CHICAGO — After a season that rarely brought smiles and deep sighs throughout Wrigley Field, manager Craig Counsell penned a touching message to the Cubs community. In a short letter posted to the team’s official website Monday morning, Counsell spoke of the “patience, faith and unconditional love” the fans have shown the team — even when everything seemed to be falling apart.
“You have no idea how much it means,” Counsell began. “When Wrigley Field is full on rainy nights, when the blue and white flags are flying even though the scoreboard is not in your favor — I know I’m in a special place.”
Counsell’s first season with the Cubs was not easy. After leaving the Milwaukee Brewers in a shocking trade, he entered Chicago with huge expectations — but a string of injuries, inconsistent performance, and media pressure kept the team from holding a position in the postseason race. Many thought he “lost the magic,” but Counsell chose to stay quiet and work hard.
When the season ended, instead of making excuses, he sent a humble message:
“We stumbled, but we never gave up. I saw these guys come out every day, knowing we were going to get criticized. I saw the fans standing there, clapping when we lost. That’s something I’ll never forget.”
In the letter, Counsell also acknowledged tactical mistakes, calling this season “the biggest lesson of his career.” But he insisted the Cubs spirit is still intact — and that’s why he believes in the future:
“We will be back. Not because we’re better, but because we know better — about ourselves, and about you.”
Beneath the post, thousands of fan comments flooded with the words “In Counsell We Trust” — a response that didn’t need to be flowery, but was enough to light up Chicago’s social media this morning.
When asked about the moment he wrote the letter, Counsell simply smiled: “I’m not writing for the press. I’m writing for the people who still come to the stadium, who still love this team, even if they have the right to be disappointed.”
That may be why, even though the Cubs don’t go far this season, there’s still confidence that the team’s future — with Counsell in the center — will be built on the strongest foundation of all: Chicago’s love of never giving up.
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