As he approaches the anniversary of being named manager of the Brewers, Craig Counsell found the perfect word to describe his first year in office.
"It has been eventful," he said.
Indeed.
Managing the Brewers was the last thing on Counsell's mind on Thursday, April 30, 2015. On assignment as special assistant to general manager Doug Melvin, he was in Pensacola, Fla., monitoring the organization's Class AA Biloxi squad when his cellphone rang.
Counsell looked down and immediately recognized the phone number. It was Melvin.
"It was a life-changing phone call," said Counsell.
The Brewers had staggered to an awful 5-17 start.