Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy did not sound interested in letting a missed interview turn into a headline war. Once he found out the team had turned down a request from Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, Murphy handled it himself - and the whole thing ended with a FaceTime call and a laugh.
“I’m not on social media, Twizzler, or Instacart, whatever.” 😭
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) October 22, 2026
Pat Murphy tells the hilarious story behind his FaceTime with Chris Russo. pic.twitter.com/OiVidvE07i
Russo had recently gone public with his frustration after the Brewers reportedly told his producer that Murphy was too busy to talk ahead of the World Series. The veteran broadcaster made it clear he wasn’t pleased and questioned how Milwaukee couldn’t make time for him after so many years in the business.
Murphy, though, didn’t even know the noise was building at first.
“I get blasted on my phone. I am not on social media, Twizzler, or Instacart, whatever,” Murphy said as the media laughed.
“But sure enough, I get texts, ‘Great job, Russo is a jerk.’ I am like, ‘What are they talking about?’”
Once he caught up, Murphy decided the simplest fix was the best one.
“I got to Mike, I am like, ‘I don't want to tell that guy no,’ So we called him and did the show right then. We FaceTimed,” Murphy explained.
It was a very Murphy way to handle it - light, direct, and aimed at keeping things from becoming a bigger deal than they needed to be. There was no sign of any real problem between the Brewers skipper and Russo, just a scheduling hiccup that turned into a funny story.
Now Milwaukee moves on to baseball. The Brewers open the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, with former Brewers pitcher Drew Rasmussen set to face Jacob Misiorowski, who is the leading contender for the National League Cy Young Award.
In Other News...
Brewers World Series Run May Hinge On One Massive October Question
The Brewers have spent the run to their first World Series leaning on the same formula that carried them through the summer: steady pitching, enough offense in key spots, and a roster that has found ways to keep games in range. The spotlight has naturally fallen on the familiar names, from Christian Yelich to the top end of the rotation, because in a series like this the margin for error shrinks fast and every inning starts to matter a little more.
What makes this matchup so intriguing is how much of Milwaukees fate still comes back to the middle of games, where the pressure gets highest and the bullpen is forced into bigger roles. Freddy Peralta is also positioned to turn October into more than just a team story, with a chance to add another layer to an already massive postseason and strengthen his case heading into the winter, but the bigger question for the Brewers is whether their staff can finally settle into a deeper rhythm when the games get tightest. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers World Series Run Could Hinge On Some Unexpected Names
A first World Series in 44 years tends to bring the usual spotlight to the biggest names, but Milwaukees path against Tampa Bay may also depend on a couple of less obvious ones. The Brewers will need all the lineup balance and pitching depth they can get against a Rays club that has reached the same stage without ever winning it all, and the margins figure to be tight in a series built on matchup edges and timely swings.
Among the more intriguing possibilities is Sal Frelick, whose bat could become a sneaky source of power at exactly the right moment. On the other side, Yandy Daz has long been a tricky matchup for Milwaukee, even if the overall numbers against the Brewers havent been loud, and his ability to do damage in key spots could shape how much room Tampa Bay has to work with throughout the series. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Face A Huge Catcher Decision Fans Wont Ignore
With the Yankees looking for help behind the plate this offseason, one Brewers name is already surfacing in trade chatter. Bleacher Reports Zach Buckley speculated that Milwaukee could listen on a catcher upgrade chip, and the profile fits a player with plenty of value around the league.
William Contreras is the obvious draw there. A three-time All-Star and one of the better offensive catchers in the game, he would give New York a very different look from Austin Wells, whose defense has stood out more than his bat. For Milwaukee, the question is whether a player that productive becomes too tempting to move, even if the return would have to be substantial. [Read more 🡒]
