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Why I'm Still Not Sold on Craig Counsell as the Cubs' Manager

 


I know I'm probably going to take some heat for this one, but I've got to say it: I'm still not sold on Craig Counsell as the manager of the Chicago Cubs.

I've never been a big fan of Counsell, and the more I look at his time with the Cubs, the more questions I have. I'm not saying he's a terrible manager. I'm not saying the Cubs can't win a World Series with him. What I'm saying is that I'm not ready to automatically put Craig Counsell in the conversation with the greatest managers in baseball.

My biggest issue is that I feel like sometimes we put too much faith in the numbers and not enough in what we're actually seeing on the field.

When Counsell took over the Cubs, his first season looked remarkably similar to David Ross' final season. Both teams finished 83-79 and second in the NL Central. The statistical similarities between those teams are hard for me to ignore.

If Craig Counsell is supposed to be this great manager, then why did his first Cubs team produce almost the exact same record as David Ross' final Cubs team?

That's the question I keep coming back to.

And then there's the way Counsell manages pitching.

We hear about the statistics surrounding a hitter facing a pitcher for the third time through the lineup. So when I see Matt Boyd allowed to face Josh Baez for a third time in a close game, I have to question the decision. Baez had already demonstrated that he could hurt the Cubs, and the game was still within reach.

That's where I believe managing becomes more than simply following data.

Sometimes you have to look at the situation. Talk to your player. See how he's feeling. Trust your instincts. Baseball is a mental game, and I don't believe everything can be reduced to a spreadsheet.

Then I look at Craig Counsell's former team in Milwaukee and compare him with Pat Murphy.

That's where things get even more interesting.

Since the two went their separate ways, Murphy has produced better results in Milwaukee, including division titles and a playoff series victory over the Cubs. The transcript's comparison has Murphy with a .595 winning percentage versus Counsell's .553, along with two Manager of the Year awards for Murphy.

Maybe I'm obsessed with Pat Murphy. I'll admit it.

But I think it's a legitimate conversation.

The Cubs have talent. Jed Hoyer was aggressive at the trade deadline, and that seemed to provide the team with a mental spark. They're in the middle of a playoff race, and that's exactly why these managerial decisions matter so much.

I'm not predicting that Craig Counsell is going to fail.

He might eventually take the Cubs to a World Series. He might ultimately prove that he belongs among baseball's greatest managers. If he does, I'll be happy because I'm a Cubs fan.

But I'm not ready to crown him yet.

And that's what I love about sports. We can disagree.

That's also what I want The Shawn Mackey Show Facebook page to become—a place where people can have mature conversations, even when they don't agree with me.

I also touched on the Bears' first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. The Bears came away with a 34-10 victory, and several players made strong cases for themselves as they fight for roster spots. Unfortunately, injuries were also a major concern.

This episode also marks a transition for the show.

I'm taking a short hiatus because I'm working on some new studio digs and a new show format. When I come back, I'm looking at making the show more focused on football and giving everyone a better overall experience.

So before I step away for a little while, I wanted to get this Craig Counsell debate off my chest.

Maybe I'm right.

Maybe I'm completely wrong.

Either way, I'm going to keep talking sports the way I see them.
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