Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Craig Counsell

Brewers acquire SS Adames and bullpen help for two relievers

By

In a rare mid-May trade of significance the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday acquired shortstop Willy Adames and relief pitcher Trevor Richards from the Tampa Bay Rays.  Milwaukee sent relievers J. P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen to Tampa Bay in return.

Adames is considered a good defender and should be an immediate upgrade over Luis Urias, who has struggled defensively at the position.  Adames is hitting .197 with 5 Homeruns for the Rays.  Richards has pitched to a 4.50 ERA over 12 innings with 16 strikeouts.

Feyereisen was a big part of the Brewers late inning relief this season, helping set up for Devin Williams and Josh Hader.  Manager Craig Counsell and GM David Stearns said Urias will still play, and take on the part of the “super” utility role around the infield.

Neither Adames nor Richards were with the team Friday night in Cincinnati, and it’s not known if either will be available for Saturday’s game.

Yelich still struggling with lower back issue (AUDIO)

By

Christian Yelich

Christian Yelich was eligible to come off the Milwaukee Brewers injured list over the weekend, but that doesn’t appear to be ready to happen anytime soon.

An MRI on the outfielder’s strained lower back showed no major issues, but Yelich was sent back to Milwaukee after manager Craig Counsell said he hit a “plateau” in his recovery.

Yelich hasn’t played in a game with the Brewers since April 11.

“We basicly just ruled out anything significant structurally that would show up on the MRI,” Counsell said Sunday.  “We still need to make progress to get him back on the field and so from that perspective not much has changed.  But we’ll keep moving forward and see what some activity tomorrow at the field brings.”

Yelich is hitting .333 (10-for-30) in nine games with the Brewers this season.

AUDIO: Craig Counsell on Yelich’s condition after MRI :21

Baseball suspends Cubs reliever for throwing at Brewers Woodruff (AUDIO)

By

Brandon Woodruff

Major League Baseball announced Thursday the suspension of Chicago Cubs reliever Ryan Tepera for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount of money for throwing at Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff during Tuesday nights game at American Family Field.

Tepera’s suspension was due to start Friday when the Cubs open a home series against the Atlanta Braves, but he is appealing the decision.

Cubs manager David Ross received a one-game suspension and will serve it Friday.

Tepera’s pitch in the fifth inning missed its intended target, going behind Woodruff’s legs.  It’s believed the pitch came in retaliation for Woodruff hitting Cubs catcher Willson Contreras in the fourth inning.  It’s the 3rd time this season that Contreras has been hit by Brewers pitchers in five games.

There were no ejections in the game, but the home plate umpire warned both benches and the remainder of the game went without further incident.

The Brewers and Cubs play each other again in a three-game series at the end of next week at Wrigley Field.

AUDIO: Mgr. Craig Counsell on pitchers pitching inside :23

AUDIO: Craig Counsell said intent is the key :14

Peralta lands fifth starter spot in Brewers rotation (AUDIO)

By

 

Freddy Peralta

Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell unveiled his five-man starting pitching rotation on Thursday and Freddy Peralta has landed the spot as the fifth and final starter in that rotation.

Peralta settled into the fifth spot after a solid spring in which he pitched 8 1/3 innings in three appearances with one start.  He struck out 15 hitters, had a 1.08 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.  In his last appearance, a start against Seattle, he allowed a home run and a walk with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of work.

“I thought his last start against Seattle was a great example of, he’s pitching like a starting pitcher,” Counsell said.  “The rhythm of the game, the pitches he used, the weapons he had for different hitters, different handed-ness of hitters…just really a complete step up from a couple years ago when he had to rely on the fastball, essentially.”

“He’s worked really hard to get to this place and I think he’s had a great spring.  He’s added things to his game that I think give him a chance of having a great, great season.”

It means Josh Lindblom will start the season pitching out of the bullpen. [Read more…]

Brewers announce 2021 coaching staff

By

The Milwaukee Brewers announced their 2021 coaching staff on Wednesday and it includes a base coaching change.

Ed Sedar, who has been with the Brewers for 14 seasons and the teams third base coach for 10 seasons, was reassigned to advisor to the major league coaching staff, a new role with the team.

Quinten Berry, who served as the Brewers’ minor-league outfield and base running coordinator, is joined by returning first base coach Jason Lane as the teams base coaches for next season.

Brewers President of Baseball Operations and General Manager David Stearns is brining back hitting coach Andy Haines and assistant hitting coach Jacob Cruz, despite the teams struggles during the shortened 60-game season.

The Brewers hit .223 and scored 247 runs, which ranked 26th in both categories this past season.  They also struck out 582 times, which ranked second-highest in the majors.

Pitching coach Chris Hook, bullpen coach Steve Karsay and bench coach Pat Murphy all return to Craig Counsell’s staff.

The Brewers added a pair of new bullpen catchers for the 2021 season, hiring Nestor Corredor and Adam Weisenburger.  The Brewers decided not to renew the contracts of bullpen catchers Marcus Hanel and Robinzon Diaz.

Brewers season ends in Wildcard Playoffs

By

Brandon Woodruff

The inability to score runs almost cost the Milwaukee Brewers a trip to the playoffs.  Once they got there, the lack of offense is what did them in.

Clayton Kershaw allowed just three hits and struck out 13 in eight innings of work to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-0 win over the Brewers, sweeping their best-of-three National League Wildcard series two-games-to-none.

