Craig Counsell took over the manager role for the Cubs in 2024, and he seems intent on returning a historic franchise to their former glory.
August 21st, 1970, Craig Counsell was born right down the road from Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. He grew up in Wisconsin though where his father worked in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. After high school, Counsell would return to South Bend and attend Notre Dame University as a part of the Fighting Irish Baseball team. After a successful collegiate career, Counsell would be drafted in the 11th round of the 1992 MLB draft and would go on to spend 16 years in the MLB. Following his retirement in 2011 Craig began his journey to becoming a manager in the Major Leagues where he is now with Chicago Cubs as he looks to return the club to their former glory.
MLB Career
After being selected in the 11th round by the Colorado Rockies in 1992, Counsell would finally make his MLB debut in 1995. He would only play 3 games for the club that season though, and would not return to the MLB until 1997. In 1997 though, the Rockies traded Counsell to the Florida Marlins where he plugged right into the starting spot at second base. Counsell would go on to help the Marlins defeat the Cleveland Indians in the 1997 World Series.
He would stay with the Marlins until 1999 where he would be traded once again to the Los Angeles Dodgers, before being released by the club before the 2000 season and signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Counsell and the Diamondbacks would make a run to the World Series in 2001 where Counsell would earn NLCS MVP honors, and would help the Diamondbacks defeat the New York Yankees to earn Arizona their first ever World Series title. Counsell would spend a total of four years in Arizona before being traded ONCE AGAIN. This time Craig would be shipped off to the Milwaukee Brewers and after only one season with the club, he would return to Arizona as a free agent in 2005.
As repetitive as this all is, I do apologize, Counsell would once again return to the Milwaukee Brewers as a free agent in 2007 where he would spend the final five years of his career before finally retiring after the 2011 season. Over his 16 years in the MLB, Counsell recorded 1208 hits, with 42 homers, a slash line of .255/.342/.344, and accumulated a career WAR of 22.4. Craig built his career upon being a utility player with exceptional defensive skills, but was still most well known for his wonky batting stance at the end of the day.
Milwaukee Brewers Manager
Following his retirement from the MLB, Craig followed in his fathers footsteps and took a front office job with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012. Later in 2015 Counsell was named the Brewers new manager after they fired Ron Roenicke, and signed Counsell to a three year contract. With the Brewers in the middle of a rebuild the first two seasons under Counsell were underwhelming with losing records in both, but in 2017 the Brewers surprised everyone with a 86-76 record, just barely missing the playoffs.
In 2018 the Brewers continued to improve finishing the season with a 96-67 record and making their first appearance in the postseason under Counsell’s leadership. They would go on to sweep the Colorado Rockies in three games in the Divisional Series, earning Counsell his first, and only, postseason series win with the club. They would unfortunately fall just short to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS in seven games. Counsell would spend nine years as the Brewers manager, and while his time in Milwaukee may not have been built on postseason success, Counsell earned himself a solid reputation as a manager.
Over his nine years Counsell would accumulate a 707-625 record, which currently holds the top spot for the most wins in franchise history as a manager, and came second place in NL Manager of the Year voting four times. The Brewers and Counsell would part ways following the 2023 season.
Chicago Cubs Manager
Just five days after his contract expired with the Brewers, Counsell was handed a 5-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. Outside of the 2020 COVID season, the Cubs had been a relatively mediocre club over their four seasons under previous manager, David Ross. Outside of that singular season, the Cubs had failed to make the playoffs under Ross, and in 2020 when they did make the postseason, they lost in the Wildcard round to the Dodgers. The Cubs decided it was time to make a change, and with Counsell fresh on the market, they had their new manager. Counsell had a solid first year with the club leading them to an 83-79 record, but still coming up short of a playoff spot.
Now here we are in 2025. The Cubs fan base is restless and hopes to return to the form of their 2016 “dream team” that brought the franchise its first World Series title in 108 years. Counsell has some work ahead of him though. While I would say currently the Cubs are the favorites to take the NL Central, teams like the Reds and Brewers have shown signs of what they can achieve early this year. The Cubs are off to a hot start though with a 17-10 record and one of the most prolific offenses in the league thus far.
The big question is how well can Counsell manage his pitching staff, especially with the loss of the team’s ace, Justin Steele. There is a lot of ball left to be played, but it seems that Craig Counsell and the Cubs are set up for a great run this year. Only time shall tell.
