has restored the competitive nature of the roster. It has given a very loyal fan base some renewed hope for the future.

http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/137373426/garza-aims-to-start-his-second-half-strong Garza aims to start his second half strong

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | July 19, 2015

It has been almost a decade since the Indians traveled to Milwaukee for a series against the Brewers. It has been longer than that since a club chalked up a win against the Brew Crew.

On Tuesday the Tribe will head to Miller Park for a two-game Interleague set against the Brewers, who have won seven games in a row against Cleveland dating back to 2001. Aiming to stop that streak will be Indians righty Danny Salazar, who was 11 years old that last time Cleveland beat Milwaukee. The Indians haven't played the Brewers since '09 and made their last trip to in '06.

Salazar (8-4, 3.74 ERA) has gone 4-3 with a 3.54 ERA in his past 10 starts, but he has lasted fewer than five frames in three of his past five outings. He will be opposed by Milwaukee righty Matt Garza (4-10, 5.55 ERA), who will be aiming to have an improved second half.

Things to know about this game

• When he takes the hill against Cleveland, Garza will be looking to put his rough end to the first half behind him. The veteran righty went 0-3 with a 7.88 ERA in 24 innings (21 earned runs on 41 hits) over his past four outings. In 28 career Interleague starts, Garza has a 3.85 ERA.

• Only seven of Cleveland's hitters have faced Garza previously, but that group has combined for a .338 average in 74 at-bats. Outfielder Michael Bourn, who will likely be in the lineup, has .526 (10-for-19) in his career against the Brewers right-hander.

• Tuesday's sold-out game will be "Major League" night in honor of the 1989 movie featuring the Indians, whose broadcaster in the film (Harry Doyle) was played by Brewers play-by-play man . Milwaukee will be giving out talking Harry Doyle bobbleheads.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/manager-craig-counsell-a-hometown-hero-in-whitefish-bay-b99533521z1- 317709411.html Manager Craig Counsell a hometown hero in Whitefish Bay

By Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel July 20, 2015

In high school, Craig Counsell would walk from his home on N. Berkeley Blvd. in Whitefish Bay to Bayshore Mall, where he would catch a Milwaukee County bus and ride west to Brookfield.

This tedious commute, before smartphones and text messages, was well worth it, and not for his first minimum- wage salary at Mike Hegan's batting cages, where he worked as an attendant. The payoff was in the late hour of the day when the last of the dreamers straggled out of the building.

"I would get to hit after it closed," Counsell said. "I loved it."

To appreciate Counsell's passion and purpose for most of his life is to understand that they have been greatly defined and dictated by the game of baseball. At Whitefish Bay High School. Notre Dame. In 16 years in the majors. Three years in the Milwaukee Brewers' front office.

So to ask the 44-year-old Counsell what he would be doing without baseball is like asking how he might breathe without lungs.

"Take away my life — and what would be my life?" muses Counsell. "It's really an unfair question, when, ever since you can remember, it has been your life."

And so the first steps toward this job Counsell now holds as manager of the Brewers, a responsibility he wanted — not despite the challenges but actually because of them — began with bus rides to Brookfield. And a spray-painted batter's box on a schoolyard wall. And a dad with a key to old County Stadium.

Story starts at home

Counsell's family moved to Whitefish Bay from South Bend, Ind., after his father, John, became director of the speakers bureau for the Brewers in 1979. The family lived in a two-story house on a postage stamp lot, with welcoming sidewalks, towering trees and tight streets. Counsell's mom, Jan, was a teacher. His dad worked for the Brewers from 1979-'87.

In this secure world, Counsell could build upon all parts of his game to make himself the complete player. His earliest and fondest memories are of his father bringing him to work and having the simple communion of sharing the same building with and the family. John Counsell did many things. He arranged for player appearances and handled the team magazine. Craig Counsell was behind the scenes enough to appreciate the day-to-day life.

