Is there dissention between Stearns and Counsell?

[HarryDoyle]

I have a hard time believing CC, and the players for that matter, is happy about Stearns trading away Hader when the team is sitting in first place trying to make a playoff push. What kind of message does that send to the team? It certainly would explain the quality of play we've been witnessing since the trade.

[trwi7]

Maybe but Counsell has managed like a dink this year so the tension probably started with Stearns on Counsell.

[UpandIn]

1 minute ago, HarryDoyle said:

I have a hard time believing CC, and the players for that matter, is happy about Stearns trading away Hader when the team is sitting in first place trying to make a playoff push. What kind of message does that send to the team? It certainly would explain the quality of play we've been witnessing since the trade.

I don't think Counsell would ever allow his emotions to filter down to the team. 

I think the whole "message to the team," is a bit overblown. Again, I remember getting swept in a 5 game series vs the Pirates and a terrible stretch at almost exactly the same point in this season in 2018. 

I think they're playing poorly right now. I think they'll figure it out...or maybe they won't. But I don't think it'll be because Counsell is in his feelings about the trade and there is a rift between he and Stearns. 

[brewers888]

If you listened to Attanasio talk about the trade I think the disconnect is between him and boy wonder who cant leave town soon enough.  Ownership should just let the distracted GM go back home since he clearly stopped caring or just became stupid this and last trade deadline.

[Axman59]

I think it's possible Stearns is trying to sabotage the team so he gets released from his contract.

[NBBrewFan]

I think Stearns and Attanasio weren't happy with Hader's demands that he be used only in Save situations. IIRC his request came after he lost his first Arby hearing (may be mixing that up). They agreed to his request to avoid a difficult situation with a talented player.  I think Attanasio values having representation at the All-star game and any positive PR the Brewers can get.  Hader has been out several times because of his wifes pregnancy issues and I think that while the Brewers were supportive, they expected him to represent the team at the ASH.  The final straw with Attanasio was when Hader backed out of the ASG.  I believe that lead to Attanasio telling Stearns to do a deal now..  Evidence?  None, just a guess.  There was no reason they had to trade him now. The Players know that and they will talk like any group that works closely together.  The events and play since then are consistent with a clubhouse that isn't on the same page as the Front Office/Owner.

Now, is there an issue between Attanasio and Stearns?  Don't know, but Mark has extended him before at an earlier point so it's a little odd that he is on an expiring contract. Maybe their back and forths over the budget has been a source of problems. I don't think the budget is just a number that is passed to Stearns and he budgets accordingly.  When the traded for Yelich there were reports that Stearns had to convince Attanasio that they should also sign Cain. Why would the owner need to sign off it was within the budget.  Must have been over the budget and Attanasio needed convincing (think about that 6 WAR that Cain brought would put the 2018 Brewers into the Wild Card round without him facing the Rockies and then if they won that 1 game against the Cubs - Not sure they make it to the NLCS under that scenario).  Budget restrictions make Stearns job more difficult than other GMs in larger markets. Stearns knew that when he was hired, but he may be at the point that he doesn't want to continue in a situation where everything has to go right to make it deep into the playoffs.  He might want to move to phase 2 of his career which is more responsibility with a bigger budget. I think the trade deadline was a GM that didn't want to make a mistake and overpay.  In the end he lost out on multiple options and didn't get the biggest need which was a bat. If he was out the door wouldn't he just give the prospect to get the bat? I think it looks more like an owner questioning his approach/moves and a GM that's sensitive to making a mistake.  Who knows.

[HarryDoyle]

2 hours ago, UpandIn said:

I don't think Counsell would ever allow his emotions to filter down to the team. 

I think the whole "message to the team," is a bit overblown. Again, I remember getting swept in a 5 game series vs the Pirates and a terrible stretch at almost exactly the same point in this season in 2018. 

I think they're playing poorly right now. I think they'll figure it out...or maybe they won't. But I don't think it'll be because Counsell is in his feelings about the trade and there is a rift between he and Stearns. 

CC's emotions don't have to filter to the team for the players to realize that Stearns is punting on the season.

 

To clarify, I'm not all that upset about Hader being traded because this team isn't a true World Series contender, but I am upset that DS got so little in return. The Padres absolutely fleeced him. At the same time, I am not a GM who's job it is to put pieces in place to make that World Series push when you're a first place team, however bleak that may look. When was the last time a first place team a seller at the trade deadline?

[rickh150]

1 hour ago, Axman59 said:

I think it's possible Stearns is trying to sabotage the team so he gets released from his contract.

Not possible.  What owner hires a saboteur? 

[UpandIn]

1 hour ago, rickh150 said:

Not possible.  What owner hires a saboteur? 

Joseph C Tsai

 

But yeah, Stearns isn't punting, he's not sabotaging anything. 

[Axman59]

1 hour ago, rickh150 said:

Not possible.  What owner hires a saboteur? 

It worked for James Harden.

[UpandIn]

2 hours ago, NBBrewFan said:

I think Stearns and Attanasio weren't happy with Hader's demands that he be used only in Save situations. IIRC his request came after he lost his first Arby hearing (may be mixing that up). They agreed to his request to avoid a difficult situation with a talented player.  I think Attanasio values having representation at the All-star game and any positive PR the Brewers can get.  Hader has been out several times because of his wifes pregnancy issues and I think that while the Brewers were supportive, they expected him to represent the team at the ASH.  The final straw with Attanasio was when Hader backed out of the ASG.  I believe that lead to Attanasio telling Stearns to do a deal now..  Evidence?  None, just a guess.  There was no reason they had to trade him now. The Players know that and they will talk like any group that works closely together.  The events and play since then are consistent with a clubhouse that isn't on the same page as the Front Office/Owner.

Now, is there an issue between Attanasio and Stearns?  Don't know, but Mark has extended him before at an earlier point so it's a little odd that he is on an expiring contract. Maybe their back and forths over the budget has been a source of problems. I don't think the budget is just a number that is passed to Stearns and he budgets accordingly.  When the traded for Yelich there were reports that Stearns had to convince Attanasio that they should also sign Cain. Why would the owner need to sign off it was within the budget.  Must have been over the budget and Attanasio needed convincing (think about that 6 WAR that Cain brought would put the 2018 Brewers into the Wild Card round without him facing the Rockies and then if they won that 1 game against the Cubs - Not sure they make it to the NLCS under that scenario).  Budget restrictions make Stearns job more difficult than other GMs in larger markets. Stearns knew that when he was hired, but he may be at the point that he doesn't want to continue in a situation where everything has to go right to make it deep into the playoffs.  He might want to move to phase 2 of his career which is more responsibility with a bigger budget. I think the trade deadline was a GM that didn't want to make a mistake and overpay.  In the end he lost out on multiple options and didn't get the biggest need which was a bat. If he was out the door wouldn't he just give the prospect to get the bat? I think it looks more like an owner questioning his approach/moves and a GM that's sensitive to making a mistake.  Who knows.

1-Stearns is under contract through next year at least. He MAY have been extended. They're not required to announce that and they've been quiet about front office contracts before.

2-Never heard that Stearns has to convince Attanasio to sign Cain. BUT...it'd seem stranger that it was about the payroll if they'd already offered Yu Darvis a much larger contract.

Beyond those two issues...I believed Mark Attanasio when he spoke. That Arnold and Stearns called him and told him they had a trade THEY wanted to make with Hader and that the Brewers had payroll room for any player on the market.

 

[brewmann04]

The only thing Us sure David did not get anything close to anything that can help this team this season.