Miami Marlins alumnus Craig Counsell named Milwaukee Brewers manager

Former Florida Marlins utilityman and winning run of the 1997 World Series Craig Counsell has been named new manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, according to CBS Sports and several sources.

Counsell, 44, replaces Ron Roenicke, who led the Brewers to a dismal 7-18 start to the season after four mildly successful years as Milwaukee’s skipper.

The Brewers currently own the worst record in baseball.

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Roenicke’s firing comes as somewhat of a shock because the 2015 MLB season is less than a full month old. From 2011-2014 Roenicke went 335-313 at the helm of the Brewers, leading them to a 96-66 record and National League Central title in 2011.

The Brewers haven’t made the playoffs since.

Enter Craig Counsell, who had been working in the Brewers’ front office since retiring after the 2011 season. Counsell, a Wisconsin native, was a journeyman throughout his playing career which included stops with the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Brewers and of course, the Marlins. Counsell was a Brewer from 2007-11 before ultimately hanging up the cleats.

Counsell was only a Marlin for parts of three seasons, but he remains forever in Marlins fans’ hearts as the winning run of the 1997 World Series. He played just one “full” season in South Florida, the dreadful 1998 season in which he registered 400 plate appearances for the 54-108 post-fire sale team. In his Marlins career spanning 195 games and 662 PA, Counsell hit .253/.346/.356 with five home runs and 2.5 WAR.

Counsell won a second World Series with the Diamondbacks in 2001, and was named Series MVP.

Remember a couple weeks ago when Mike Redmond‘s job appeared to be on the line? It looks like the Marlins did the right thing not letting their manager go. Miami has won eight of its last ten games and sits one game below .500 (12-13) and 3.5 games out of the NL East lead.

The Brewers apparently didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel and opted to part ways with their manager less than 30 days into the new season.

Counsell has reportedly signed a three-year contract to remain Milwaukee’s manager. It’s his first chance to manage a baseball team, and we wish him the best of luck during his tenure. Except when the Brewers face the Marlins, of course.

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