ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pat Murphy was rushed from the ballpark six years ago, stricken with a heart attack.
asserted
Murphy → rush → attack
“This ambulance driver was like, `Sir, can I have your next of kin?’” the Milwaukee Brewers manager recalled.
asserted
manager → have → kin
“I’m like, Bro, next of kin?
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I → ’m → kin
I’m not going anywhere.’”
asserted
I → go → ?
On Wednesday night he was leaving the ballpark a World Series champion.
asserted
he → leave → ballpark
Charming, cantankerous, inquisitive and endearing, this barrel-chested baseball lifer has rebounded from an NCAA scandal two decades ago and then his medical emergency, leading the Brewers to a five-game World Series win over the Tampa Bay Rays and their first title.
“It’s an iron-sharpens-iron mentality, and you’ve got to be able to take the punches when he gives them to you,” Milwaukee outfielder Garrett Mitchell said.
asserted
Mitchell → rebound → you
A month shy of his 68th birthday, Murphy could soon become the first person to win a Manager of the Year award in three straight seasons.
uncertain
Murphy → become → seasons
At times he sounds like a cranky grandfather, relishing his unhip demeanor.
asserted
he → sound → demeanor
“I’m not on social media, Twizzler or Instacart, whatever,” he quipped.
asserted
he → ’m → media
He’s been married three times and has four kids: daughter Keli (40), who is married to former major leaguer Pedro Alvarez; and sons Kai (26), a Padres minor league outfielder, Austin (11) and Jaxon (7).
asserted
who → marry → Alvarez
He encourages young players by showing confidence, but also can be stern — he pulled Cooper Pratt and William Contreras from games this year for not running hard.
“When it’s time to send some tough love, it looks like he’s pretty good at that, too,” Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said.
asserted
Attanasio → encourage → that
Murphy demands accountability from players and owner alike.
asserted
Murphy → demand → players
When he became Milwaukee’s bench coach in 2016, he instituted “The Check Game.”
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he → become → Game
A player, staffer and even Attanasio gets a check on a white board when saying anything displaying ego as opposed to selflessness.
asserted
player → get → ego
“When anybody draws attention to themselves,” Murphy said.
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Murphy → draw → themselves
“Mark Attanasio wears a big Brewers logo on his private plane, I’m like: `You want everybody to know you’re the Brewers’ owner?
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you → wear → plane
That’s a check.’
asserted
That → ’ → ?
It’s in good fun.”
asserted
It → ’ → fun
President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold is the two-time reigning champion.
asserted
Arnold → reign → Operations
“He’s the most humble man around, but I just like to give him a hard time,” Murphy said.
asserted
Murphy → ’ → time
Murphy is anything but buttoned up
The manager gathers his youngest children and their friends around him for postgame news conferences.
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manager → button → conferences
His answers to media questions this month have included digressions on the history of neckties, his two Bruce Springsteen tattoos and a FaceTime call with The Boss last week.
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answers → include → Boss
He refuses to shake hands with players during foul-line introductions, calling that tradition “happy horse manure.”
asserted
He → refuse → tradition
“I think it’s kind of cool that everybody pumps him on the chest going down the line rather than high-fiving,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
asserted
Cash → think → line
When a reporter addressed him as Mr. Murphy rather than Pat or Murph, he responded: “Now I feel like I’m back in Catholic school, substitute teaching.”
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I → address → school
Asked about Springsteen, a perturbed Murphy asked the media group: “Can he be fined for a stupid question?”
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he → ask → question
When a Brewers communications official turned down an interview with Chris Russo, Murphy overruled him as soon as he found out and immediately FaceTimed the sports-media personality.
asserted
he → turn → personality
A short career in pro ball got Murphy on a managing path
Murphy pitched 11 complete games and also caught and played infield and outfield at Florida Atlantic in 1981 and ‘82. He remembers being called for a balk at the University of Miami’s Mark Light Field, slamming the ball in frustration and it bouncing up and knocking off his cap.
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it → get → cap
Bypassed in the amateur draft, Murphy signed a minor league contract with San Francisco but had a shoulder injury and was released without playing in a game for the Giants.
asserted
Murphy → bypass → Giants
He went 1-5 with a 5.50 ERA in six starts and 22 relief appearances for San Diego’s Class-A Salem affiliate in 1983, played for Sydney in Australia the following year and finished with Tri-Cities in the independent Northwest League, going 6-5 over 24 games in 1985 and ‘86 — as a player-manager the final year.
asserted
He → go → manager
Murphy has two specialties: coaching and storytelling
Murphy started his coaching career at Division III Maryville in 1983, was a Florida Atlantic assistant for two seasons and became head coach at Division III Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in 1986-87.
asserted
Murphy → start → 1986
One late night during that time, he was driving in suburban Los Angeles when he saw someone in a sports car who had a breakdown.
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who → drive → breakdown
Turned out, it was longtime big leaguer Mike Scioscia.
asserted
it → turn → ?
“Guy’s got a suit on, heavyset guy.
asserted
Guy → get → suit
I said, `Hey, man, can I help you?” Murphy recalled.
asserted
Murphy → say → you
They drove in Murphy’s jeep to his office.
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They → drive → office
“I said, `What do you do?’
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you → say → What
He goes, `I work for the Dodgers.’
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I → go → Dodgers
I go, `Oh, what do you do?’
asserted
you → go → what
He goes, `I catch.’
asserted
I → go → ?
…and 23 more, not listed.
The Aporia
