“I’m not here to make excuses. The blame is on us as a team, but I’m not giving up on this group.” — October 13, 2025 | Chicago, IL
“I’m not here to make excuses. The blame is on us as a team, but I’m not giving up on this group.” — Craig Counsell
The Chicago Cubs’ 2025 season was supposed to be their breakthrough.
With one of baseball’s highest-paid managers, a stacked roster, and playoff expectations soaring, this was the year Chicago was meant to turn promise into glory. Instead, it ended in heartbreak — a Game 5 NLDS collapse against the Milwaukee Brewers, the very team Craig Counsell helped build into a perennial contender.
Now, as the dust settles, a tough question hangs over Wrigley Field: Is Counsell’s job safe?
The Heartbreaking Collapse: How Much Was on Counsell?
After a 92–70 regular season that saw the Cubs clinch a Wild Card berth and defeat the San Diego Padres, optimism was high. But when the moment arrived, Chicago’s offense disappeared.
The Cubs were held to just seven total runs over their final three playoff games, including the elimination loss to Milwaukee. Sloppy base running and missed opportunities overshadowed what was otherwise a well-prepared team.
To many, Counsell’s tactics weren’t the issue. His pitching management — including the bold choice to start Matthew Boyd in the Wild Card opener despite previous road struggles — drew praise. His bullpen calls were steady. His defensive alignments were sharp.
What faltered was execution.
“It wasn’t strategy — it was silence,” one NL executive said. “Their bats went cold at the worst time, and there’s only so much a manager can do about that.”
So was Counsell to blame for his players’ failure to deliver in clutch moments? Or was he simply the victim of timing and circumstance?
Injuries, Adversity, and a Bit of Bad Luck
The Cubs’ story in 2025 wasn’t written in full health.
Key arms like Justin Steele and Kyle Tucker missed significant time. Shota Imanaga battled fatigue down the stretch. Yet, under Counsell’s leadership, Chicago’s pitching staff remained among the most disciplined in baseball.
The numbers tell part of the story:
Team ERA: 3.78 (Top 10 in MLB)
Errors: 61 (3rd fewest in the league)
Fielding percentage: .988
Bullpen WAR: +4.3
Counsell’s calm, detail-oriented approach helped the Cubs weather adversity, keeping them competitive deep into the season. But their struggles closing out close games — particularly in late-August series against the Reds and Giants — hinted at a deeper issue: focus under pressure.
“Sometimes it’s not about the X’s and O’s,” one player admitted. “It’s about timing and trust. We had the plan — we just didn’t execute it.”
The $140 Million Question: What’s Next for Counsell?
Counsell was brought to Chicago for one reason — to win championships.
The Cubs didn’t just hire a manager; they made an unprecedented $140 million commitment to reshape the team’s culture. And in many ways, he’s already done that. The clubhouse is cohesive, the defense elite, and the pitching staff far more consistent than in years past.
Still, postseason failures loom large in Chicago, where patience rarely lasts long.
“The best chapters are still ahead of us,” Counsell said postgame.
But will he get the chance to write them?
So far, sources inside the organization suggest Jed Hoyer and ownership remain confident in Counsell’s leadership, seeing 2025 as “a foundation year” rather than a failure. Yet expectations for 2026 are clear: a deeper playoff run is mandatory.
If the Cubs stumble again, questions about the direction — and duration — of Counsell’s tenure will grow louder.
The Verdict: A Crucial Offseason Ahead
The Cubs’ 2025 campaign wasn’t a disaster — it was a warning. The core is talented, the pitching is promising, and Counsell’s vision is taking shape. But in a city that measures success in banners, not progress, time is already ticking.
Counsell’s calm demeanor and analytical approach made him one of baseball’s most respected minds. Now, it will take something more — fire, urgency, and a statement season — to prove that the Cubs’ massive bet on him will pay off.
Because in Chicago, “next year” only works as a mantra for so long.
The Chicago Cubs’ 2025 season was supposed to be their breakthrough.
With one of baseball’s highest-paid managers, a stacked roster, and playoff expectations soaring, this was the year Chicago was meant to turn promise into glory. Instead, it ended in heartbreak — a Game 5 NLDS collapse against the Milwaukee Brewers, the very team Craig Counsell helped build into a perennial contender.
Now, as the dust settles, a tough question hangs over Wrigley Field: Is Counsell’s job safe?
The Heartbreaking Collapse: How Much Was on Counsell?
After a 92–70 regular season that saw the Cubs clinch a Wild Card berth and defeat the San Diego Padres, optimism was high. But when the moment arrived, Chicago’s offense disappeared.
The Cubs were held to just seven total runs over their final three playoff games, including the elimination loss to Milwaukee. Sloppy base running and missed opportunities overshadowed what was otherwise a well-prepared team.
To many, Counsell’s tactics weren’t the issue. His pitching management — including the bold choice to start Matthew Boyd in the Wild Card opener despite previous road struggles — drew praise. His bullpen calls were steady. His defensive alignments were sharp.
What faltered was execution.
“It wasn’t strategy — it was silence,” one NL executive said. “Their bats went cold at the worst time, and there’s only so much a manager can do about that.”
So was Counsell to blame for his players’ failure to deliver in clutch moments? Or was he simply the victim of timing and circumstance?
Injuries, Adversity, and a Bit of Bad Luck
The Cubs’ story in 2025 wasn’t written in full health.
Key arms like Justin Steele and Kyle Tucker missed significant time. Shota Imanaga battled fatigue down the stretch. Yet, under Counsell’s leadership, Chicago’s pitching staff remained among the most disciplined in baseball.
The numbers tell part of the story:
Team ERA: 3.78 (Top 10 in MLB)
Errors: 61 (3rd fewest in the league)
Fielding percentage: .988
Bullpen WAR: +4.3
Counsell’s calm, detail-oriented approach helped the Cubs weather adversity, keeping them competitive deep into the season. But their struggles closing out close games — particularly in late-August series against the Reds and Giants — hinted at a deeper issue: focus under pressure.
“Sometimes it’s not about the X’s and O’s,” one player admitted. “It’s about timing and trust. We had the plan — we just didn’t execute it.”
The $140 Million Question: What’s Next for Counsell?
Counsell was brought to Chicago for one reason — to win championships.
The Cubs didn’t just hire a manager; they made an unprecedented $140 million commitment to reshape the team’s culture. And in many ways, he’s already done that. The clubhouse is cohesive, the defense elite, and the pitching staff far more consistent than in years past.
Still, postseason failures loom large in Chicago, where patience rarely lasts long.
“The best chapters are still ahead of us,” Counsell said postgame.
But will he get the chance to write them?
So far, sources inside the organization suggest Jed Hoyer and ownership remain confident in Counsell’s leadership, seeing 2025 as “a foundation year” rather than a failure. Yet expectations for 2026 are clear: a deeper playoff run is mandatory.
If the Cubs stumble again, questions about the direction — and duration — of Counsell’s tenure will grow louder.
The Verdict: A Crucial Offseason Ahead
The Cubs’ 2025 campaign wasn’t a disaster — it was a warning. The core is talented, the pitching is promising, and Counsell’s vision is taking shape. But in a city that measures success in banners, not progress, time is already ticking.
Counsell’s calm demeanor and analytical approach made him one of baseball’s most respected minds. Now, it will take something more — fire, urgency, and a statement season — to prove that the Cubs’ massive bet on him will pay off.
Because in Chicago, “next year” only works as a mantra for so long.