He took his passion to the schoolyard, where Richards School was so close to his house that he could hear his mom's call from the screen door at dinnertime. A strike-zone box was spray painted on the wall, and he would play a friend, one-on-one, vs. hitter. Everything was settled right there, usually with that sword-wielding, log- splitting batting stance of Counsell's getting the last word.

"You played all day," Counsell said. No video games. No parents with snack schedules. Just the breeze off Lake Michigan to rustle the leaves.

He graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1988 and baseball took him away to Notre Dame, but he already had left an impression on his hometown of what he was becoming.

"I distinctly remember in the 1990s, he was in the minors, and the MLB strike (happened)," said Mike Bortolotti, a Whitefish Bay lifer who is three years younger than Counsell and played with him in their youth. "We were playing catch and I asked him, 'Would you cross the line?' And he was like, 'Absolutely not.' Even as a minor-leaguer, he was a dedicated, team guy.

"Everyone kind of followed him and was rooting for Craig because he always did it the right way. He's prepared for every opportunity. That's why he's always successful."

Always. He played for Notre Dame, he had a successful 1,624-game major-league career and he played until a little after his 41st birthday. He usually gets credited for being a scrappy, smart player, but now, with perspective, who can deny he had real talent?

Maybe if he had more of an outward ego, we'd hear that. But we never will. Not from Craig Counsell.

Whitefish Bay 2015

Not much has changed in Whitefish Bay since those days. Winkie's and Sendiks are still there. The high school baseball diamond, with Counsell's name on the left-field fence, is a thing of beauty, and so is Craig Counsell Park, home for the village's Little League.

People walk there, grab a burger and a hot dog from the grill and take in a ball game.

"It's a magical little place right there," said Dave Markson, a resident of 30 years. His son, Charlie, also played here.

"Whitefish Bay has had their numbers just explode in Little League and kids that are joining travel teams. It's healthy through three varsity levels. That's because a lot of kids said, 'Craig Counsell plays for the Brewers and he lives in Whitefish Bay.' It's been a sort of an unintended consequence of having a Brewer living in the community."

That kind of following isn't just in the Bay. It has spread to diamonds throughout Wisconsin.

Dean Rennicke succeeded John Counsell as the Brewers' public relations director in the late 1980s, but he is now the general manager of the Lakeshore Chinooks, a collegiate summer league team. He's also father to Ben Rennicke, who plays baseball at Concordia University in Mequon.

"When Ben was growing up, we would talk about Craig Counsell and Robin Yount," Dean Rennicke said. "Everything Craig did, to last as long as he did, was with maximum effort. Craig Counsell was always a hardworking guy. He's the type of guy you emulate if you're a young ballplayer."

When Counsell came home in 2004 to play for the Brewers, and then again for good in 2007, he and his wife, Michelle, did live in Mequon for a time but eventually returned to Whitefish Bay, where they wanted to raise their four kids. Michelle was born and raised there.

"So many of us, after school, have come back," Bortolotti said. "Growing up in Whitefish Bay was awesome. You ride your bike everywhere. There are a lot of other great communities, but a lot of times those are intersected by businesses and major roads, and you have to drive. In Whitefish Bay, you don't have to drive anywhere.

"We have a block party every year that is frequented by people who don't live on our block. In a community that has one middle school, one high school, two grade schools that are public — there's a ton of overlap. You kind of just know everyone.

"They take pride in their community and their front lawns and their driveways. Everything they do, they take pride in it. It's a really good place to raise a family."

A couple of years ago, Counsell was at the Fourth of July parade in the village. It's kind of a big deal in the Bay. But after a lifetime of playing baseball all summer, Counsell remarked to Bortolotti, "this is my first Fourth of July parade ever."

The best part? He can just be a husband and father.

"Fame, it's not as important to people here. I like that," Counsell said. "It's always made me more comfortable here. There were other cities that I lived in where I didn't feel as comfortable."

