By Eric Katz
After blowing a save against the Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Megill was
booed off the field. Megill’s blown save led to a 9-7 loss in extra innings and overall, the
Brewers’ sixth straight defeat. At the postgame press conference, Manager Pat Murphy
criticized Brewers fans for booing Trevor Megill. However, Murphy was wrong about doing this;
given Megill’s recent struggles, the fans had every right to boo him.
Early in the season, the Milwaukee Brewers got off to an 8-2 start with series victories over the
White Sox, Rays, and Royals. However, since that hot start, the Brewers have gone cold.
They’ve dropped their last two series, including being swept at home by the Washington
Nationals. In the series opener against Toronto, Milwaukee entered the ninth inning leading 4-3
with a chance to end what was then a five-game losing streak. However, closer Trevor Megill
blew the save and allowed three earned runs, giving the Blue Jays a 6-4 lead. After getting the
last out of the inning, Megill was uncharacteristically jeered by Brewers fans coming off the
field. The Brewers would eventually lose the game 9-7 in extra innings, their sixth straight
defeat.
At the postgame press conference after the game, Brewers Manager Pat Murphy criticized the
fans for booing Trevor Megill. He even went as far as to note that the 32-year-old saved 30
games last season and was an All-Star. While it’s admirable that Murphy stood up for his closer,
he couldn’t have been more wrong to attack the fans.
While it’s mostly uncommon for Brewers fans to boo their own team, they have every right to
do it. This team has now lost six straight games. It certainly hasn’t helped that key players like
Andrew Vaughn, Quinn Priester, Jackson Chourio, Jared Koening, and Christian Yelich are
injured. Their 8-2 start to the season is currently looking more like a mirage. Meanwhile, Trevor
Megill has been struggling badly. The 32-year-old is currently 0-2 with a 14.40 ERA, five
strikeouts, and a WHIP of 2.400. Statistics like that from a former All-Star closer make nobody
feel good about the end of a game.
While it’s only April, Brewers fans are frustrated. Their expectations are high! Last season, this
team won a franchise record 97 games, its third straight NL Central division title, and advanced
to the NLCS for the first time since 2018. Lately, this team hasn’t been meeting those
expectations, especially Trevor Megill. A six-game losing streak has only exasperated their
frustration.
When you buy a product and aren’t happy with it, you’re going to make it known too the
company you got it from and perhaps your friends and family. I’m sure Pat Murphy does this in
his personal life. While the fans aren’t the players’ bosses, the money that they give to the
team does help pay their salaries. By attending the Brewers vs Blue Jays game, fans are paying
for the product. Given that the average person can’t reach GM Matt Arnold directly, the best
way for fans to express their dissatisfaction is to loudly boo at the game.
Milwaukee Brewers Manager Pat Murphy is in no position to be criticizing the fans right now.
Murphy’s team is currently on a six-game losing streak and his closer, Trevor Megill is struggling
badly. Fans are currently very frustrated. Their frustration was further exacerbated, thanks in
part to Megill blowing the save, eventually leading to yet another loss. If Pat Murphy doesn’t
want fans to boo Trevor Megill, then maybe he ought to pitch better and close out games.
