Craig Counsell's influence begins with latest Cubs' coaching staff promotion

One talking point that the Chicago Cubs will likely have this offseason is Craig Counsell gaining influence with the construction of his coaching staff.

Given the nature of the Cubs hiring Counsell away from the Milwaukee Brewers last offseason and the Brewers promoting Pat Murphy, Counsell wasn't in a position to bring many coaches with him to the Cubs. That's not the primary reason for the Cubs falling short of reaching the postseason in 2024 but with Counsell expected to be a pivotal part in not only the operation at the Major League level but the organization as a whole, having his hand-selected coaches plays a part in that process.

That is the primary reason why Counsell and the Cubs acted swiftly this month, dismissing a handful of leftovers from David Ross' coaching staff including both base coaches, Mike Napoli and Willie Harris.

Names are emerging for the vacancies on Craig Counsell's coaching staff.

In his latest for The Athletic (Subscription Required), Patrick Mooney reports that Mark Strittmatter is the leading candidate to be the Cubs' bullpen coach with the team also expected to promote Mark Weisman and Kevin Poppe to strength and conditioning coaches at the Major League level.

Given the increasing likelihood that the base coach will be hired from outside the organization, there isn't much of an update as of yet. However, providing more insight into the dismissals of Napolis and Harris, Mooney noted that the Cubs are seeking overall improvement on the basepaths despite the team being one of the leaders in steals last season.

There should be an emphasis on the roles of Weisman and Poppe. Strength and conditioning have not been a strength of the Cubs for multiple seasons now. While there is no accounting for injuries, it's worth noting that the Cubs often have a rash of soft-tissue injuries at the start of seasons. Beyond that, how the Cubs manage injuries, is also an area that needs to be improved.