Counsell leads Cubs into NLDS against the Brewers, his former team, and Murphy, his old bench coach

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Craig Counsell has seen the Milwaukee Brewers-Chicago Cubs rivalry from just about every perspective.

He grew up in the Milwaukee area as the son of former Brewers director of community affairs John Counsell. He played for the Brewers and later became the team’s winningest manager before the Cubs lured him to Chicago.

So he understands particularly well the atmosphere to expect Saturday when the Brewers and Cubs open a best-of-5 NL Division Series.

“These are two cities that are close together, very close,” Counsell said. “I think each city’s residents have thoughts about each other’s residents — harmless, obviously. But yeah, so the proximity of the cities makes it fun, no doubt about it, and the proximity makes rivalries, too. And teams being good makes rivalries.”