Grand Slam Move: Cubs Poach Counsell in High-Stakes Managerial Shakeup

Sup Spud Squad,

Today's dish is served with a side of secret meetings and big-league maneuvers that'll have you spitting out your sunflower seeds in surprise.

How Counsell Landed in Chicago

Jed Hoyer, the Cubs’ top brass, has been giving Craig Counsell the kind of looks normally reserved for your high school sweetheart. Counsell has managed the Brewers like a chess grandmaster playing checkers, always staying several moves ahead.

The Cubs had their own guy, David Ross, who’s no slouch himself. He was a big piece of the culture that steered the ship to that mythical World Series win, turning Wrigleyville into the happiest place on Earth, at least for a season. But when Counsell’s contract starts to run out, Hoyer can’t resist. It's not every day you get the chance to sign the managerial equivalent of a five-tool player.

So Hoyer and Counsell have a secret meetup that's meant to be as under wraps as the Coca-Cola recipe. Hoyer described the meeting as “Very hard”, also going on to say referring to Ross, “He’s got an amazingly bright future. He’ll clearly land on his feet and have a great career in this game for a long time. But there was a suddenness to all of this that was unavoidable but unfortunate”. They shake hands on a deal that's enough to make Counsell a fixture in the Midwest, avoiding the bright lights of New York or the... whatever Cleveland's known for.

Breaking the news to Ross is about as enjoyable as sitting through a rain delay, but it’s part of the game. The Cubs aren’t throwing around cash like they're trying to buy happiness, but getting Counsell isn’t exactly shopping at the dollar store either. They're looking to build a winner, but don’t expect them to do it by outspending the Yankees.

History is repeating itself, folks. The Cubs have pulled this stunt before, remember? They tossed Rick Renteria aside faster than a stale bag of peanuts to snag Joe Maddon. The coaching staff is still a question mark. Will they stick around like loyal fans, or head for the exits? That’s the next inning in this saga.

In essence, the Cubs are sending a message with a dry smirk: they've got ambition, and they're not afraid to stir the pot to get where they want to be. Now let's see if this play turns into a standing ovation or if the crowd goes quiet. Only the season will tell.

Where do the Brewers go from here?

As reported by Jesse Rogers of ESPN, Brewers GM Matt Arnold claimed he was “Very shocked.” when describing how he felt when learning the news. “We’ve been super supportive of him and his opportunity to assess the market. That was up to him.” Arnold went on to say.

Let's talk about the Brew Crew's current pickle. They're staring down the barrel of a pitching meltdown that's got the drama of a bottom-of-the-ninth-inning two-out full count. Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, the dynamic duo of right-handers, are looking at their final laps with Milwaukee, and Willy Adames is tagging along too. Woodruff, fresh off shoulder surgery, might be tipping his cap for the last time in Brewers' threads.

Now, don't toss your caps just yet. The Brewers aren't exactly staring into the abyss. They've got a roster sprouting with young bucks ready to run the bases like they're late for dinner. Take outfield prodigy Jackson Chourio, barely old enough to vote but swinging like he's ready for the big league spotlight. And don't sleep on backstop Jeferson Quero or hot corner hopeful Tyler Black; these kids are on the upswing.

But let's be real, the Brewers might be hitting the snooze button on their golden era. Enter Counsell, who’s ducking out faster than a runner dodging a tag, heading to a Cubs team stacked with talent and dollar bills. He's leaving behind the small pond for the big lake, where the fish—and the stakes—are a whole lot bigger.

Today’s Tater(s)

To make the Brew Crew feel a little better, here’s Willy Adames going back-to-back against the Reds this past July.

-Sultan of Spuds @baseballoutsidr