Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy has taken his team’s “underdog” narrative to an unprecedented level, famously quipping that most Los Angeles Dodgers players couldn’t name eight guys on the Brewers roster, despite Milwaukee boasting the best record in baseball and sweeping the Dodgers in the 2025 regular season series. This bold strategic move, which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts dismisses as a “Lou Holtz vein” act, underscores a fascinating clash of styles and philosophies as the two National League powerhouses face off in the National League Championship Series.
The 2025 Major League Baseball season saw the Milwaukee Brewers achieve something remarkable. They finished with the best record in baseball at 97-65, secured home-field advantage throughout the postseason, and boasted the best run differential in the league at +172. Their regular season dominance included an emphatic 6-0 sweep against their National League Championship Series opponent, the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Yet, as Game 1 of the NLCS approached, Brewers manager Pat Murphy adopted an almost bewilderingly humble posture, declaring his team a collection of “average joes” and “misfit toys.”
The “Average Joes” Narrative: A Strategic Masterstroke or Insufferable Act?
Murphy’s most pointed comment came during his pregame press conference for NLCS Game 1, stating, “I’m sure that most Dodger players can’t name eight guys on our roster.” He further elaborated to the New York Post that he didn’t believe many Brewers players would make the Dodgers roster, emphasizing an underdog mentality even for the team with the best record in MLB. This framing is reminiscent of the “Lou Holtz vein,” a coaching philosophy that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who noted Murphy’s coaching tenure at Notre Dame alongside Holtz, was quick to recognize.
“That’s just kind of how Murph is,” Roberts said, acknowledging the strategic mind behind the comments. “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.” Game 1 starter Blake Snell echoed Roberts’ sentiment, flatly stating, “I’m not falling for the ‘average joes,’ They’re not. They have the best record in the NL. They’re a really good team.”
Beyond the Hype: The Brewers’ Undeniable Talent
While Murphy champions an “average joes” narrative, a closer look at the Brewers’ roster reveals it’s far from anonymous. The idea that Dodgers players couldn’t name eight Brewers is, as some critics argue, profoundly false. Milwaukee’s lineup features a mix of established stars, high-profile prospects, and underrated talents who have achieved significant accolades:
- Jackson Chourio: A consensus top-5 prospect in baseball before his 2024 debut, representing a high-profile international signing.
- Christian Yelich: The 2018 National League MVP.
- William Contreras: A two-time All-Star (2022, 2024) who posted an impressive 11.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) across 2023-2024.
- Brice Turang: A first-round draft pick from Southern California, he won both the Gold Glove and Platinum Glove in 2024, showcasing exceptional defensive prowess and a 4.4 WAR season with 24% better than league average offensively.
- Jacob Misiorowski: The 63rd overall pick in the draft, named the 21st best prospect in baseball by Baseball America in 2025, known for his 104 mph fastball.
- Freddy Peralta: A two-time All-Star pitcher.
- Andrew Vaughn: The third overall pick in the 2019 draft, who signed for a $7.2 million bonus and was once ranked the #4 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
- Sal Frelick: A first-round draft pick (#15 overall), ranked the 17th best prospect in baseball in 2023 by MLB Pipeline.
These are not obscure players. Many of them are former top prospects or have achieved All-Star status, making Murphy’s “humble midwestern farmers” act a strategic fabrication designed to motivate his team and potentially lull the opposition into a false sense of security.
The Financial Underpinning of the Underdog Story
The stark financial disparity between the two franchises adds another layer of intrigue to Murphy’s narrative. The Dodgers are poised to spend a record $509.5 million in payroll and projected luxury tax in 2025, a testament to their willingness to invest heavily in elite talent. In contrast, the Brewers, operating in one of MLB’s smallest markets, spent an estimated 40% of their revenue on payroll, significantly lower than the Dodgers’ estimated 73% share. This financial reality, as highlighted by AP News, provides a genuine “underdog” angle that Murphy leverages, even if his roster’s individual talent doesn’t quite fit the “average joe” label.
Fan Community Divide: Clever Motivation or Calculated Insufferability?
The fan community remains divided on Murphy’s approach. Some appreciate the tactical mind game, seeing it as a way to unite his team and put pressure on the heavily favored Dodgers, who are the defending World Series champions and have made the NLCS seven times since 2016. Others, particularly those outside the Brewers’ fervent fanbase, find the act “insufferable,” especially given the Brewers’ stellar regular season performance and roster talent. The perception of crying poor while achieving baseball’s best record can rub many the wrong way.
Murphy himself injects humor into the situation, as evidenced by his anecdote about Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts getting a ride from a Brewers clubbie while Murphy, despite 10 years, hadn’t. This self-deprecating humor further solidifies his persona as the quirky manager leading a team against the Goliaths of the league, adding to the psychological warfare before a crucial postseason series. Whether it’s genuine belief or pure strategy, Pat Murphy’s “average joes” narrative has certainly captured the imagination of the baseball world as the National League Championship Series unfolds.
