Craig Counsell is a refreshing change as the Cubs’ manager after a decade of Joe Maddon and David Ross. Maddon holds his place in team history for ending a 108-year championship drought, while Ross will probably be remembered more for his leadership as a player than as the guy calling the shots. Those two had similar personalities, though Counsell sits at the opposite end of that spectrum. His work ethic and attention to detail are outstanding, if not a bit geeky.
There’s much more to Counsell than hard work and an affinity for analytics, however.