By Shawn Mackey
The Shawn Mackey Show – Season 2, Episode 11

The 2025 Chicago Cubs season is officially in the books — and let’s be honest, it was a roller coaster. At one point, the Cubs led the NL Central and even boasted the best record in baseball. But by October, the story had changed. From injury struggles and questionable decisions to some unexpected breakout stars, there’s plenty to unpack.

In this episode (and now, in this recap), I’m grading the Cubs from top to bottom — players, management, and overall performance.

⚾ Craig Counsell: C– — Overpaid and Overmanaged

Craig Counsell’s second year as Cubs manager came with high expectations and an $8 million per year price tag — the richest contract ever given to an MLB manager. The results? Mixed, at best.

Yes, Counsell got the Cubs back to the postseason. But his in-game decisions — especially in the playoffs — raised serious questions. Starting Matthew Boyd on three days’ rest and using an opener before Shota Imanaga both backfired. Counsell’s obsession with “gut calls” over logic cost the Cubs key games.

He’s been known as a “numbers guy,” but his playoff track record says otherwise: plenty of division titles, very few deep runs. C– feels generous.

🧮 Jed Hoyer: D– — The Front Office That Fell Asleep

If Counsell underperformed, Jed Hoyer all but disappeared. The Cubs’ trade deadline was a dud — with Michael Soroka being the only notable move, and that one flopped immediately.

Even worse, the team mishandled Kyle Tucker’s hand injury, letting him play through it when he clearly wasn’t 100%. That single decision may have cost Chicago its momentum going into July. For a front office that’s supposed to “build for October,” this felt more like a half-hearted playoff push.

D– bordering on an F. (And no, there’s no such thing as an “F+.”)

💥 Player Report Cards: The Good, The Bad, and the Bench

⭐ Michael Busch: A+

The breakout of the season. Busch hit for power, consistency, and delivered when it mattered. Four postseason homers sealed his spot as a long-term core piece — but he should be hitting cleanup, not leading off.

🇯🇵 Seiya Suzuki: A–

Quietly put together a great year with 32 homers and 103 RBIs. Still struggles in the outfield at times, but his bat made up for it.

🧤 Nico Hoerner: A+

The Cubs’ most consistent player. He flirted with .300 all season and anchored the middle infield. Not flashy, just clutch.

😬 Ian Happ: C–

A Gold Glove can’t hide a .243 average and 79 RBIs. Too many slumps, not enough production for a corner outfielder with his supposed upside.

🧢 Dansby Swanson: B

Strong defense as always, but a .154 postseason average isn’t cutting it. Needs more clutch hitting if he’s going to live up to that contract.

🧠 Matt Shaw: C+

Young, promising, but inconsistent. He hit .299 after the All-Star break — encouraging signs for 2026.

🧱 Carson Kelly: B+

Stepped up big after Miguel Amaya’s injury, even hitting for the cycle as a catcher. An underrated spark plug.

🔥 Pitching Breakdown

🧔 Matthew Boyd: B+

Career resurgence with a 14–8 record and 3.21 ERA — but Counsell’s overuse in October exposed his limits.

💪 Cade Horton: A

The Cubs’ best pitcher before going down injured. Losing him before the playoffs was a massive blow.

⚙️ Colin Rea: B

Reliable arm, steady performer. Should’ve been trusted with a postseason start.

😑 Ben Brown: D+

Flashes of potential, but a 5.92 ERA tells the story.

💥 Daniel Palencia: C+

Inconsistent but electric. Could evolve into a dominant reliever with another year of experience.

⚾ Overall Team Grade: B+

Despite the managerial chaos and injuries, this team showed heart. They beat the Padres in the Wild Card and pushed the Brewers to five games — not bad for a group that battled adversity all year.

But let’s be honest: the Cubs won in spite of management, not because of it. With smarter decisions and a deeper bench, they could’ve made a real run at the World Series.

🧭 Looking Ahead: The 2026 Season and Beyond

The talent is there — Busch, Hoerner, Suzuki, and Horton form a strong foundation. But if the Cubs want to take the next step, the front office must step up. No more bargain moves, no more “gut feeling” lineups.

As Pat Murphy’s Brewers continue to thrive, the Cubs need to decide if Craig Counsell truly is their guy… or if he just came south for a bigger paycheck.

🎙️ Final Thoughts

The 2025 Cubs season was a wild mix of promise, frustration, and “what ifs.” There’s plenty to be proud of, but plenty more to fix.
 As I said on the podcast — I might just be eating crow, because maybe David Ross could’ve managed this team deeper into October.

Next up on The Shawn Mackey Show: we shift gears to football — a full Bears vs. Commanders recap and a breakdown of the controversial AP Top 25 in college football. Stay tuned.