Craig Counsell's majestic call for the Raptor (or the Tesla), Brent Suter, proved to be the right one. And now it's a meme.

JR Radcliffe and Curt Hogg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·3 min read
13
Reliever Brent Suter pitched two strong innings Monday night, allowing two hits and a walk but no runs, after being summoned in raptor-like fashion by Brewers manager Craig Counsell.
Reliever Brent Suter pitched two strong innings Monday night, allowing two hits and a walk but no runs, after being summoned in raptor-like fashion by Brewers manager Craig Counsell.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell was caught on camera signaling for Brent Suter in majestic fashion during a lighthearted moment in Monday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field.

Suter, who has long gone by the nickname "The Raptor," appeared confused as to which player Counsell wanted warming in the bullpen. With the bullpen phone not operating and gesturing from the dugout, Counsell stretched out his arms in what was initially interpreted as a raptor gesture to confirm Suter was his guy.

Suter, the 6-foot-5 left-hander who developed the nickname thanks to his humorous gait, delivered a strong two innings, allowing two hits and a walk but no runs, and the Brewers came back to win on a walk-off home run, 7-5.

But it turns out Counsell was making a motion alluding to a different one of Suter's nicknames.

"He's actually doing Tesla doors," said Suter, who drives a Tesla that has doors that open from the top to form a 'T' shape.

More: Brewers pitcher Brent Suter will debut his children's book in early June

More: Brent Suter's logic-defying fastball is one of the slowest in baseball. It's also one of the best.

More: Clash at Coors Field: Milwaukee 'Raptor' takes on a purple triceratops

It also could have been interpreted as Counsell mimicking a vulture, another one of Suter's nicknames due to his proclivity to come into games when the Brewers are trailing and "vulture" a win when they come back. Suter isn't keen on the name but even Corbin Burnes was referencing it after the win.

"I think Counsell has now gotten to the point of, hey, if we're down a few runs and need a win, you put Suter in the game because he's going to vulture about every win he can," he joked.

Suter's wife, Erin, sent him the photo after the game and you better believe it's going to make its rounds in the Brewers clubhouse.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brent Suter reenacts the signal manager Craig Counsell gave for him to warm up with the bullpen phone down.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brent Suter reenacts the signal manager Craig Counsell gave for him to warm up with the bullpen phone down.

“It might be the background image for my phone," Suter said. "It definitely could be interpreted as vulture. The phone broke and we were wondering is it me, Hoby (Milner) or maybe even (Taylor) Rogers. But I figured it was me. I was ready to go. I’m going to cherish that image forever.”

Has Counsell just entered the meme-verse?

JR Radcliffe can be reached at (262) 361-9141 or jradcliffe@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JRRadcliffe.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers manager Craig Counsell's call for Brent Suter a meme