Craig Counsell was introduced officially as manager of the Chicago Cubs on Monday, though the shocking move has been discussed at length in the baseball world for the last week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Milwaukee Brewers saw Counsell become a true free agent as a manager, and he was expected to be a hot commodity for those with a vacancy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead, Counsell and the Cubs reached an agreement that led to David Ross’ firing as the team’s manager.\u00a0<\/p>\n
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM<\/strong><\/p>\n Craig Counsell is introduced as the Chicago Cubs new manager at Wrigley Field on November 13, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.<\/span> (Matt Dirksen\/Chicago Cubs\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Counsell was a name Brewers fans knew for 17 years as a player and manager, so heading to an NL Central rival hurt the masses in Milwaukee. Speaking with reporters from his now-former city, Counsell admitted he didn’t realize the backlash that would come with his decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It was 17 years,” Counsell said. “I started to understand that. It\u2019s a long time. It was people that mean a lot to you and will continue to. But that dynamic has changed. I understand it all. I understand the emotion.<\/p>\n “And I did. I underestimated the emotion of that all. And that\u2019s probably why it hits you so hard.”<\/p>\n Counsell spent six years in a Brewers uniform as a player, including his final five years from 2007-2011 before taking over as the team’s manager in 2015. And in that gap, Counsell was a front-office member of the Brewers immediately after retiring, while also serving as a radio analyst to call games.\u00a0<\/p>\n BREWERS OWNER THROWS SHADE AT CRAIG COUNSELL SAME DAY SIGN WITH FORMER MANAGER’S NAME FOUND VANDALIZED AT PARK<\/strong><\/p>\n As a manager, Counsell led the Brewers to the postseason in five of the last six seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n “My time in Milwaukee working for the Brewers was wonderful,” Counsell continued. “The experience that I think we\u2019ve all had there \u2014 I think \u2014 has been pretty darn good. I\u2019m thankful for that. Very, very thankful for that. I hope we can all be thankful for that, really.”<\/p>\n The Brewers were publicly frustrated with the Counsell decision during a media session to discuss what the city and surrounding areas in Wisconsin were dealing with.\u00a0<\/p>\n Craig Counsell (L) is introduced as the Chicago Cubs new manager by President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer at Wrigley Field on November 13, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.<\/span> (Matt Dirksen\/Chicago Cubs\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “I\u2019m not going to speak for Craig,” owner Mark Attanasio said. “He spoke plenty over the past several weeks as to what he was trying to do. We\u2019ll see if it was successful, or if this was a one-off.<\/p>\n “[We\u2019re all here] today because we\u2019ve lost Craig, but I\u2019ve reflected on this. Craig has lost us, and he\u2019s lost our community also.”\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Craig](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/1200\/675\/c03d22f2-Craig-Counsell-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
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