The Brewers are heading to the NLCS for the first time since 2018 after defeating the Cubs in Game 5 of the NLDS. They’ll now face the Dodgers, but for Milwaukee fans, this win feels extra sweet—knocking out former Cubs manager Craig Counsell adds a touch of poetic payback. Reportedly, when the Cubs lured Counsell away from Milwaukee two offseasons ago, he was supposed to take Chicago to the next level.

And to be fair, the Cubs did just that this year, racking up 92 wins and making their first postseason appearance since 2020. The problem? The Brewers. This year’s Milwaukee squad has been a whole different kind of challenge.

Just what the Brewers fans were asking for to take on the Cubs…

“I’m disappointed, I’m sad. I think this team did a lot to honor the Chicago Cub uniform.” Counsell was visibly down in the post-game presser.

However, the Brewers fans do not seem very sympathetic towards their former manager. And the answer lies in the history between the Brewers and Counsell.

For the unversed, Counsell’s nine years at the helm made him the winningest manager in Brewers history, finishing with a 707–625 regular-season record. But in November 2023, he shocked Milwaukee by leaving his hometown team for their rivals, the Cubs, signing a record-breaking five-year, $40 million deal.

So, it’s no surprise Brewers fans took it hard. Counsell, a Wisconsin native who grew up cheering for the team and was deeply tied to the community, didn’t even give Milwaukee a shot to match Chicago’s offer, and that’s where the bitterness began.

So when Andrew Vaughn launched a full-count cutter from Cubs righty Colin Rea into the left-field seats for a go-ahead homer in Game 5, Brewers fans couldn’t stay calm. The energy in the stands was electric, but this was personal. They were ready to settle old scores with Counsell once and for all.

Counsell got called out by the Brewers fans

“And you did a lot to honor the Brewers uniform for 8 million / year,” one fan commented. Back in 2023, Counsell shared he was seeking new challenges before signing with the Cubs. But for the Brewers fans, the reason was nothing but the money. So, now that the Cubs get down against the same Brewers, fans are pointing out how the Cubs’ $8 million AAV for Counsell couldn’t bring him the coveted win against the old team.

“Craig Counsell, aka Mr ‘Born a Brewer, ‘ chose money over the team. The team he betrayed defeated him in 5 games in the stadium he called home for so many years. Hope it was worth it, you snake,” added another.

“Man left the brewers and keeps getting his a** kicked by the brewers. Disgraceful,” another user added. Ahh, we can feel the sadistic pleasure here for the Brewers fans. More than anything, that their team secured the NLCS, it’s payback time for them. Talk about baseball rivalry! But if we talk about their overall rivalry this year, then it’s absolutely equal.

The Brewers and Cubs faced each other 18 times this year, and each team won 9 games. But just at the most clutch moment, the Brewers made the last laugh.

“Paying Craig Counsell $40M to leave Milwaukee for Chicago so that he could guide Chicago to consecutive seasons finishing behind Milwaukee in the NL Central, then arrive back in Milwaukee for the postseason and lose there, too, is a really tough look.” This time, it’s no different. Reportedly, the Cubs held the top spot in the NL Central for much of the season. But the Brewers’ second-half surge was simply too strong. And by the end, Craig Counsell found his team five games behind a 97-win Milwaukee team.

One fan highlighted the same. “Honoring the Cubs’ tradition of underperforming in the second half and playoffs after a good first half.”

Now, for the Brewers, just the Dodgers between them and the World Series. With how they are performing, fans could surely expect a victory parade in Milwaukee.