Brewers manager Pat Murphy jokes that most Dodgers players `can’t name 8 guys’ on Milwaukee roster
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$1 per week for 24 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy keeps finding new ways to play up his team’s underdog status for its National League Championship Series matchup with the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I’m sure that most Dodger players can’t name eight guys on our roster,” Murphy quipped during his pregame press conference Monday. “No offense to them, they shouldn’t have to know the names, but these are some guys that hopefully they know their names by the time it’s over.”
Murphy, who has referred to his team as “Average Joes,” is going where many other coaches or managers have gone before in playing up the strengths of an opponent while downplaying his own team’s chances.
This matchup gives Murphy plenty of opportunities to do that.
The Dodgers are poised this year to spend a record $509.5 million in payroll and projected luxury tax. The Brewers play in the smallest market in the major leagues, though they won all six regular-season meetings with the Dodgers while posting the best record in baseball.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts understands Murphy’s motivation for making such comments and noted Sunday that “anything Murph speaks to, in the Lou Holtz vein, we’re not buying, because that’s a very good ballclub.”
Murphy coached Notre Dame’s baseball team from 1988-94, at the same time Holtz was coaching the school’s football program and regularly marveling at the perceived strengths of any opponent in his own press conferences.
Roberts addressed that again Monday when he was asked about Murphy’s comments and the public perception of the two teams.
“That’s just kind of how Murph is,” Roberts said. “He tries to get into the psyche, and he’s telling his team the opposite, right, in the clubhouse, behind closed doors. So we know the act. He’s going to have his guys prepared.
“But no, we’re prepared. We’re playing good baseball, and we expect the same out of those guys. And all the talk isn’t going to really factor in once the game starts.”
In the meantime, Murphy will keep on highlighting the difference in star power between the teams.
“One of our clubbies last night … gave (Dodgers shortstop) Mookie (Betts) a ride,” Murphy said. “It was a pretty long ride all the way out to the cars. Passed me right by like I wasn’t even there. I’m like, ‘Hey, 10 years, I’ve never gotten a ride.’”
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB