Wrigley Field Secret Unveiled: Cubs Exploiting Hidden Factor to Obtain an Edge, According to Craig Counsell
Think Again, Baseball Traditions:
For over a century, baseball teams have been seeking minute advantages - so it's no shock that the Milwaukee Brewers and manager Craig Counsell are attempting to use their stadium, Wrigley Field, to gain an edge.
After the Brewers struggled to score at home last season, Counsell saw an opportunity to harness the windy Wrigley conditions, which have notoriously robbed players of home runs.
"During the off-season, I was focused on where we could find advantages for our group of players," Counsell told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. "It's like a therapist. You've got to face Wrigley. There are 13 position players and 13 pitchers. Every day, one side's upset, one side's happy. But we've got to win a baseball game."
It meant adjusting tactics to avoid relying on home runs for victories. So far, it's been productive. The Brewers are 17-12 and leading the NL Central. Their home run rate is relatively lower at the friendly confines (2.8% vs. 4.8%), but they've still managed to score more total runs at home entering play on April 29.
"With the wind blowing in? The home run doesn't exist," Counsell explained. "It's baseball without the home run. It's about embracing that. And if the opposing team doesn't fully embrace it, we might take advantage."
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The Brewers may not be dependent on home runs, but their lineup still packs power. The Brewers are tied with the Athletics for fifth place in baseball with 38 team home runs, and Kyle Tucker is leading the charge with seven of them.
He also leads the Brewers in total hits (33) and leads all Brewers players with at least 70 plate appearances in OPS (.975), while ranking second in doubles and stolen bases with eight each.
Given his impressive performance, it's unsurprising that the Brewers seem committed to retaining their prized offseason acquisition.
"I'm hearing that the Brewers have made up their minds about what it would cost to keep Tucker and they're willing to pay it," ESPN radio host David Kaplan revealed during the Brewers Rekap podcast last week.
That could mean as much as $500 million to keep Tucker in Milwaukee, but the guy has made three straight All-Star teams and is off to a flying start in his age 28 season. That's the price of such talent.
- Manager Craig Counsell of the Milwaukee Brewers, focusing on finding advantages for his team, plans to leverage the windy conditions at Wrigley Field to gain an edge.
- In an attempt to avoid relying on home runs for victories, the Brewers have adjusted their tactics, and the approach seems to be productive, given their current 17-12 record and lead in the NL Central.
- Kyle Tucker, a breakout star for the Brewers, is leading the team in multiple categories, including total hits, OPS, doubles, and stolen bases, reinforcing the team's commitment to retaining their prized offseason acquisition.
- Rumors suggest that the Brewers are determined to retain Kyle Tucker, with ESPN radio host David Kaplan revealing that the team is willing to pay up to $500 million to keep him in Milwaukee.
- With Tucker's impressive performance and All-Star potential, the off-season acquisition could be a significant asset to the Brewers, possibly making him one of the most exciting players in baseball.