Family keeps him grounded

Part of that comfort is because of his home life, and that starts with his wife. Michelle and Craig briefly dated in high school, but she saw him get on that bus to the batting cages.

"He was crazy, that's why we never dated too long in high school. I was like, 'what's wrong with you,'" she said, laughing.

But they always kept in touch. And when they got married, Michelle became a baseball wife, so it's all she's ever really known. He missed her birthday this year. She's used to it. Same for the kids.

The five of them — Michelle, sons Brady and Jack and daughters Finley and Rowan — with their homework projects and field trips, their dentist appointments and sports practices, keep Counsell grounded in a non-baseball world. Michelle keeps everything going, but Counsell is involved as much as his job allows.

"Any guy that is worth anything, nine times out of 10, has an unbelievable wife behind him and an unbelievable family," Bortolotti said. "Craig has that."

Craig and Michelle are both fit, which might explain why they're so youthful looking. He does yoga; so does Michelle. She likes to and bike around town; Counsell used to bike to Miller Park when he was still playing.

He does still have that Brewer-autographed, riding lawn mower he got from his mates after retirement, however.

"Of course I do," he said. "It works. Why wouldn't I? It's a nice machine. I've got a big yard. The leaves are a pain to rake."

In the off-season he likes to grill a lot; steaks are his specialty. He helps with the cleaning; he does his own laundry.

But Counsell does not believe in pushing his kids into any sport. Signing them up for one camp and lesson after another won't make them players. He tells them this all the time. It has to be their own passion.

And this is his passion, now that he's managing these last-place Brewers with their myriad of shortcomings. People ask Michelle all the time, isn't it stressful?

"He is more happy now than he has been the last three years," Michelle said. "I think he missed being part of the game and being on the field."

The job at hand

Counsell's only thought before taking the job was his family. It's a big year for Brady in Little League. Counsell coached Jack. He threw batting practice and the kids — all of them — miss him. He has to rely on an app on his phone now to try and follow their games.

"But it's an opportunity you can't pass up," Michelle said. "You can't turn it down."

So after the epic collapse by this team in 2014, and the firing of Ron Roenicke in early May, Counsell took over.

Because he played for so long, the Counsells know how to handle the smooth and rough sides of the sandpaper that shapes their public life. If people interrupt their dinner out for an autograph or picture, Michelle will ask that they be allowed to finish their meal. Same if Craig is watching his kids playing their games.

"He is quiet and he is shy," Michelle said. "I am not."

If the Counsells happen to encounter another celebrity while they're out, they have taught their kids to hold back and give that person their private time, too.

Michelle also has had to warn their children about the comments they may hear about the Brewers manager.

"I said to the kids, at some point, people might say bad things about your dad," Michelle said. "You've just got to let it roll off your back."

Hearing this, Brady looks up from his shoes and nods his head yes emphatically. He understands. It's clear he respects his dad and that will overcome whatever is dumped on his young shoulders going forward.

But that's about all that they can control. And they know it. How they're received, the expectations placed upon them — that's up to the fans. Bart Starr's heroic stature took a huge hit after he coached the and didn't live up to the standards of others. The Counsells know Milwaukee is hungry for a champion.

"My biggest fear is he'll be run out of town if he doesn't do well," said Michelle, laughing — a little nervously. "And we'll have to move. He's had opportunities to go elsewhere and I keep saying I don't want to move. That's the part that I guess stresses me out, not him. He's a good person. And he's going to do his best."

Of course, no one wants the Brewers to win more than Counsell.

"' are incredible and I see what they mean to people," said Counsell, who was a part of two championship teams, with the Florida Marlins and . "There's no other place I'd rather see it happen than here. This is the next place that it should happen.

"It's not an overnight job. I actually kind of like that. I like that it is a longer-term project that I can grow with, that I can play a major part in. It's almost appealing, because of that.

"There's going to be a lot of doubt along the way."

And there it is. That flicker in the eyes, the competitor.

