The Chicago Cubs have made a big move to bolster their managerial staff, according to AP sources. The team has hired Craig Counsell from the Milwaukee Brewers to be their new manager.
Counsell is a veteran of the game, having played for the Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Milwaukee Brewers over his 16-year career. He was a part of the 1997 World Series-winning Marlins team and was an All-Star in 2006. After his playing career ended in 2011, he joined the Brewers as a special assistant to the general manager in 2012. In 2015, he was promoted to bench coach and then to interim manager in 2015. In 2018, he was named the full-time manager of the Brewers.
Under Counsell’s leadership, the Brewers made the playoffs in 2018 and 2019, winning the NL Central Division both years. He was named the NL Manager of the Year in 2018. He also led the Brewers to the NLCS in 2018 and 2019, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers both times.
The Cubs are hoping that Counsell can bring some of that success to Chicago. The team has not made the playoffs since 2017 and has not won a World Series since 1908. With Counsell at the helm, the Cubs are hoping to turn things around and make a deep postseason run in 2021.
Counsell is a proven winner and his experience with the Brewers should serve him well in Chicago. He knows how to get the most out of his players and has a knack for making the right decisions in crunch time. The Cubs are hoping that he can help them get back to their winning ways and bring a championship back to Chicago.