Craig Counsell left Milwaukee and the Brewers still dominated the division

The Brewers are rarely viewed as the preseason favorite or a cutting-edge franchise. Yet this small-market team keeps frustrating the Cubs and outperforming expectations. How does this keep happening? Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic examine the distance between Milwaukee and Chicago, how the Cubs can close the gap, and why the Brewers will be their problem for a long time coming.
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[@stevedrake604]

It's about developing pitching. The Cubs have had better batting lineups for most of this multi-year Brewers run (except maybe 2018). The Brewers have always been deep in pitching talent - especially bullpen guys. And, they've generally been better defensively and on the bases.

[@tylerlinzmeier3258]

The Brewers essentially play with 3 center fielders and 3 shortstops every game so they are really athletic and the defense has been really good. They killed it in trades for Adames, Yelich, and Contrares, Burnes deal got them 5 years of control of Ortiz and Hall. Brewers find above average guys that have been Dfa'd- Myers, Koenig and others. And developed some- Chourio, Turang, Peralta and more so they find talent all over pretty well. The pitching lab has been ridiculous, and pitching coach Chris Hook is the best in the business imo.

[@tylerlinzmeier3258]

And the most important thing that can't be measured in any stat category is the clubhouse culture. The team rallies around Adames the most, he has been the clubhouse MVP and on the field. He's going to be a huge loss next year. Murphy has these guys cooking, and the Cubs play like the boring and lame manager that they have, seen it all to many times from Counsel, he has no fire.

[@kmaloy2278]

Their Goal should always try winning the World Series Period!!!! Not just make the playoffs or win the division

[@stevenjohannes5351]

Have to actually make the playoffs to start saying that.

[@flatusexpellus1779]

Sahadev, the 2014 and 2015 Royals would like to have a word w you and Jed about a stout bullpen...

[@flatusexpellus1779]

And ask some other GM's if they would rather have Freeman or Devers or Happ.... alot of those stats don't tell the whole story...