There are good managers in baseball, and then there are managers who seem to bring out something extra in the people around them. Pat Murphy is making a pretty convincing case that he belongs in that second group.

The Milwaukee Brewers manager has just won his third consecutive National League Manager of the Year award. That’s impressive enough. But consider what came with it this time: a franchise-record 103 regular-season wins, an 11-2 postseason run, and Milwaukee’s first World Series championship.

Not a bad year at the office. Murphy even accepted the award from a hospital bed while recovering from hip replacement surgery. Apparently, even a new hip wasn’t going to keep him from enjoying the moment.

So What Makes Murphy So Good at Managing?

I suspect part of the answer is that he understands managing isn’t simply about putting players in the right positions and making decisions during a game. It’s about getting a group of people to believe they can accomplish something together.

Murphy talked about the Brewers’ resilience and how they responded to adversity during their championship run. He also pointed to something else: the players remained hungry. That last part is worth considering.

Winning 103 games can make a team a little too comfortable. Players can start believing they’ve already figured everything out. Keeping that competitive edge, especially when expectations rise, isn’t easy. Murphy apparently found a way to keep his group focused on the next challenge rather than admiring what they’d already accomplished.

Sometimes the Best Managers Know When to Step Back

That’s one of the things I appreciate about good managers. They don’t necessarily have to be the centre of attention. They have to understand their players, know when to push, when to encourage, and when to let the group take responsibility for its own success.

And there’s something else. Three consecutive Manager of the Year awards suggest this isn’t a one-season accomplishment. Murphy has built something that keeps working.

There are plenty of people who deserve congratulations in Milwaukee, from the players to the front office and coaching staff. But Murphy deserves a special moment here. Three straight awards, a World Series title, and a remarkable season with a group that kept believing in itself.

That’s quite a combination. Congratulations, Pat. Enjoy the new hip, and enjoy this one. You’ve earned it.

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