The NL Central division rivalry this season is more like the tale of two cities. The hottest team right now in all of baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers, are riding a franchise-record 14-game winning streak and a stunning 78-44 record built a massive 9.0-game lead in the division.

At the same time, the Chicago Cubs, after leading the division for months, have lost four of their last five games. The 90-mile rivalry has become a one-sided affair.

As his present team struggles and his former team thrives, manager Craig Counsell has finally spoken about the division race. He told Marquee Sports Network: “The job is to try to win the division, that’s kind of the ultimate goal, they are making that really difficult.” In Milwaukee, this doesn’t sound like a compliment. It felt less like Counsell takes accountability for his team’s struggle; rather, he’s trying to show his ex-team’s success as an unwanted roadblock to his goals.

But why so?

Counsell’s nine seasons are like no ordinary manager for the Brewers who just came and left. He was the hometown manager and became the team’s winningest manager ever. Even if it wasn’t enough, then in a 2016 promotional video, he declared, “ I know you, because I am you. You and me, we’re cut from the same cloth…. Just like you, I was born a Brewer. This is my first love, my passion, my responsibility. It’s a torch I’ll carry with me always.” Sounds nostalgic, right? But every fairy tale doesn’t deserve a happy ending.

That bond proved one-sided in November 2023 when Counsell left Milwaukee to join their hated rival Cubs for a better paycheck. Chicago fired their manager, David Ross, to hire him. He signed a record-breaking five-year, $40 million contract, becoming the then highest-paid manager in MLB history. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said it best, “Craig has lost us, and he’s lost our community also.” 

This history of betrayal is the reason behind why his recent words are just pouring salt in an open wound.

The Roar From Milwaukee

For some fans, the reaction was raw and born out of hate. “Keep our name out your mouth Greg.” Counsell built his career on being a hometown hero. His shocking departure for $40 million to the rival Cubs felt like a deep personal betrayal. The fan believes he chose Chicago’s money, so he doesn’t have the right to comment on Milwaukee’s success.

Other fans took a more sarcastic approach. “At least we know why they won the division and lost in the playoffs. He accomplished his goal.” This hit a moonshot to Counsell’s postseason record to the stars. He led the Brewers to five playoff trips, but repeatedly came short of the ultimate goal in October. This gives a reality check on his regular-season success as a sign of limited ambition.

Many fans found out the irony of Counsell’s current situation.  “Hey at least he got those new challenges he was looking for”. When Craig Counsell joined the Cubs, he said, “The challenge of this is different. And that challenge excites me. More resources means different types of players, for sure.” Brewers fans just trying to reference that quote when the small-market team he abandoned has the best record in baseball while he was 9 games sitting behind them with higher resources.

For some, the new Brewers have bigger dreams. “’ultimate goal’ I can tell you the ultimate goal of the brewers is winning it all. their mindset is greater.” This feeling is backed up by their incredible season, where they are riding a 14-game winning streak and own the best record in MLB.

Finally, some fans simply don’t consider the Cubs as their primary competition. “Cubs should worry about Cincinnati at this point.”  This taunt is brutal if we consider the Reds are still six games behind the Cubs. But everything is fair in love and war. What do you think?