The Dodgers advanced to the National League Division Series in Arlington, Texas, against the winner of St. Louis and San Diego (game 3 Friday night).

Kershaw issued just one walk, to Luis Urias in the eighth inning, then picked him off of first base.

Brandon Woodruff was spectacular through four innings for the Brewers, striking out nine Dodgers.  His only blemish in the hit column was an Austin Barnes single in the fourth.  But the Dodgers broke out in the fifth.

Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor had back-to-back singles.  A.J. Pollock grounded into a fielder’s choice to third as Urias stepped on the bag for the force but his throw to first was in the dirt and couldn’t be gloved by Jedd Gyorko.  Barnes singled to drive in a run, then Mookie Betts doubled into the left-field corner to add two more runs, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.

That chased Woodruff, who allowed three runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings.  As he walked off the mound, Woodruff yelled at home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott, who ejected him.  Woodruff was upset when he thought he had strike three on Barnes but it was called a ball.

The Brewers ended up striking out 28 times in the two games.  In their last 11 games (3-8), including the two playoff games, the Brewers scored just 20 runs.  They finished with an overall record of 29-33.

 

 

Suter struggles, Brewers drop Wildcard opener to Dodgers

By

Brent Suter File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Baseball’s best team didn’t dominate with their bats on Wednesday night, but the Los Angeles Dodgers did take advantage of Brent Suter’s early wildness to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 in their National League Wildcard series opener in Los Angeles.

Corey Seager homered in the win, but the Dodgers jumped out in the first inning by hardly having to swing the bat.  After a Mookie Betts double to start, Brent Suter proceeded to walk-in a pair of runs.  Suter had to start for the Brewers with the teams top starter (Corbin Burnes) and top reliever (Devin Williams) both sidelined by injury.

Suter needed 32 pitches to get out of the first inning and ended up working just 1 2/3 innings before manager Craig Counsell was forced to go to his bullpen.  Suter left after allowing three runs and three hits, with five walks in.

The Dodgers third run came off of Suter in the second when Chris Taylor doubled and scored on Betts’ second double of [Read more…]

Brewers in the postseason, despite losing record

By

Craig Counsell

The Milwaukee Brewers could have clinched a playoff spot with a win in the regular season finale at St. Louis on Sunday.  Instead, they took the tough rout, falling to the Cardinals 5-2 and then depending on help.  They got the needed help when both Philadelphia and San Francisco both lost, giving the sub-.500 Brewers (29-31) a spot in the National League playoffs.

The Phillies 5-0 setback against Tampa Bay finished ahead of the Brewers.  But the Giants were giving the San Diego Padres a run for their money and the Brewers were watching in the clubhouse after their loss, as San Diego pulled out a 5-4 win.

The Brewers are the No. 8 seed in the National League and will face the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers (43-17) in a best-of-three series starting Wednesday night.

The Brewers are in and they’re not apologizing.

“We got ourselves a shot,” Manager Craig Counsell said.  “You’ve got to beat a really good team twice.  It’s the best team [Read more…]

Brewers no-hit by Chicago’s Mills (AUDIO)

By

Making just his 15th major league start, Chicago right-hander Alec Mills tossed Major League Baseball’s second no-hitter of the season, leading the Cubs to a 12-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday at Miller Park.

Mills walked three and struck out five, finishing with a career-high 114 pitch effort to improve to 5-3 on the season.  He retired Jacob Nottingham (pop up), Tyrone Taylor (strikeout) and Jace Peterson (ground out) to complete the no-hitter in the ninth.

Cubs manager David Ross became the 11th person to catch and manage a no-hitter.  He was behind the plate for former Cub Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter back in 2016.

Mills had never pitched a complete game in the majors.  He was a walk-on in college at Tennessee-Martin and was cut by the Kansas City Royals.

Mills no-hitter was the 16th in Cubs franchise history.  It was also the second time a Cubs pitcher tossed a no-hitter at Miller Park.  Carlos Zambrano no-hit the Astros on Sept. 14, 2008 in a game moved from Houston because of Hurricane Ike.

The Brewers hit into 11 hard-hit outs, as tracked by StatCast.  Mills generated just five swings and misses in the game. [Read more…]

Home runs propel Brewers to split with Tigers

By

The Milwaukee Brewers fell behind 4-0 and 5-1 on Wednesday night before rebounding for a 8-5 win in their series finale with the Detroit Tigers at Miller Park.  The loss snapped Detroit’s six-game winning streak.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell improved his career record to 422-400 and tied Tom Trebelhorn for third place on the Brewers’ all-time list for wins by a manager.

Tiger pitchers issued a season high 10 walks, four of the ten to Christian Yelich.  The Tigers also hit two batters.  Six of those walks turned into runs for the Brewers.

Keston Hiura clubbed a three-run homer, his 9th of the season.  Jace Peterson gave the Brewers some insurance with a two-run home run in the eighth.

The win gave the Brewers a 6-4 record on their 10-game homestand.

Eric Yardley (2-0) got the win in relief of Adrian Houser.  Yardley pitched two solid innings of relief.  Houser gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings.

Devin Williams worked a perfect eighth and Josh Hader finished off the Tigers in the ninth with his ninth save.  In 12 appearances and 11 2/3 innings, Hader still hasn’t allowed a base hit.  Williams has allowed just four hits and one run in 16 innings, forming a rock solid 1-2 punch for the Brewers in the bullpen.

The Brewers have the day off on Thursday.  They’ll open a three-game series in Cleveland against the Indians on Friday night.