Craig Counsell and his Chicago Cubs took on the Milwaukee Brewers Friday afternoon for their first regular season match up of the newest stage of their rivalry.  For years, both as a player and a manager, Counsell had worn a Brewers uniform.  Things are now much different as he is donning a new logo and Milwaukee is being led by his former right-hand man Pat Murphy.

Following their first of 13 games against one another this year Craig Counsell spoke with the media.  One question he was asked was how he was viewing the Brewers and Cubs rivalry now as a manager in Chicago.  Here’s what he had to say.

Craig Counsell proclaims new Chicago Cubs – Milwaukee Brewers rivalry “Is Just Baseball Competition”.

In an excerpt from a video posted by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Todd Rosiak the following was extracted regarding Craig Counsell’s viewpoint on the rivalry and his take on potentially competing against his former team late into the season for a division title.

“Nobody’s an enemy.  This is just baseball competition. You’re just trying to beat the other guy. That’s what we’re here to do and we have fun doing it. The competition is fun. It’s fun trying to beat the other guy. That’s what we’re wired to do.”

Craig Counsell, Part 2: pic.twitter.com/7WNdJpCfjP

— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) May 3, 2024

Craig Counsell’s departure resulted in a lot of emotions from Milwaukee Brewers fans.

Some fans of the Brewers may argue that this new rivalry is more than just a baseball competition.  Feelings of betrayal, disgust, and anger still linger for some given the fact that a Wisconsin native, who had been managing his hometown team, left and willingly chose a division rival over them as his ‘dream job’.  With that stab in the back he also accepted a lot more money and once again played into the narrative that small markets can’t keep popular players/coaches/managers.

Each Milwaukee Brewers victory over Craig Counsell and the Chicago Cubs will be satisfying. 

With emotions high, especially in year one of this new rivalry, each Milwaukee Brewers victory will be escalated on the satisfaction scale. Winning a game against Craig Counsell with his increased financial resources due to being in a big market will be the equivalent of sticking it to the man.  Counsell may try to continue to say that this is just a baseball competition, but for Wisconsin Sports fans it goes much deeper than that.