Brewers manager Craig Counsell tries once again to explain how he uses reliever Josh Hader

WASHINGTON – Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell, who has tried many times this season to explain the way he uses reliever Josh Hader, tried one more time Sunday.

Nearly every time the bullpen blows a late lead, and Hader is not used, Counsell hears criticism. Hader has been a dominant, all-star reliever this season, but Counsell emphasized that doesn’t mean he is available every night.

“Every arm is different; every player is different,” Counsell said. “Everybody recovers different. I think the questions about Josh are because he’s used in a non-traditional way. I think that’s what’s got everybody freaked out. We’ve tried to find a way to take Josh’s talents and make him as good as he can be, and as effective as he can be. I think that has gone pretty well; I do.”

Counsell has used Hader often to cover multiple innings, because he feels the team is best-served that way. Accordingly, he often needs a couple of days rest after pitching, which makes him unavailable at times in close, late-inning situations.

That was the case Saturday night, when Joakim Soria, Dan Jennings and Jordan Lyles combined to surrender four runs in the eighth inning, allowing Washington to make off with a 5-4 victory. Jennings, not Hader, faced left-handed-hitting Juan Soto with the bases loaded, and Soto stroked a two-run single up the middle to put the Nationals on top.

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Hader has appeared only 45 times, but because of the way he is used, has pitched 67 innings, fourth-most among National League relievers. Counsell said trying to squeeze more work out of him would be detrimental to both Hader and the team.

“I think we’ve been able to get a lot of innings out of him,” Counsell said. “Innings are outs. He has pitched in really big situations for us all year. It’s just different from what is traditional. We’ve done that because, one, we thought we could actually get more innings out of him, by how the games sequenced.

“I do think we are getting a big number of innings from him. He’s at the top of the league in innings pitched for relievers. The other thing is this is the best way to utilize him; this is the best way for him to be successful. Josh is going to be best when we apply his talents and how his arm works, and how his arm recovers the best way. This is what we think is the best way for Josh. Pitch more, have rest, pitch more, have rest. That’s the way he’s most effective.

“This is getting a little maddening. I’m really done explaining it. I don’t know how much more I can explain it. I’ve explained it numerous times. He can’t pitch every day. He can’t drive the bus. He can’t serve the food in the room. He can’t do it all. He can’t. I know we want him to do it all but he’s not going to do it all.

“I have to take care of him. We have to take care of him and make sure he’s healthy when he’s out there. Make sure he can make it for the next 25 games, make sure he can make it through October. He can’t pitch every day.”

Counsell’s comments made it evident that Hader, a former starter, needs more time to recover than some veteran relievers, such as Jeremy Jeffress, Soria and Jennings. Jeffress has pitched 63 times, covering 66 innings; Jennings has pitched 66 times, covering 61 2/3 innings; and Soria pitched four of the previous five days and was unavailable Sunday.

“They are used differently, there’s no question,” Counsell said. “Part of that is because of how their arm works and how their arms recover. That’s certainly part of it. Part of it is their skills, and what they’re good at, and how we want to use them. Not every guy is the same. We’re going to try to put the guys in the best positions for them to succeed, and for them to help us to win.

“You want to push (Hader) over the line so he’s not doing OK? We have to draw the line. He’s fourth in the league in innings pitched for relievers. He’s pitching a lot. So, let’s  understand he can’t serve the food, he can’t drive the bus, he can’t fly the plane. There are limitations.”

Knebel rejoins club: Counsell got another experienced bullpen arm when former closer Corey Knebel rejoined the club. Knebel was sent to Class AAA Colorado Springs to work on command issues but mostly did bullpen sessions with Brewers coaches Derek Johnson and Lee Tunnell, followed by one scoreless inning with the Sky Sox.

“I got some time off to clear the head and get ready to go,” said Knebel, who pitched the ninth inning to finish the Brewers' 9-4 victory over Washington. “I wasn’t trying to ‘work on’ anything, just get in there and be yourself. Do what I’ve always done. That was it – throw strikes.

“Hopefully I’ll be right, get back and get going. Get this September baseball going. I’m going to go in there and keep going my job. Do whatever I have to do to help the team win. That’s it.”

Counsell, whose bullpen has been taxed on this trip, said game situations and availability of others would determine how Knebel is moved back into action.

“We’ve given ourselves 10 days. So, there’s not going to be a major overhaul in 10 days,” Counsell said. “I think the break is the more beneficial part of this. There is probably something very little there and will get ironed out as he’s doing it, at this point in the season.”