Cubs land MLB legend Jerry Weinstein to their coaching staff |
When the news broke that Craig Counsell was moving on from several coaches less than 48 hours after the season ended, you knew a changing of the guard was coming. After all, Counsell was hired late in the coaching process last season, and many felt he settled with most of David Ross's staff due to the unavailability of some of the guys he wanted.
That was then, and this is now, as Counsell will have 100% complete control over his staff this season and will be allowed to go after anyone he wants. That could mean some Brewer coaches, but whether or not they decide to leave their current position to join the Cubs will be entirely up to them. To retool their coaching staff from the top down, the first coaching hire of the offseason has been made as 81-year-old MLB legend Jerry Weinstein and the Cubs have agreed to a contract for an unspecified role. Weinstein broke the news on his X account. Given that MLB has taken a more analytically driven approach, this is an interesting hire, but one that many Cubs fans should support. Weinstein is an old-school coach who doesn't like to get involved with the analytic side of the game; instead, he likes to feel the game out. That is a lost art in today's world, and that approach will be a welcomed one for the Cubs staff, as he can give them a wide array of input. This is what Weinstein had to say via his X account. "I can’t believe I’m making a job change at almost 81 years old, but I’m leaving the Rockies to work for the Cubs," he posted. "I’ve been with the Rockies for 18 years & had the privilege to work for a great front office, with great coaches & staff, & a top rate ownership group." "Can’t say enough good things about the players as well. I can honestly say I never had a bad day. However, I have been offered an expanded role with the Cubs, and I look forward to this new challenge. Very sincerely, jw" Spending nearly 20 years in an organization is a rarity in today's game, but that goes to show you the amount of respect the Rockies had for him to keep on board that long. You also have to look at his age (81), which goes to show you how long he has been part of this game, as there aren't many coaches with the knowledge he has. Looking at the roles he filled with the Rockies, Weinstein has been on the big league staff but has also worked in the minors as the team minor league coaching to player development to managing to scout. Given how much stock Jed Hoyer has put into his Minor League system, you have to wonder if a Minor League role is opening up for him to take hold of. While his experience in the majors is second to none, Weinstein's journey goes far beyond the US ranks, as he has taken his knowledge worldwide. Not only was he a coach on the US World Baseball Classic team, but he was also the Manager of Team Israel in a separate World Baseball Classic and has worked with some of the best players in the world on the biggest stage. Throw in his experience as Cape Cod League manager, and Weinstein has worked with players of all ages and skill sets, so he knows a lot about how to talk with players. Before taking the jobs mentioned above, Weinstein spent a ton of time in the minors, including some time in the Cubs Minor League system, as that is the one area where he seems to have the most success. He was also a collegiate coach for several seasons and the Director of Player Development in the Angels system, as his list of accolades and job titles in this game is endless. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that he is already in the Coaches Hall of Fame and got involved in coaching one year after graduating college. Weinstein has done it all and for the most part has done it with success and class which is what the Cubs organization is looking for. Despite that, he isn't ready to hang it up just yet and will look to work his magic one last time with the Cubs. Although he doesn't have a specific role yet, you don't hire this guy to hire him and make up a role. You hire because you want him and feel like you need him, and the Cubs wanted him. The experience that he has accumulated and the knowledge that his brain has for the scouting, development, coaching, and teaching roles can't be overlooked, as the importance of that can go a long way. This is a massive hire for the Cubs and one that a lot more people will be talking about as we inch closer to next season.
