{"id":70718,"date":"2025-07-17T19:46:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T19:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/70718\/"},"modified":"2025-07-17T19:46:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T19:46:16","slug":"craig-counsells-cubs-arrive-as-world-series-contenders-but-those-pesky-brewers-wont-go-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/70718\/","title":{"rendered":"Craig Counsell\u2019s Cubs arrive as World Series contenders, but those pesky Brewers won\u2019t go away"},"content":{"rendered":"

A buzz once again surrounds the Chicago Cubs, who have spent 100-plus days in first place this season, recharging the electric atmosphere at Wrigley Field. In climbing to 18 games above .500 at the All-Star break, the Cubs won series at Dodger Stadium and Yankee Stadium while posting winning records against each of the four other teams in their division. It\u2019s a given that Jed Hoyer\u2019s front office will be extremely motivated buyers at the July 31 trade deadline.<\/p>\n

Yet for all that has gone right so far \u2014 Pete Crow-Armstrong blossoming into a superstar, Kyle Tucker pushing to be the offseason\u2019s No. 1 free agent, the Cubs getting unexpected contributions from so many pitchers \u2014 the Milwaukee Brewers are still breathing down their necks.<\/p>\n

In recent years, it doesn\u2019t seem to matter who leaves Milwaukee (or commutes from Wisconsin). Besides Cubs manager Craig Counsell and New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns going to bigger markets, the exodus of All-Star talent includes Willy Adames, Devin Williams, Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader. Even with minimal spending on free agents, the Brewers remain highly competitive.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur job is just to keep winning, man,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cIt\u2019s as simple as that. There is so much season left. Just keep winning. Stack up wins. We\u2019re going to be in a good position.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cubs hold a one-game lead over the Brewers, and those National League Central rivals are scheduled to play each other eight times between July 28 and Aug. 21. Counsell will inevitably get booed in Milwaukee. Third baseman Eugenio Su\u00e1rez appears to be a solid trade target for either club if the Arizona Diamondbacks ultimately decide to sell at the deadline. In any event, the pesky Brewers should push the Cubs to improve and use their immense resources to boost their World Series odds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If not for Milwaukee\u2019s midseason surge \u2014 the Brewers are 31-12 since the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, which translates into a ridiculous .720 winning percentage \u2014 the Cubs could get a little too comfortable.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The first-place Cubs have recharged an electric atmosphere at Wrigley Field. (Griffin Quinn \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Working in concert with the front office, Counsell often plays the role of devil\u2019s advocate. \u201cThat\u2019s his personality,\u201d said Hoyer, the club\u2019s president of baseball operations, \u201cin a good way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Around the trade deadline, Counsell considers himself a consultant, respecting the expertise of those who evaluate players all year but without simply toeing the company line if his own vast experience sparks different ideas.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s always pushing us on different things,\u201d Hoyer said. \u201cHe\u2019s a significant voice. We\u2019re constantly talking to him about what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

In April, Counsell approved the minor move to acquire veteran left-hander Drew Pomeranz from the Seattle Mariners\u2019 Triple-A affiliate. Pomeranz had been a good addition for the Brewers at the 2019 trade deadline, though he had not pitched in the majors since 2021 due to injuries.<\/p>\n

By looping in a manager who understands how a modern front office works, the Cubs could hit the ground running with Pomeranz, who struck out Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber in his first appearance. At age 36, Pomeranz has a 0.70 ERA across 25 2\/3 innings as a Cub, illustrating Counsell\u2019s feel for the roster.<\/p>\n

As it stands, this focused group has taken on some of the qualities of those Counsell-led Milwaukee teams that frustrated the Cubs after the 2016 World Series. These Cubs push the envelope with their base running, play defense at an elite level and use \u201cout-getters\u201d for matchups to win on the margins.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just has the expectations of us doing the little things right,\u201d said Cubs pitcher Colin Rea, who also played for Counsell in Milwaukee. \u201cCome in every single day and give your best effort. That would be the same for the players on this team, too, holding each other accountable for those things when you step through those doors every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Every team in every sport talks about that kind of stuff. But the Cubs have backed it up throughout the first half of the season, working around the injuries that sidelined starting pitchers Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad. By pursing his lips, squinting his eyes and being comfortable with awkward silence, Counsell can turn around an easy talking point and make sure it doesn\u2019t become an excuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t had a lot of injuries,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cWe\u2019ve just had injuries to the same part of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, while the starting rotation has been battered, seven position players have played between 86 and 95 games (out of a possible 96). Winning at this pace hasn\u2019t burned out the bullpen, either. The club\u2019s co-leaders in appearances \u2014 Brad Keller and Caleb Thielbar, with 40 \u2014 are tied for 55th among all major-league pitchers in that category.<\/p>\n

This weekend, Chicago Bears rookies will report for training camp and the NBA Summer League will end before the Cubs experience a four-game losing streak. The less glamorous parts of being a successful team involve minimizing slumps, staying prepared and preventing a full-blown spiral.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe nature of the schedule is you\u2019re going to get beat some days,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cAnd some guys are going to make you have some quiet days. But you don\u2019t let it linger. You come out the next day and erase it and not let it carry over to the next day. Good teams do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not that Counsell is looking ahead, but the Cubs have the easiest remaining schedule in the majors, according to FanGraphs. While he set his priorities and followed his instincts when he signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Cubs, Counsell hasn\u2019t made it about himself, refocusing everything around the team. With so many different ways to improve the roster \u2014 and the usual disclaimers about how this could be an underwhelming trade deadline that forces clubs to get creative \u2014 his voice will be heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s that collective effort,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cThat\u2019s what you need to play consistent, winning baseball. You need contributions from (all over). You need to have a different answer every day. In baseball, it can\u2019t just be one guy. It just won\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n

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