The Chicago Cubs started the season strong, but things have changed since the All-Star break. Their division lead over the Milwaukee Brewers is gone, and the Cubs are now eight games back in the NL Central.
On Friday, the Cubs lost another game to the Pittsburgh Pirates, falling behind early. The team has now gone 35 consecutive games without a comeback win, the longest streak in team history dating back to at least 1901. Their last comeback victory was on July 2, when they beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-4.
Since then, the Cubs have held a 17-18 record. Following their 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, 40,000 fans offered sporadic jeers.
What Does Manager Craig Counsell Think About the Cubs’ Recent Play?
Cubs manager Craig Counsell discussed the team’s current stretch, stating, “This is a results business, we understand that. I think for us to focus on results is harmful, and so you focus on things that contribute to us being good.”
Before joining the Cubs, Counsell managed the Milwaukee Brewers, a team on a 13-game winning streak. Many expected acquiring Counsell from Milwaukee to be the key to bringing the Cubs back to the top of the division. Instead, the Brewers are playing clean baseball and winning games, while the Cubs are struggling.
In 2023, the Cubs made headlines by firing David Ross and hiring Counsell from Milwaukee, giving the former major leaguer a record-breaking deal. Counsell, 54, signed a five-year contract worth more than $40 million — averaging to about $8 million annually — making him one of the highest-paid managers in baseball.
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By surpassing the $7.5 million yearly compensation that legendary New York Yankees manager Joe Torre earned during the team’s dynasty in the early 2000s, Counsell became not only the highest-paid manager in the league but also the highest-paid manager in baseball history at the time. Since then, Dodgers’ boss Dave Roberts has passed him.
Counsell made $3.5 million with the Brewers during his final season in Milwaukee. Although the Brewers reportedly offered Counsell a contract that would have made him the highest-paid manager in baseball, the yearly compensation was far less than what the Cubs eventually offered him.
Still, the Cubs are nine games back in the division. As of Saturday, August 16, Chicago has a Wild Card spot, but with less than two months to go, it’s crunch time.