Cubs Manager Craig Counsell Goes 1-on-1 with GN Sports from Spring Training
A Roller-Coaster Ride to Some Degree
All baseball seasons are a roller-coaster ride to some degree, but Craig Counsell’s first season as manager of the Cubs was especially up and down.
A New Chapter in Chicago
Counsell and the Cubs stunned the baseball world last offseason, when he left his hometown Milwaukee Brewers after becoming that franchise’s all-time winningest manager over eight-plus seasons to head down I-94 and take over the Cubs.
High Expectations
Given all the success he had in Milwaukee, expectations certainly shot skyward for the Cubs in 2024 once they nabbed Counsell, widely regarded as one of the best managers in the game.
A Disappointing 2024 Season
It didn’t quite work out that way, however. There were times last season when the Cubs looked like a National League contender, but they never could really put it all together for long stretches, hampered by a leaky bullpen early and an inconsistent offense throughout the season.
A New Year, a New Challenge
Now, going into the 2025 season, Counsell has a full calendar year with the Cubs under his belt as the franchise looks to get back in the postseason and be among the NL’s top teams again.
A Comfort Level
In a one-on-one interview from the team’s spring training complex in Mesa, Ariz., on Sunday, Counsell told Josh Frydman of GN Sports he now has more of a comfort level with the team going into Year 2.
“The biggest thing for me is there’s a comfort level walking into the building and knowing everybody’s name and having a relationship,” Counsell said. “Growing those relationships is vitally important. That’s what you’re doing here, is you’re developing relationships to help people perform.”
A Trip to Japan
The Cubs will begin their schedule early when they travel to Tokyo to take on the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a two-game series on March 18 and 19 to officially open the 2025 MLB regular season.
“It’s an incredible opportunity,” Counsell said. “There’s no other way to see it. It’s an incredible cultural trip for our guys. It’s an incredible baseball trip. We get to play the world champions in a country where two of our teammates (Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga) are heroes. And then it’s just a team-bonding trip.”
Kyle Tucker’s Arrival
It will also be the first chance for Cubs fans to watch newly-acquired outfielder Kyle Tucker play in games that count. Tucker, an American League All-Star each of the last three seasons, was acquired in a trade with the Houston Astros in December.
Tucker has just one year left on his contract before he’s a free agent, so his time with the Cubs could be short, depending on what happens. But by trading for an All-Star who’s about to hit free agency, Counsell says the Cubs sent a message they’re playing to win right now.
“When you trade for players that have one year left until they’re a free agent, those are ‘win-now’ trades,” he said. “And you don’t really have to say anything more than that.”
Pickleball
Finally, Counsell discussed a pastime that’s become popular among the Cubs coaching staff during spring training — pickleball, of course.
“It’s fun, a little competitive, and you don’t feel like you’re going to hurt yourself,” Counsell said.
Conclusion
Counsell begins his second season with the Cubs, looking to lead the team back to the postseason and into the top tier of the National League. With a full year under his belt and a comfort level with the team, he’s poised to make a strong push for the top.
FAQs
Q: What are the Cubs’ plans for the 2025 season?
A: The Cubs will begin their schedule early with a two-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo, Japan.
Q: Who is the new outfielder acquired by the Cubs?
A: The Cubs acquired outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros in December.
Q: What is Counsell’s take on the trade for Tucker?
A: “When you trade for players that have one year left until they’re a free agent, those are ‘win-now’ trades. And you don’t really have to say anything more than that.”
