Counsell initially took over as Brewers manager in May of 2015 to replace Ron Roenicke after the team started the year with the worst record in baseball. When he took over, the organization had only reached the postseason twice since 1982: in 2008 and in 2011.
2016 was Counsell’s first full year with the team, and he stayed until the end of 2023. In that time, the Brewers only missed the playoffs one time, and he went on to become the winningest manager that the organization has ever had.
It took Counsell two and a half years to get the Brewers back into the playoffs, which was their first time in seven years. In that time, he improved the team in nearly every aspect, including increased RBIs, more home runs, more stolen bases, and a better overall slash line.
It wasn’t just the offense that improved; their defense did as well. Their fielding percentage went up, their earned run average went down, and their pitching staff threw more strikeouts. There is not much more one could hope for.
The chart below displays stats from 2015 (the year he took over the team, two months into the season), and 2018 (the Brewers’ first playoff appearance since 2011).
Chicago poached Counsell with a record contract from their division rivals back in November of 2023. It took Counsell even less time to get the Cubs back into the playoffs — the team’s first step toward its ultimate goal: the World Series.
From 2024 to 2025, the Cubs’ offense steadily increased. Their batting average as a team went from .242 to .249, and even though their on-base percentage was nearly the same, their OPS increased drastically because their slugging percentage went from .393 to .430. By the end of the year, the team had won nine more games than in 2024.
The Cubs have a lot of talent in the clubhouse right now, and they have the right manager to help them get to the level they need to be. It takes time to build a winning program, but Counsell’s past shows he is already having a positive impact on the team.