"You kind of feel like you've dealt with that your whole career," Counsell said. "And you get to tackle that again, so it feels like the same kind of challenge.

“The journey is not going to always go straight up. I'm fully aware of that — and I enjoy that part. I enjoy the struggle a little bit. That's the simple reason I'm doing this."

Now Counsell is ready to go. It's been 20 minutes of talking about his least favorite subject — himself — and he's done.

Just one more question. Does he have to be a good guy? A nice guy? Because he's from here?

"This job is going to bring you out; you can't fake this," Counsell said. "There's too much emotion involved in this job, and you try to push it aside, and push it down, but when winning and losing happens every day, its emotional.

"So you're yourself, and some days that will be good and some days...might be a little prickly.

"I will always understand my role, and my place, in the community and in this organization. But you're going to get beat if you're not yourself."

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/the-drill-cream-of-the-crop-b99540051z1-317668661.html The Drill: Doug Melvin’s best deals

By Todd Rosiak of the Journal Sentinel July 20, 2015

With 's July 31 non-waiver trading deadline fast approaching, and with Doug Melvin's tenure as Milwaukee Brewers general manager likely coming to an end, what better time to analyze some of the deals he made.

Or, more specifically, the best deals he made.

Here are the top five, in our estimation:

1. July 7, 2008

Traded infielder/outfielder Matt LaPorta, pitcher Zach Jackson, pitcher Rob Bryson and outfielder Michael Brantley to the for pitcher CC Sabathia (left). Melvin acquired the left-hander just prior to the all-star break and he was simply marvelous in his short stint with the Brewers, going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts to help break Milwaukee's postseason drought. Brantley, who was a player to be named later in the deal, has gone on to all-star status with the Indians.

2. Dec. 19, 2010

Traded outfielder , shortstop and and to the for pitcher (right), infielder and cash. Many fans focus on what Cain and Escobar have done for the Royals since the trade, but Greinke anchored a rotation that brought the Brewers their first National League Central title and almost their second World Series appearance. Melvin then flipped Greinke in 2012 for a package that included shortstop .

3. Dec. 1, 2003

Traded , pitcher and outfielder Noochie Varner to the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitchers and , infielders Craig Counsell and , first baseman and catcher . The Brewers obtained six viable major-leaguers for Sexson, who wound up playing just 23 games for Arizona after the trade due to a shoulder injury.

4. Nov. 6, 2009

Traded shortstop J.J. Hardy to the for outfielder Carlos Gomez (left). Hardy became expendable with the development of Escobar, so he was traded for the gifted but inconsistent Gomez, who developed into one of the best centerfielders in the major leagues. With the Brewers out of contention, will Gomez now be traded again?

5. July 12, 2011

Traded pitchers Daniel Ray Herrera and Adrian Rosario to the for pitcher Francisco Rodriguez (right). Melvin swooped in during the all-star break and "K-Rod" moved seamlessly into the setup role behind closer John Axford and the Brewers never lost a game they led after seven innings the rest of the regular season.

http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/preview-milwaukee-brewers-vs-cleveland-indians-072115 Preview: Brewers vs. Indians

By Associated Press July 21, 2015

The success of the Milwaukee Brewers over the past 17 games has had a lot to do with an effective lineup. Over the same sample size, the Cleveland Indians have leaned heavily on pitching.

The clubs meet Tuesday night at Miller Park, where the Brewers will try to extend their longest home winning streak of the season while beating the Indians for the eighth straight time in their first meeting since 2009.

After completing a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh with Sunday's 6-1 victory, Milwaukee (41-52) has won four straight at home as part of a 13-4 overall span and can get back to 10 games under .500 for the first time since being 15-25 on May 19. The Brewers are averaging 5.9 runs and batting .310 on the run, a pair of marks that lead the majors dating to June 28.

Jean Segura has a .404 average in 13 games this month after going 7 for 59 in the last 15 of June, and is hitting .347 in his last 18.

