NL DIVISION SERIES: BREWERS VS BRAVES

October 11, 2021

Craig Counsell

Truist Park

Milwaukee Brewers

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Is there anything different from your lineup that you've been using against a right-handed pitcher?

CRAIG COUNSELL: The only thing different is Luis Urías instead of Eduardo Escobar.

Q. I wanted to ask you if you were doing that. Is it Luis just swinging the bat better now than Escy?

CRAIG COUNSELL: I think it's a little bit of everything in there. A little pitcher matchup in there. Urías' defense -- just his range has shown to be excellent. And there's a little pitcher matchup and good at-bats from Luis.

Q. Curious how you guys handled the strange turnaround last night. Did you have multiple plans for players? And how difficult is it for a player?

CRAIG COUNSELL: I think how we treated it is you plan on the game being at 1:00. So go to bed and think the game's at 1:00, that's how you plan your day. If they bump the game back it's almost like a rain delay, which we all have.

So you plan on being a 1:00 game. You plan on getting on the bus at 8:00 or 9:00 like we did. And if something changes it's almost like a bonus, right?

Q. On that, where did you guys come down on, do you think this is better for the hitters in terms of those late afternoon shadows?

CRAIG COUNSELL: The game's at 1:00. We don't have to answer those questions. If it was going to be difficult. It's 1:00. We've played 1:00 games here. We know what to expect. There shouldn't be any issues with that.

Q. Back to Luis, we've asked you this before, he's done such a great job doing whatever you've asked him to do this year. What do you think this growth year will do for him moving forward? Just his confidence level has to be really good.

CRAIG COUNSELL: Luis had just an excellent season. I don't think, offensively, what he's done, as a young player in the big leagues, his offensive season, it's really exciting. I think it's exciting for us moving forward as to what he can be as an offensive player.

And I think, look, he's had some challenges defensively this year. He's also played brilliantly defensively this year. And so that's part of the growth of being a young player. Frankly, offensively he's been a very consistent player. And he's really just getting better. He's gotten better in the second half of the season.

So I think Luis has had a really good season. He should be proud of what he's done, how he's improved, the adjustments he's made to Major League Baseball and be excited about what's to come.

Q. This team was so good on the road in the regular season. Do you think that experience can help in a postseason now with two straight games here?

CRAIG COUNSELL: I think it's almost like a card you've got in your back pocket, of confidence of how we have done on the road for sure. I think it's something that you can lean on a little bit of how good we have been, believe in. And that's what makes it helpful.

Q. We were just chatting with Andy Haines yesterday and he mentioned Lorenzo Cain is a guy that has the ability to elevate his game in big moments. Is that just like a gift? First, have you witnessed that you think with Cain in your postseason experiences with him, and where does that come from?

CRAIG COUNSELL: Yeah, I think Lorenzo absolutely does. I think Lorenzo has. And it's not only just -- it's not just only the postseason. I think it's Septembers and critical games. Game 163 comes to mind right away.

And the moment is huge and it's the player kind of taking himself to how big the moment. And I think Lorenzo has the ability to do it. And, I think everyone would say it about Lorenzo. So it's hard to put your finger on it, but it's recognizable in him. And it's a great trait. And these games mean a lot to him. And I think that helps him in it.

He shines in them. And I expect one of these games for him to shine and for him to do what he's done in the past and be the guy.

Q. Even though we've known he's a great player, Lorenzo, when you see what he's done since he's been back, did it give you a bigger appreciation for what you're missing during that time when you didn't have him, because also there he is making such big contributions for you?

CRAIG COUNSELL: Yeah, I think, the thing about Lorenzo is that he is, in some ways he doesn't get the credit because he's just good at everything. And maybe he's not the elite hitter in the game as far as power and things like that. But the rest of his game is so good and he contributes to wins in so many ways.

And I think that's why -- that's another reason why he ends up being a guy, because there's so many ways for him to help you win a game. I look back in -- some of the '18 and '19 base-running plays that he made. He made a base-running play in Atlanta, this year on Sunday in Atlanta that won us a game, where he went first to third on a little blooper by Luis Urías that -- no other baserunner is on third base. And we end up scoring a run with it with a ground ball on the next play.

So he just beats you in every way that you can win on a baseball field, and that's going to show up eventually.

Q. Are those reads instinctual because we see him do that, but that one you're talking about a lot of guys might have just gone.

CRAIG COUNSELL: They are. I think they're largely instinctual. They're largely -- there's a paying attention to it when it's happening around you. When you're on the bench, it's not happening to you.

It's just a way some players, they see it. And they see it a little bit before the other guy. And I think that's -- base running is maybe about seeing it unfold just a little bit sooner and allowing you to, therefore allowing you to make a decision a little bit sooner.