Craig Counsell, the winningest manager in franchise history, had bolted for the rival Chicago Cubs, leaving Murphy, at 64 years old and a full-time manager in the majors for the first time, tasked with moving the Brewers forward. And move them forward he did.

Pat Murphy is reluctant to concede the point, but the manager deserves some credit after a team defies expectations the way his Brewers did in 2024. The young club said "No thanks" to a rebuilding year,