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Today’s lesson: Any good burger promotion involves at least a little beef.

Plus: We’re talking about expansion (and realignment) again, the Blue Jays and Pirates got messy in Pittsburgh, and Ken has a Q&A with Cardinals manager Oli Marmol. I’m Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal — welcome to The Windup!

Fact Check: Craig Counsell and the hamburger receipts

Things are bad enough on the North Side of Chicago right now. Kyle Tucker has been benched for a mental reset, Andrew Vaughn is hitting like the second coming of Prince Fielder for the Brewers and the Cubs trail Milwaukee by nine games.

And now, manager Craig Counsell has to throw shade, only to have it bounce off the impenetrable shield of the internet and land right back in his own lap.

Remember Stephen Nesbitt’s story about the free hamburgers? George Webb, a regional burger joint, has a long-standing promotion: Brewers win 12 games in a row? Free hamburgers for everyone.

According to this story by Emmett Prosser of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Counsell — who grew up in  Whitefish Bay, Wis., played for the Brewers from 2007-2011 and managed them from 2015-2023 — was a bit icy about the promo.

“(D)espite growing up in the Milwaukee area, Counsell apparently wasn’t in line for burgers at George Webb in 1987. And he apparently didn’t notice anybody going in to get a voucher for a slider when his team won 12 straight games in September and October of 2018.

“‘Honestly, I’ve never seen a George Webb,’ Counsell said, saying he preferred Kopps.”

One problem. The internet exists.

From Adam McCalvy’s story in 2018:

“‘Who knew that we would make it this far,’ Brewers manager Craig Counsell said, ‘and the biggest piece of stress going into this game would be George Webb’s hamburgers?’

Counsell knows the promotion well. His dad worked in the Brewers’ front office during the 1980s, and Counsell was in the stands for the Brewers’ famous Easter Sunday comeback in ’87, which gave them 12 straight victories to begin the season, and sealed free hamburgers for the (populace).

“‘I remember the concept of free hamburgers going back so long, it’s hard to believe that it’s never happened since then,’ Counsell said. ‘I guess it’s a pretty good streak. But it’s something for everybody to talk about for sure, and I mean, free hamburgers is free hamburgers. I know you all will be there.’”

Craig. Buddy. 🤦

Ken’s Notebook: Q&A with Cards’ Marmol on his job status 

Perhaps no manager began the season in as uncomfortable a position as St. Louis’ Oli Marmol.

The Cardinals were in transition. On the field, they were taking a step back competitively to evaluate young players. Off the field, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak was in his last season before being replaced by Chaim Bloom.

Marmol, hired by Mozeliak in October 2021, is under contract through 2026, but hardly appeared secure. Not with the Cardinals missing the playoffs the past two seasons. Not with Bloom potentially wanting to hire his own manager. And not with two Cardinals legends, potential Hall of Famers Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, being rather open about their desires to manage.

Yet Marmol, who remains baseball’s youngest manager at 39, seems to have only solidified his standing.

In an interview Friday at Busch Stadium, Marmol spoke candidly on a variety of topics, from his job security to his relationship with Pujols and Molina to his efforts to improve his communication with his current players.

How do you view your status?
I know people say this. And it sounds cliched. That’s why I have a hard time even articulating it.

Dude, I don’t worry about it. I never have. And I hope I never do. I’m 39. I’ve been managing for four years. I have everything I need. I don’t ever worry about my status. I know what I’m good at. I know what I’m not good at. And I’m comfortable with it.

I didn’t go into this with a goal of, “Man, I want to manage by this age.” I’ve always just had my head down, brought value to the people I’m around, love all the people I’m around. And things tend to work out. I know it sounds cliched, but I don’t care. I don’t. When people talk about, oh, the hot seat, I (don’t) give two sh–s. I really mean that. And people who are around me enough come to realize that’s as genuine as I can put it.

Read the rest of the Q&A here.

Maps: Manfred mentions expansion … again

It feels a little reactive to mention it every time the commissioner uses the word “expansion” — he’s been saying it for a while now. But the caveat has been consistent: Once the A’s and Rays get their stadium situations sorted, then we can focus on adding two more teams and realigning the divisions.

Those aren’t exactly “sorted” yet, but the A’s seem to be on a path to a new stadium in Las Vegas, and the Rays are expected to be officially sold by next month — with a plan to keep the team in Tampa with a new stadium, after a hurricane destroyed Tropicana Field’s roof.

We’re close enough that Manfred spoke again on the topic Sunday night as part of ESPN’s broadcast of the Little League Classic in Williamsburg, Pa.

Today, Stephen Nesbitt takes a shot at arranging the least-disruptive realignment plan. Here’s a sneak peek:

The plan allows for a little wiggle room on the expansion teams: Salt Lake or Portland works for the AL, while Nashville or Raleigh would fit in equally as well with the NL proposal.

More MLB business: The league is, in Manfred’s words, “thriving,” bringing in $12 billion in revenue last year. So why are MLB employees’ health care costs jumping by around nine percent?

Storylines: Blue Jays-Pirates gets heated

The Blue Jays entered yesterday with a 5 1/2-game lead in the AL East and a chance to increase it, with series against the Pirates, Marlins and Twins all in a row. But that stretch began with a “messy” 5-2 loss in Pittsburgh last night that featured a few interesting storylines.

Paul Skenes emerged with the (slightly) better night in the battle of LSU alumni who were first-round picks. Skenes went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out eight. Kevin Gausman also allowed just two runs on five hits, but did so over five innings, striking out four before the Pirates tacked on three runs later on.
In the seventh inning, Tommy Pham took a walk, flipped his bat at home plate and got a few steps up the first base line before turning around, taking offense at something Jays catcher Tyler Heineman said. Heineman appeared to be saying, “I’m not talking to you.” After the game, Pham — never one to mince words — had thoughts on Heineman and (bizarrely) Addison Barger. Jays manager John Schneider had thoughts as well.
More concerning: After doing the splits to make a play earlier in the game, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was pinch hit for. The team later announced that he had been removed with left hamstring tightness. We’ll keep you posted on further developments.
Handshakes and High Fives

An update on the blood clot in Zack Wheeler’s shoulder: The Phillies pitcher underwent a thrombolysis procedure to remove the clot, and a timeline for return is still unknown. Matt Gelb tells us how the Phillies overcame the loss of their ace in last night’s 12-7 win over the Mariners.

In this week’s power rankings, we take a look at each team’s most significant rookie performance this year.

In a matchup with AL Cy Young implications, Houston’s Hunter Brown — a Michigan native — will face off with Tarik Skubal tonight in Detroit.

On the pods: On “The Roundtable,” the crew discusses the hyper-relevance of the Dodgers, while “Rates & Barrels” dives into prospect promotions and injury pileups.

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(Photo: Benny Sieu / Imagn Images)