The Chicago Cubs signing manager Craig Counsell out from underneath the Milwaukee Brewers back in November, 2023 was the shocker of that offseason.
Ask any Brewers fan and they’ll probably tell you just how much of a shocker– and they might use some colorful language in doing so. As a matter of fact, Counsell was just voted “Wisconsin Sports Villain of 2024” by fans in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel poll.
Craig Counsell, Manager of the Year?
That uproar will be greater if Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com is right and Counsell takes home the 2025 NL Manager of the Year– a feat he never managed to achieve in Milwaukee, despite leading the Brewers to five postseason appearances and becoming the winningest manager in franchise history.
Per Castrovince:
“In an NL packed with powerhouses, upsetting the apple cart isn’t easy. But the Central always seems ripe for significant shifts, and a Cubs team that severely disappointed in 2024 could be ripe to rise…
So a Central championship would probably get it done for Counsell, who came to the North Side on an industry-shaking contract and, late in his first season with the Cubs, strongly advocated for the front office to raise the floor. And here’s the biggest key to the whole story-driven enterprise that the Manager of the Year has become: Counsell has never been Manager of the Year! It’s one of those weird quirks of the BBWAA’s quirkiest award. Counsell has finished second four times — a managerial Susan Lucci (look her up, kids).”
Chicago Cubs Had Turned Things Around
One could argue that Counsell will find himself in an ideal spot to compete for that prize headed into 2025.
In 2024, his first year with the team, the Cubs underperformed and disappointed in many aspects. Despite finishing with a winning record of 83-79, they came in third place in the NL Central– 10 games behind the Brewers and slotted just behind the St. Louis Cardinals.
By the end of last season, though, Counsell and the Cubs had figured some things out and managed to account better for themselves than in the disastrous opening of the campaign.
The bullpen, for example, had been turned around completely, going from one of the worst in the league to one of the best. The offense also responded well, improving its ability to deliver timely hits with runners in scoring position.
Counsell and the Cubs finished the season on a high note, despite resting in the humbling third place seat, six games away from a wild card playoff berth.
A Better Cubs Team In 2025?
But 2025 could be very different from 2024.
One assumes, the already-steady starting rotation will be steadier– barring unforeseen injury– with Matthew Boyd taking the place of Kyle Hendricks. The bullpen should also be steadier with the addition of Eli Morgan and some more seasoning for the younger relievers.
Then, of course, there’s outfielder Kyle Tucker, acquired from the Houston Astros, who is a legit elite-level impact player.
One could also throw in a more developed Pete Crow-Armstrong manning center field and, ditto, with Michael Busch at first base.
All in all, the 2025 Chicago Cubs look to be a much better team than the 2024 Cubs, allowing for Counsell’s coaching acumen to take the team to greater heights– while earning individual recognition for himself.
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