Counsell planning for full season
Speculation already is swirling as to whether major-league baseball spring training camps will open on time in mid-February, but until he hears otherwise, Craig Counsell is preparing for business as usual.
“You can plan a lot and I think we are,” the Milwaukee Brewers manager said Thursday during a Zoom session with media representing local and national outlets. “You have to be ready to go when we’re scheduled to go, so that’s what you do and that’s what you prepare for, and when you get more information, that’s when you make adjustments.
“We’re preparing. We’re having conversations, mostly with the coaching staff right now. We do have to fill in some players, for sure, but that generally happens later for us anyway.”
In that regard, Counsell said he considers it a “normal offseason,” at least in terms of what teams and players should be doing and thinking as Christmas approaches. If that changes, adjustments will be made, as they often were in 2020.
“We played 60 games last (season) and there’s 162 games on the schedule next year,” Counsell said. “I think players understand, ‘I’ve got to be ready for that, this is the long haul, the normal long haul.’ That forces preparation, I think, for all these guys. They are very well aware of it.
“No matter what happens this winter, I don’t feel like there’s going to be as much uncertainty. Last year, when we left on March 13 (when spring training was shut down), there was uncertainty for a long period of time.
We were just not able to get answers. I don't think that's going to be the case this year.
“It's not time for the decisions to be made. But when they'll be made, the league will make decisions and we'll have very clear kind of marching orders on what to do.”
This winter, with the coronavirus still raging across the country, roster-building is happening at a slower pace for nearly every team. There are 250 or so free agents looking for work, but signings and trades have been few and far between.
Asked about the turtle-slow personnel market, Counsell said, “I don't think I really knew what to expect. I think everyone thought it would be a little bit slower but I think it surprises us a little bit that there's been so little player action, for sure.
“It gets a little slower every year so we've been prepared for this a little bit, but there's no question that the pandemic and the uncertainty it's created has changed the winter for players.”
As for whether players might push back on taking the COVID-19 vaccine if asked to do so before spring training, Counsell said, “Well, I don't think it's a decision we have to make right now, and so, in a lot of ways that's a big benefit. We'll wait, and we'll gather everybody together, (get) information from their doctors, from your team doctors, and then at the appropriate time, everybody will make an individual decision.
“That's what it is. It's an individual decision. It's one of those where I think everybody, I think there's some real positive things happening, but I think the benefit of maybe not being the first in line is a good thing. We'll wait, we'll see what happens, and when it's our turn, it's our turn.”
One planning obstacle for National League teams is not knowing at this juncture if the designated hitter will be used again in 2021. It was employed in both leagues after the '20 season was shortened because of the pandemic but continued use has to be bargained by management and the players union.
“They've told us to plan without it, but I still think there's a decent chance they have it (in the NL),” Counsell said. “I think we have to prepare for both right now. Like with a lot of things, we don't have a lot of final answers to questions right now, so you have to prepare for what the rule is right now but still have in the back of your mind or in your back pocket a plan for whatever the alternative is.
“We've got a good candidate to DH on the roster, but we'd definitely like to share those at-bats to give other players some rest at times.”
Counsell referred to left-handed-hitting slugger Daniel Vogelbach, who did considerable damage (.987 OPS) as the Brewers' DH after being claimed off waivers from Toronto with three weeks remaining last season. Vogelbach was re-signed with hopes of the DH returning but would have to play first base to get at-bats otherwise.
The Brewers need to find some offense at the infield corners but a big boost to the lineup would be a return to form of two-time batting champion Christian Yelich, who got off to a 1-for-27 start last season and never recovered. Counsell said he has no doubt whatsoever that Yelich will bounce back and be an offensive force again in 2021.
“The thing I think most is I just know it's going to be better,” Counsell said. “I know it's going to be good. So, I feel really good about that. I don't worry about it. I'm confident in it. Christian didn't like how he played. He didn't like what happened. It's not going to happen again.
“Whenever we ask the question ‘Why did that happen?' Christian doesn't have an answer, necessarily. He can't explain all of it. I can't explain all of it. I don't think Christian wanted it to happen. But it did. What it does is it puts your mind to work and that's what he's doing. He's going to get to work and make sure when we start up that he's in a good place and ready to go.”
As a Milwaukeean who likes his basketball in the offseason, Counsell was excited by the news Tuesday that Giannis Antetokuompo was staying with the Bucks for the long-term, a commitment Yelich made to the Brewers with a nineyear deal in the spring. Toss in another MVP-type season from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Counsell said there's a lot to be excited about in terms of star watching.
“It makes you proud to be a sports fan in Wisconsin,” he said. “It's a really cool thing. I think of kids right now. I think of kids watching sports growing up in the state of Wisconsin and having these kind of iconic, historical players playing for their teams.
“It's the kind of thing that makes you a sports fan for the rest of your life. Christian Yelich has cemented a generation of Brewers fans. Giannis has cemented a whole generation of Milwaukee Bucks fans and basketball fans. Aaron Rodgers has done the same thing. And I think that's pretty cool.”