Why Craig Counsell Deserved a Standing Ovation Today

as I was told to sit down during Braun’s crucial at bat in the 8th inning by someone 10 rows behind me.

This as the whole stadium, aside from section 210 (mine), was standing to cheer Braun on. Last time I venture away from the safeness of my 20-pack seats in section 419.

I happen to like the way we do things in Milwaukee.

CC deserves a ton of credit for filling a normally thankless yet vital role on the team. He is kind of like Gomez of the infield. He isn’t there to hit but the other things he brings to the team do have a great deal of value. And when we are in the playoffs fact of the matter is, WE WILL NEED a late inning Defensive replacement because of how bad our infield D is.

I also take issue with the argument that people would boo a player like CC in big markets. New York and Chicago maybe, but I could well see a guy like CC with his history if it were in Boston would get a very similar response from the crowd. Baseball towns like Boston and gasp maybe the evil St. Louis fans do seem to appreciate more than just a batting line… NY and Chicago I am not sure about but I really think Boston would treat him much the same we Wisconsin treats CC.

I just feel like the way this team relates to Milwaukee in that small town sort of feel is oddly enough similar to the way Boston fans treat the Red Sox as their own sortta private jewel even though their a giant market. Boston’s atmosphere doesn’t feel like a big market even if it is.

 but his slash on any other player would have people crying murder.

Look I love the guy and I like this post, however I really do think its time we offer him a coaching job and fill the spot with someone else.

If that doesn’t happen until Ricky is back fine, doesn’t really need to. But I will be genuinely annoyed if we demote Wilson or another bench player because of the ambiance of Counsell. I love Counsell but its not like he’s a lifelong Brewer and its not like he did the organization a huge favor. His time is now and it saddens me to say that but I truly think it is.

we don’t need to fall in line with them, but nor do we need to do the opposite simply because we don’t like ‘em. If a player has no value or negative value, you ditch them. That being said, C.C.’s defense adds tangible value, and there are additional “clubhouse morale” values. Plus, other than getting a rookie to fill his role (without his experience and his eye), there is a dearth of other free agent options.

He also seems to know how to play given the game situation offensively. Waste the pitcher’s pitches…hit a sac bunt. Hit any fly ball over 200 feet. In other words, despite sucky stats, he “often” manages a high WPA. Even during his 0-for slump he managed to hit at least one game winner. Yes, I would rather he be a .400 hitter, but sometimes you have to take ’em as you get ’em.

They will pile on expensive free agents who don’t do well, like A.J. Burnett maybe, but for the most part they’re loyal to Counsellesque former fan favorites too. I don’t think there’s a lot of animosity towards Jorge Posada this year, is there? He’s hitting .237/.314/.387 as the DH.

Personally I’ve never understood the love affair with Counsell. To me he’s just a player who used to be decent and now is terrible. His defense is still pretty good but he’s not an elite defender and there’s no way he should be on a ML club anymore with how awful his offense is.

Didn’t take Milwaukee fans too long to go from loving to loathing Derrick Turnbow either BTW.

Idiots.

I may not like some of the decisions that Melvin makes as to personnel on the team or the players that RRR uses in a given game, but as long as they’ve got our jersey on and they give a crap, they’re still a player on my favorite team and I’ll always cheer for them to have success. Just because CC can’t swing the stick worth a damn this year doesn’t mean I don’t like him or don’t want to see him succeed.

He’s actually a very good hitter in high leverage situations, and a good pinch hitter. It hasn’t been that long: