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In praise of Craig Counsell

The Chicago Cubs’ 2023 season was defined by an offensive explosion—ranking third in MLB with 220 home runs and a franchise-record 850 runs scored—but their pitching staff remained a persistent liability. The rotation opened the year with five starters (Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shōta Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, and Jameson Taillon) who collectively logged 86 starts, posting a combined 4.46 ERA and 1.223 WHIP over 460.1 innings, including 91 long balls.

Only Boyd and Imanaga remained in the rotation by season’s end, with Imanaga making 32 starts and throwing 174.1 innings while avoiding injury—a rarity for the group. The bullpen fared little better, with Daniel Palencia’s injury sidelining the team’s closer role entirely, while Jacob Webb’s inconsistent performances led to 28 blown saves, the most in MLB.

Despite these struggles, manager Craig Counsell orchestrated a surprising 89-win campaign, propelling the Cubs to a wild-card berth. Their defensive record of 95-67, based on runs scored and allowed, suggested they could have been even stronger had their pitching held up.

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