Counsell gets to work with Cubs, who look to 'turn the page'

MESA, Ariz. -- It will take some time to get accustomed to seeing manager Craig Counsell making his way around a Spring Training complex in Cubs gear. For the better part of a decade, he was a fixture in the opposing dugout with the rival Brewers, searching for ways to beat the North Siders.

On Wednesday morning, Counsell sported a Cubbie blue hoodie and moved between the practice diamonds and mounds, observing the first official workout for pitchers and catchers. It marked the beginning of a new era for a ballclub hoping his arrival can help push last season’s collapse further in the rear-view mirror.

“We definitely want to turn the page,” Cubs veteran catcher Yan Gomes said. “I think he wants to do that. He's one of us now.”

Before the day’s work began, Counsell took a seat alongside president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins, fielding questions about the spring and season ahead. There was a lot of emphasis placed on the young core group in place and the wave of prospect talent rising through the farm system.

Hoyer is still exploring the available free-agent options -- center fielder Cody Bellinger tops the wish list -- but the Cubs’ front-office leader also said he hopes to begin concentrating on the group in hand. If he felt like Chicago’s offseason was in the “fourth or fifth inning” in January, Hoyer said it is now approaching the end of the game.

“I think the closer’s definitely warming,” Hoyer said. “There’s a lot of good free agents out there. Certainly, it’s been a really late, evolving offseason. Every day we’re in contact with different free agents. And we may well add one or more players to the roster.

“But at this point, as we sit down and think about it, I mean, it is Feb. 14. It is Day 1 of Spring Training and we’re trying to focus on the guys that are here.”

Counsell’s first official workout at the helm started with a trip to the field where Gomes and the rest of Chicago’s catchers were going through batting practice. The manager then watched a round of bullpen sessions, including one from left-hander Shota Imanaga, who came to the Cubs via a four-year, $53 million contract over the winter.

The new manager also found time to joke with Justin Steele about growing out his scruffy facial hair again -- the look the lefty had while spinning a 1.50 ERA against the Brewers last season.

“He was like, ‘I don't think I like the clean look. I think you need to look a little rough,’” Steele said with a laugh. “I told him that's no problem. I don't like haircuts and I don't like shaving.”

Counsell said the biggest goal in the immediate picture is to get to know each player’s personality and routine preferences. Building rapport and forming relationships is the main idea right now in the early phase of camp.

“That's the most important thing,” Counsell said, “is that we get to know each other, that they hear me talk -- the players hear me talk -- and that we get to our process and our routines. That's what forms the Cubs. That's what forms us.”

The fact that Counsell has managed against the Cubs for so many years is something the players feel can be an asset. He can provide insight into how Milwaukee game-planned against the team and individual players.

“We'll definitely talk a little bit about that and what he saw,” Gomes said. “It will be important for all of us to go have a conversation about what he saw.”

One of the primary reasons Hoyer handed Counsell the largest contract ever for an MLB manager (five years, $40 million) was his reputation for getting the most out of his rosters in Milwaukee. The Brewers consistently out-performed projections, leading to three NL Central titles and five playoff berths in the last six years.

From afar, the Cubs have also respected how Counsell has helped work younger players into the mix within recent seasons. That will be important for Chicago, which has some younger core pieces, prospects expected to impact the ‘24 squad and more youth on the way.

“It's a strength of the organization right now,” Counsell said, “and it is the best part of this camp.”

And now it is Counsell’s task to game-plan for the Cubs, and use what he learned from all those seasons managing against them.

“He's really good at what he does,” Steele said. “The games we always had with them were very competitive, so you just kind of have that silent respect for him across the way. It's good to have him on our side.”