Craig Counsell (Creative Commons/Arturo Pardavila III)
Questions abound about the Chicago Cubs. Some things just don’t seem to make sense. For example, Craig Counsell was thought to be one of the smartest, if not THE smartest manager in MLB. But, after watching the Cubs for better than a third of the season, many Cubs fans now have a different impression. What’s going on? Let me put out this theory.
And Alex Jones, hold my beer.
Craig Counsell isn’t really managing the Cubs
Over the years, I couldn’t help but notice how much Counsell looks like Dennis Dugan. You might remember Dennis from the short-lived TV series, Richie Brockelman, Private Eye. But probably not. Maybe Jed Hoyer scammed us all and hired Dennis Dugan to manage the Cubs. Meanwhile, Craig Counsell is secretly managing the Brewers with Pat Murphy as a frontman. That would explain a lot of things.
For example, why else would Patrick Wisdom bat leadoff? Or why would Christopher Morel get so much playing time at third? What’s with the Nick Madrigal and Miles Mastrobuoni love? Why did Shota Imananga skip a start, with an explanation of thinking two years ahead given?
Those are just a few unanswered questions. I say that Craig Counsell really isn’t managing the team. Dennis Dugan is. You put that piece of the puzzle in place, and everything else fits.
The scouting report on Richie Brockelman, Private Eye
I pulled this scouting report from the most trusted of sources, Wikipedia: Brockelman was consistently underestimated due to his extremely youthful, clean-cut looks, which were coupled with an innocent, nerdy but friendly and often overly polite demeanor.
Seems like that could also apply to Counsell, with one big difference. Instead of being underestimated, he may be overrated.
Other hoaxes
Craig Counsell actually being Dennis Dugan wouldn’t be the only hoax Cubs fans are dealing with. For years the Cubs have been a big market team masquerading as a small market team. Maybe it’s their sense of fair play that prevents them from using the advantage in available resources they have in relation to other teams in the NL Central.
When is it time for the Cubs to try to win?
Jed Hoyer was on Chicago sport radio station 67 the Score yesterday and said some nonsensical things. Once again, Jed preached patience. For a franchise that wins a championship every 108 years, patience is a tough pill for a fanbase to swallow.
Hoyer also said the answers to the Cubs’ problems would come from within. Really? The strength of the Cubs farm system is their outfielders. The Cubs outfield slots are taken up by guys with no-trade contracts.
There is no help in the foreseeable future at first base, third base, catcher or relief pitcher. In other words, the areas where the Cubs need help.
The Cubs are a duck-billed platypus of a team. A collection of odd parts.
What good is a great farm system if you don’t use it? Either let the young guys play, or trade them for useable assets.
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