They'll face Danny Salazar, who's coming off the second-longest start of his career. Salazar (8-4, 3.74 ERA) surrendered an unearned run and five hits with eight in 8 2-3 innings of a 5-1 home win over Oakland on July 10. The right-hander lasted fewer than five innings in three of his previous four starts.

After Sunday's 5-3, 11-inning win in Cincinnati, the starting staff's ERA is 2.67 over the past 17 games.

"You see one of the guys pitch a good game and then you want to go out there and pitch a good game, too," Salazar told MLB's official website. "We're competing and having fun at the same time. We're just pushing each other every day in practice, in the game, and it's working. We're going to keep doing that."

He's never beaten an NL team, going 0-3 with a 5.08 ERA in six starts as all of the losses have come in four starts in NL parks. is 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in their matchups, and the first baseman is in a 2-for-20 slump.

The Indians (44-47) will face Matt Garza, who's making his first start since going on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis after having allowed at least four earned runs in four straight outings. Garza (4-10, 5.55) gave up four and 10 hits in six innings of an 8-7 win in Philadelphia on July 2, falling to 0-3 with a 7.88 ERA in that span.

"This was just a good spot for the doctor to have his say," Garza said. "He wanted me to skip a start a while back and I didn't want to, and he thought it was a good time just step back and give it a rest since the last couple of years I missed not weeks, but months."

The right-hander is 2-4 with a 4.81 ERA against Cleveland, but those eight starts came between 2006-10. Michael Bourn (10 for 19) and Brandon Moss (5 for 10 with a ) have had success off Garza in their careers.

Garza will face a Cleveland lineup that's stepped it up in the last two games with 14 runs and 24 hits. Francisco Lindor had five of them, and the rookie is batting .355 in his last seven games. Jason Kipnis had four and is hitting .404 in 15 games against the NL this season.

http://www.wisn.com/sports/brewers-fans-go-gnome-hunting-around-milwaukee/34257194 Brewers fans go gnome hunting around Milwaukee

By Hillary Mintz, WISN July 19, 2015

MILWAUKEE —Milwaukee Brewers fans woke up early Monday to look for a gnome.

Four pairs of Matt Garza autographed gnomes were hidden around the Milwaukee area Monday.

"Looks like I've got a signed Matt Garza gnome," Joel Aizen said. He found his in Cathedral Square.

The annual gnome search has become a huge hit, but this year it was different. The only clues were given through social media with very little warning.

Fans turned out at Miller Park early Monday, only to find out that gnomes were going to be hidden in four locations: Downtown, Wauwatosa, Shorewood and Glendale.

"I'm a huge Brewers fan, playoff tickets, season ticket holder. It's just another collectible for me. This year, I know they're signed by Matt Garza, which is cool," Adam Montonati, said.

Garza gnomes will also be handed out at Sunday's game against the .

http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/cleveland-indians-milwaukee-brewers-major-league-072115 Brewers giving away Harry Doyle bobblehead as part of ‘Major League’ night

By Ari Ross, FOX Sports Ohio July 21, 2015

When the Cleveland Indians take on the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday night at Miller Park, the Brewers will celebrate 'Major League' night, honoring Bob Uecker's 60th year in .

The Harry Doyle Bobblehead

To honor Uecker, the Brewers are giving away limited-edition talking Harry Doyle bobbleheads with famous quotes including: "This guy threw at his own kid in a father-son game," "Personally, I think we got hosed on that call," and "Juuust a bit outside."

The Brewers’ Hall-of-Fame broadcaster will throw out a ceremonial first pitch and a donation of $10,000 will be made in Uecker's name to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Fans attending the game will also enjoy clips from the film on the scoreboard and the Brewers will give away copies of the book, The Making of Major League, on Twitter before the game.

The , the Indians A affiliate, had a similar 'Major League' promotion last year where they gave away Jobu bobbleheads to honor the 25th anniversary of the movie.

Maybe the Indians can conjure up some of the 'Major League' magic as well.