CHICAGO — “Codypalooza,” formerly known as Cubs Convention, is over. That offseason marker means spring training is inching closer even while subzero temperatures grip Chicago. The Cubs will continue to stay engaged with Cody Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, and monitor contingency plans in case the former MVP signs elsewhere. Bellinger, however, wasn’t the only topic of conversation at the team’s annual event.
Craig Counsell essentially told Jed Hoyer don’t bother if you’re just looking to hire someone to run the bullpen.
During his initial, clandestine talks with the Cubs president of baseball operations, Counsell stressed a deeper interest in creating the right environment and implementing a long-term vision for the entire organization. Counsell is very confident in his in-game decisions, but a five-year, $40 million contract reflects a bigger commitment than simply picking someone to decide who will pitch in the seventh inning.
The Milwaukee Brewers frequently frustrated the Cubs and outperformed expectations during Counsell’s nine seasons running a small-market team. Counsell took over toward the beginning of the 2015 season, moving downstairs from a role as a special assistant in Milwaukee’s front office.
Besides that big-picture organizational perspective, Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong mentioned how Counsell has two sons, Brady and Jack, who are playing Big Ten baseball and around the same age as the team’s top prospects. For Counsell, it’s all about relatability.
“Oftentimes, people focus on the X’s and the O’s, which he’s very good at,” Hoyer said. “But he sees himself as a team-builder, a roster-builder, a guy who is very good at bringing the entire group together.”
Dansby Swanson didn’t see it coming when Hoyer fired David Ross.
When Swanson signed a seven-year, $177 million contract last offseason, he also wanted the chance to help build a culture and establish a new identity for the Cubs. Swanson is a product of the Vanderbilt baseball program that has shaped many influential figures across the baseball industry, such as Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins and Ryan Flaherty, Counsell’s new bench coach. Swanson has an ongoing dialogue with the front office — he wants the Cubs to re-sign Bellinger — but Hoyer kept the circle of information so tight that the All-Star shortstop was caught off guard when the Cubs dismissed Ross.
“I had absolutely zero idea (that was going to happen),” Swanson said. “They made a decision based on what they thought was going to be best for our group. I know it was a really, really hard one on so many people just because Rossy is such an awesome dude and meant a lot to a lot of us. They clearly had something in mind that they thought was going to improve our team. That’s obviously nothing against Rossy whatsoever. They just felt like there was a chance to be able to get one of the best managers — if not the best — in the game. They made it happen.”
Counsell once auditioned for “Major League.”
The unemotional reaction shots of Counsell staring out from the dugout masked his ambitions to become the face of a large-market franchise. Counsell doesn’t seem to have Joe Maddon’s flair or Lou Piniella’s temper, but when he decided to leave the Brewers, he chose the spotlight.
Counsell is a very good storyteller with tons of material after growing up as the son of a Brewers employee and playing on two World Series-winning teams during a 16-year career. “Major League” was primarily filmed in Milwaukee.
“I was about 16 and I wanted to be one of the players,” Counsell said. “I went to the casting (call). I played in what they called the beer leagues with older guys because they didn’t have all the travel baseball stuff (back then). They told me they were all going to the casting because they were…
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