Former Chicago Cubs' free-agent bust takes shot at failed 2024 goals

The Chicago Cubs victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday brought the team back to the .500 mark on the season for the first time since the opening week of June.

It's not exactly where the Cubs were hoping they would be in the second half of Craig Counsell's first season. Counsell's former team, the Milwaukee Brewers, is coasting to its second-straight National League Central title. Entering play on Sunday, the Brewers hold a 10.5-game lead over the Cubs for first place in the division.

Considering the emphasis the Cubs placed on hiring Counsell away from the Brewers, it's Milwaukee that is having the last laugh. So much so that former Cubs' free-agent bust, Wade Miley, did not hold back when talking to Bob Nightengale of USA Today about the Brewers and the National League Central.

"Nobody on the outside ever believes in us," says veteran starter Wade Miley. "Nobody gives us a chance. People always count us out year after year. But it’s an expectation here in Milwaukee to be in the playoffs every single year. This is our division."

Wade Miley's truth hurts for Cubs fans.

Miley is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier this season. However, he has spent the past two seasons with the Brewers. Of course, Miley was with the Cubs in 2022, but injuries limited him to only nine appearances.

The expectation for the Cubs in 2024 was that the hiring of Counsell would lead to them winning the National League Central. Instead, what the team has learned from failing at that goal is that the Brewers' success extended far beyond Counsell. Given their success this season, it's further proof that the Brewers, in their current iteration, are a better organization than the Cubs.

The hope for the Cubs is that this offseason sees Counsell having a greater influence on the coaching staff. It's a small step but one that would be necessary if the Cubs want to enjoy the consistent success that the Brewers have.