Craig Counsell said he is “enjoying” and “challenging” his new job as Cubs manager. He has no regrets about choosing Chicago, but why would he? He manages a solid roster at a storied franchise and has a record five-year, $40 million contract. However, he and his agent, Barry Meister, were hopeful they could raise the bar for the manager.
The only downside was that it upset two fan bases. Especially in his hometown of Milwaukee, fans would have been more receptive to any outcome other than Counsell going to the hated Cubs. One lunatic even desecrated the Craig Counsel Field sign.
He responded humorously to a routine logistical question about whether he plans to drive between his home in Whitefish Bay, Wis., and Wrigleyville every night. “It’s allowed,” Counsell said jokingly. “They let me do it. They still let me cross the border.”
Counsel said he was “okay” and not concerned about the negative reaction. “It’s nothing personal,” he said. “It doesn’t feel personal.”
New York bounced back from the disappointment of not getting baseball’s best manager more easily than Milwaukee. There are also no hard feelings between Counsell and Mets president David Stearns, Counsell’s former manager with the Brewers.
“We had dinner before going to spring training and we didn’t say a word about baseball,” Counsell said. “That’s the thing. And it’s all good. David and I and our families are friends. And we’ll be friends. We kept negotiating, but it didn’t work out.”
After all, once the Cubs offered him a record contract, Counsell didn’t even ask the Mets to counter. He had no interest in putting Stearns in a bad position by losing a bidding war. (The Mets weren’t going to pay him $8 million a year anyway.)
Counsell is looking forward to “city life” and is pleased with the improved roster. Anyway, the Cubs have more hopes of winning the division than the Mets this year.
“I think we’re in a position to be a solid baseball team. [But] “We have to find ways to win more games,” he said. “I think we’re going to have some talented people come here and make sure we’re included.”
