Congrats to Counsell
1997 hero Craig Counsell is third former player now managing
Former Marlins infielder selected to manage Milwaukee Brewers.
WASHINGTON — It was a moment frozen in time, the most iconic Marlins moment, when Craig Counsell dashed home on Edgar Renteria’s single in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, stepped on home plate with his left foot and leaped jubilantly into history.
That was the exclamation point of a defining chapter for the franchise, but just the first notable step for Counsell, then a rookie second baseman, in a career that lasted 16 seasons. The popular former Marlin took another bold leap Monday in taking his first job as manager at any level with the struggling Milwaukee Brewers.
“I think it’s good. I played with Counsell. He was always a very smart, heady player. He’s definitely paid attention to everything that went on — not just the positions he played,” said former Marlins outfielder Preston Wilson, now a TV analyst with Fox Sports Florida. “The length of his career proved that he’s a guy that cared about the game and wanted to be around the game.”
Counsell joins Marlins manager Mike Redmond and Walt Weiss of the Rockies as former Marlins players currently managing in the major leagues. Rick Renteria, a utility player with the Marlins in1993-94, managed the Cubs last season. Former Marlins managers Fredi Gonzalez (Braves) and Joe Girardi (Yankees) make it five with ties to the club that are now at the reins of teams in the majors.
“It’s great. I said, ‘Welcome to the hot seat,’” said Redmond, who texted best wishes to his former Mar-
lins teammate (1998-99). “He’ll do a great job.
“He’s level-headed. He’s smart. He’s got a great feel for the game. … He’s a guy that nothing was ever given to him. He had to work for everything he got in this game. Those guys, for me, are usually the ones that make the best managers.”
It is easy to overlook that Counsell won another World Series with the Diamondbacks in 2001. He was Most Valuable Player of the National League Championship Series, so his career was much more than the 90-foot dash to glory that sealed the Marlins’ first championship.
Counsell, 44, batted .255 with 42 HR, 390 RBI and 103 stolen bases in 1,624 games with the Rockies, Marlins, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Brewers. He retired after the 2011 season and has been working in the Brewers’ front office as a special assistant to general manager Doug Melvin.
He joins a trend of former players hired as big-league managers without prepping in the minors, including Weiss, Mike Matheny (Cardinals), Brad Ausmus (Tigers) and Robin Ventura (White Sox).
“I wouldn’t say it’s that difficult. If you’ve played in the big leagues you understand what it takes, the dayto-day grind,” said Redmond, who managed two seasons in Class A. “It’s more of just understanding the schedule and situations that will come up throughout games. But, usually that takes care of itself rather quickly once you get a feel for it.”
As for leadership characteristics Counsell exhibited early in his career, Wilson said, “I’ll just say I respected the way he approached the game. Leader means different things. He led by example as far as how he went about his work, approached the game.”
Second-guessing Redmond
Redmond wasn’t joking when he referred to the managerial hot seat. Having recently dealt with reports his job was in jeopardy during a losing streak, the Marlins manager was steamed about criticism after he gave Dee Gordon, hottest hitter in the majors, Sunday off when the club had a fourgame winning streak snapped.
“You make a big deal out of one day off, but he’s going to get some more. Giancarlo [Stanton] is probably going to get a day off at some point,” Redmond said. “You don’t win with nine guys, you just don’t. You need bench players, you need role players.
“You have to have a little bit of vision going forward of what’s going to happen down the road. We need these guys to stay healthy. We can’t afford injuries. And what happens sometimes is when you play guys too much they get hurt.”
Epic homestand
Gordon’s .645 average (20-for-31) on the homestand was the second-highest for one lasting nine or more games (minimum 25 plate appearances) since 1914. Barry Bonds hit .684 (13-for-19) on a 10-game homestand for the Giants from April 12-22, 2004.
“Let’s just be honest about it, I’m not going to be as good as Barry Bonds — ever,” said Gordon, whose eyes widened when the stat was pointed out.
His father, Tom “Flash” Gordon, played in the 2004 All-Star Game along with Bonds, and Dee and his brothers got commemorative baseballs signed by all of the players, including Bonds.
“He was the last dude to sign them,” Dee Gordon said. “Barry Bonds was sick, man. Now that I’ve played in San Francisco, you see where he hit his record home run, nobody don’t hit the ball out there ever.”