MESA, Ariz. -- A video of Craig Counsell was making the rounds across social media on Saturday, showing the Cubs manager in the middle of a full proud-dad celebration.
Counsell stepped away from Spring Training on Friday and Saturday to watch his daughter, Rowan, play for Whitefish Bay in the WIAA Division 2 state playoffs back home in Wisconsin. On Saturday, Whitefish Bay won its first school state championship in girls basketball, and Counsell was going wild in the Resch Center stands in Green Bay.
“You’re happy,” Counsell said, “because they really accomplished something, achieved something that will stay with them for a long time. That makes you happy. She’s worked really hard, and all the girls have worked super hard at it.”
The 55-year-old Counsell played in nearly 1,700 Major League games between the regular season and playoffs, winning two World Series rings along the way. He has now also managed more than 1,600 games between the Brewers and Cubs, reaching the playoffs six times. Last year, he helped guide Chicago to a 92-win season and a trip to the National League Division Series.
Even with all that experience, Counsell admitted “it was stressful” watching from the stands.
Counsell said he also had a stint as a coach for many of the girls on the Blue Dukes team that beat Beaver Dam, 64-63, to claim the state title. That added to the moment for Counsell, who has watched that group, along with his daughter, grow into state champions.
“That makes you feel good, for sure,” said Counsell, who rejoined the Cubs in Arizona on Sunday morning.
In the title game, Rowan Counsell scored 10 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out five assists. One of the defining traits of the Cubs is strong defense. Whitefish Bay also used sound defensive play to hold off a late run by Beaver Dam, even having a last-second block to help seal the win.
It was another great moment this spring for the Counsell family.
On March 5, Counsell’s son Brady – a 10th-round pick by the D-backs in last year’s Draft – made his professional debut against the Cubs at Sloan Park. Before the game, Counsell and Brady exchanged the game’s lineup cards and took a photo on the field together. The D-backs prospect then had his first pro plate appearance later in the game.
“You’re grateful to be able to just experience those moments with your family,” Counsell said. “I’m just glad I got to [go watch the state title game]. It was a pretty incredible night. Definitely made some memories.”
Rotation coming into focus
The Cubs have named veteran lefty Matthew Boyd their Opening Day starter, but Counsell is not ready to unveil any official picks for the games that follow the team’s March 26 opener against the Nationals. That said, a look at this week’s spring schedule offers some insight into Chicago’s plans.
Boyd took the mound in a Minor League game (74 pitches) on Sunday, while Jameson Taillon started the 14-8 Cactus League loss the Dodgers. Cade Horton (Monday at Guardians), Shota Imanaga (Tuesday vs. Angels) and Edward Cabrera (Wednesday at D-backs) are lined up to start the next few spring games.
That order, combined with the remaining Cactus League slate and scheduled off-days, points to Boyd, Horton and Imanaga taking the ball in the season’s first three games against the Nationals (March 26 and March 28-29). Cabrera and Taillon look like the Nos. 4 and 5 arms to begin the next series against the Angels (March 30-April 1).
Taillon searching for results
Taillon returned from his stint with Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic and allowed 10 runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings in his outing against the Dodgers. The veteran righty has now given up 23 runs on 21 hits in 9 1/3 innings in Cactus League play this spring, while allowing eight homers and walking more (seven) than he has struck out (six).
Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy recently noted that he and Taillon have been working on some delivery adjustments that have contributed to the poor results this spring. That said, Taillon knows he needs to balance making those changes with his strengths when in a competitive game environment.
“I’ve got to be better,” Taillon said. “I know Tommy’s got some ideas and I’ve got some ideas of things I want to work on and clean up. … It’s a good thing that it’s spring, but it’s also, this is three or four bad outings now. It’s clear I have stuff to work on and I’m confident we’ll work on it.”