WATCH: Craig Counsell on Kyle Tucker boosting Cubs' offense |
Tony Crumpton
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- Sunday, April 20 2025
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell spoke to media before the Cubs' opportunity to sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks to talk Jameson Taillon, the progress of Cubs hitters and more.
Watch the pregame video below:
Video summary/cliff-notes:
(00:01–00:38) Counsell praises Jamison Taillon for sticking to his strengths—especially his breaking ball to right-handers and improved use of the changeup against lefties.
(01:20) Counsell discusses his straightforward media style, attributing it to being true to himself rather than a strategic approach.
(01:55–02:30) Kyle Tucker is credited as a “big deal” offensively—elite at-bats, generating runs, and creating opportunities by getting on base.
(03:08–03:43) Counsell notes the development of young players like Pete and Michael, emphasizing growth over time rather than “light bulb” moments.
(04:17–04:54) Reflecting on last season’s offensive struggles, he feels the current lineup is deeper and more athletic, helping make offensive success more sustainable.
(05:32–06:08) A star player like Tucker contributes significantly by generating attention, traffic on bases, and wins through elite performance.
(06:42–07:20) While Tucker doesn’t directly help teammates get hits, his presence enhances offensive situations by increasing base traffic and pressure on pitchers.
(08:02) Game-planning often involves extra attention on elite offensive players—strategies vary from pitching carefully to limiting base runners ahead of them.
(08:48) Injury updates: One player heads to Phoenix with no new medical info, while Tyson will pitch a back-to-back for Iowa after a rainout.
