There is no place like home for Counsell

Tom Haudricourt
December 2, 2003

Craig Counsell barely had gotten off his flight from Milwaukee to Phoenix on Monday when his return ticket was punched.

Professionally speaking, that is.

Counsell, the Milwaukee native who played the past four seasons for Arizona, learned he was one of six players coming to the Brewers in the much-awaited Richie Sexson trade. Despite hearing his name mentioned in recent speculation, the veteran infielder could barely believe the news.

"I think I was a little shocked," said Counsell, 33, who left his home in Mequon to play in a charity golf tournament in Phoenix.

"I heard my name associated with it but I didn't think it was realistic or likely."

The 1988 Whitefish Bay High School graduate often dreamed of playing for the Brewers as a child. His father, John, worked in the Brewers' front office for many years and Craig would tag along to County Stadium.

Manager Ned Yost played for the Brewers in their glory years in the early '80s and remembered the younger Counsell hanging around the ballpark.

"He was just a young kid, around with his dad a lot," Yost said. "I'd come in early and sit in John's office, see what he was doing."

Counsell went on to play at Notre Dame before being selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 11th round of the 1992 draft. The lanky left-handed hitter with the unorthodox batting stance soon developed a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

He was traded to Florida in the middle of the 1997 season and scored the winning run for the Marlins against Cleveland in Game 7 of the World Series. After a brief stint with Los Angeles in 1999, Counsell signed with Arizona and again found himself on a World Series winner in 2001.

While splitting time at third base, shortstop and second, Counsell developed a reputation as a clutch player. He was the most valuable player of the 2001 National League Championship Series for the Diamondbacks, batting .381 against the Atlanta Braves.

"First, you think he's lucky," Yost said. "Then, you begin to appreciate his style of play. What initially got me interested in him was that he was John Counsell's son. Then you get to respect his ability and his heart and his desire to play the game hard and right."

Counsell, plagued by injuries the past two seasons, played 57 games at third base in 2003, 26 at shortstop and 10 at second. He batted .234 with three homers and 21 runs batted in.

Counsell always has enjoyed playing shortstop and was excited to hear he'll get that chance in Milwaukee. The Brewers will give rookie J.J. Hardy a shot at winning the starting job next spring but have Counsell and Bill Hall in the mix as well.

"I was hoping they were looking for me to play shortstop," said Counsell, who makes $3.15 million next season and has a club option for $3.75 million in 2005, with a $250,000 buyout.

"It's the position I like to play. I don't really consider myself a third baseman. I'm more of a middle infielder. I can't wait to play shortstop."

Always considered modestly talented, Counsell made himself a reliable major-league player through hard work, dedication and making the most of opportunities. The way general manager Doug Melvin and Yost see it, those qualities fit in perfectly on a struggling team trying to rebound from 11 consecutive losing seasons.

"I talked to people, baseball people or not, and everybody to a man loves Craig Counsell," Yost said. "He's the type of player that you want on your baseball team."

Counsell's wife, Michelle, also grew up in Whitefish Bay and the couple relocated from Arizona to Mequon in 2001. Now, unexpectedly, he has become a hometown player for a downtrodden organization that needs to generate all the goodwill it can muster.

Does he see that as an advantage personally?

"I don't know; the fans decide that," Counsell said. "I'm going to play the way I know to play. Hopefully, Milwaukee fans will like the way I play."