Is anybody feeling bad about getting Craig Counsell? The Cubs got who many say is one of the best managers in baseball; how can you feel bad about that? Well… it’s not what you think either.
I don’t feel bad for David Ross, at all. He had his shot. Like I said, as a player, as part of that 2016 team, I will always love David Ross. Anybody on that 2016 team is gold, forever, with me; no question about it. Yet, as the manager of the Chicago Cubs… Sure, it didn’t help that the Cubs decided to sit a few years out from really competing; that didn’t help his case. But he didn’t help his case either. To be frank, he wasn’t a very good manager. I didn’t like his lineup decisions. I didn’t like the way he handled the pitching staff. Looking back, I’m sure there are times when I have disagreed with every manager; it comes with the territory. The record tells a story too; it wasn’t a very good story, but again, that’s not all his fault. Ross just felt like a place holder to me; someone we knew who we decided to give a shot at managing. Someone that was inexpensive. Why pay a lot for a manager if you’re not really trying to win? This year was a surprise, and yes, Ross has to get some of the credit, but… it wasn’t enough IMO, but more importantly, it wasn’t enough in Hoyer’s opinion; shocked to see that I agree with Jed on something… No, any bad feelings that I have about this acquisition have nothing to do with Ross.
It’s about stealing from the Brewers; excuse me? Yeah, I know… everybody is giving them shit; we stole your manager… hardee har har. I kind of feel bad… Look at Milwaukee; they have zero World Series wins. I love to throw that fact out there when I’m hating on them like I do regularly during the season. They are a small market team; nobody is going to feel sorry for them, but… they have fielded a number of good, surprising teams, with Counsell at the helm. Here’s a guy who grew up in Wisconsin, played for the Brewers, whose father worked for the Brewers, who is the all-time winningest manager in Brewers history. Here was this guy, who was loyal… or so everybody thought. At the end of the day, it makes sense what happened. He wanted a real shot at winning a World Series. To be thought of as one of the best managers, you need to win it all. Which team gave him the better chance to win it all? The mid-market Brewers where he needs to make miracles happen, or the big-market Cubs who can throw money at it, and field a team of all-stars… if they wanted to? I hope Craig realizes how we were NOT that team the last few years… guessing Jed told him we WILL be that team again… for that, I’m happy. So yeah, it makes sense the move that Craig made; after all, where is the loyalty in sports today anyways? There is none.
I think that’s the part that makes me upset too; what happened to the guys spending their entire careers with one team? It’s a time that is long gone; as a die-hard Chicago sports fan, I’ve been on the other side of this many times. I still don’t have to like it. Wouldn’t it be funny if the Brewers won a World Series without him? Anyways, I shouldn’t care. I should be happy that we have who many consider to be one of the best managers in baseball; we’re paying him as such. Now, he needs to help get us back to the promised land. It’s not all on the manager, but coupled with a front office who spends money, to get players on the field that will produce when it matters, yeah… that’s when it all can come together. The Cubs have some good players on the roster, check. The Cubs have hired their manager of choice, check. Big salaries have come off the books, check. Now is the time to strike! Ohtani? Excited to see what’s next. Do the work now in the offseason to be rewarded when the games start. Spend that money Jed; can’t take it with you when you go. Go Cubs!!!
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