Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy made an important point about effort during Thursday’s 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Murphy removed All-Star catcher William Contreras from the game after he failed to run hard on a ground ball to shortstop Trea Turner. Turner initially bobbled the ball but still had enough time to recover and throw Contreras out.
Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the decision on X, with Murphy confirming after the game that Contreras was removed because of the lack of hustle.
Contreras finished the game 0-for-2 with a walk before being replaced by Jackson Chourio, who pinch-hit in his spot. The decision came during a milestone night for Milwaukee, which reached 100 wins for the first time in franchise history with the victory.
The Brewers had already secured the NL Central and a first-round bye, but Murphy still chose to hold one of his most important players accountable.
Contreras has been a major part of Milwaukee’s success this season. He entered Friday batting .271 with a .341 on-base percentage, a .419 slugging percentage, 18 home runs and 93 RBIs across 145 games.
His workload has also been substantial behind the plate, making his presence important as the Brewers prepare for the NLDS. However, Thursday’s decision showed that his standing in the lineup does not exempt him from the manager’s expectations.
James A. Pittman-Imagn Images
For Milwaukee, the incident was brief but noticeable during a historic victory. The Brewers will now use the final regular-season games to prepare for October, while Contreras is expected to remain an important part of the team’s postseason plans.
Murphy’s decision ensured that even with the division already secured, the Brewers would not simply coast through the finish line.
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