The regular season is just getting started, and baseball is already delivering its signature surprises. Case in point—the Cubs vs. Diamondbacks showdown. Who saw Arizona taking down Chicago 10-6? Probably not even D-Backs fans. With stars like Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly in the lineup, this kind of collapse wasn’t in the script. But beyond the on-field shocker, it was Cubs manager Craig Counsell’s post-game comments that really got fans talking.

The Cubs were unable to maintain a 3-0 lead after six innings despite home runs from Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki, and Dansby Swanson. With Kyle Tucker’s three-run homer in the eighth inning giving the Cubs a four-run lead, a dominating win was expected for the Cubs. What followed later was an epic bullpen meltdown for the Cubs. The Cubs lost a game they could have won because Diamondbacks hitters gave up too many walks and hit too many hard-hit baseballs, which led to a devastating eight-run inning.

With that performance from the bullpen, Counsell went into a defensive mode in the post-match meeting. “In the 8th inning, we just didn’t pitch well. They got pitches to hit and they did something with them,” Counsell said. While Counsell accepted the bullpen meltdown, it was too casual for the fans who were expecting proper accountability. Taking to X, they are sharing their frustrations over Counsell’s comments.

Fans are unimpressed with Counsell’s response

Is Craig Counsell the worst manager in the Cubs’ history? That might be a stretch, but his debut season in Chicago has been far from impressive. After leading the Brewers to multiple wins and titles, expectations were sky-high when he took over in 2024. Yet, the Cubs finished with the same 83-win record as 2023—missing the playoffs again. Still, calling him the worst might be harsh. After all, Jim Marshall’s 87-loss season remains a low point in Cubs history.

Counsell is getting accused of playing the same tune after every loss. After the disappointing 2024 season, he said, “We’ve got to get better, man.” Now after a more disappointing start in 2025, he acknowledged the team’s weakness. Hence, fans are getting frustrated about how long this acknowledgment will work and why not the motivation to do better. All that is needed is the Brewers-like performance from Counsell.

While Counsell acknowledged the pitching shortcomings in the game, the fans are not going easy this time. One fan suggested putting the pitcher Eli Morgan on waivers owing to his debacle in the game. Morgan (0-1) lost to the D-Backs on Sunday, giving up six runs on six hits and a walk while striking out just two batters. So yes, Counsell is getting all the blame for letting Morgan go.

Cubs fans aren’t holding back—they want answers from team president Jed Hoyer. Did he really do enough to strengthen the pitching staff? Expectations were high for an aggressive offseason push, but as elite arms like Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, and Blake Snell came off the market, Hoyer’s big move was signing Matthew Boyd. Sure, the Cubs added Ryan Pressly, but is that enough to make them true contenders?

Complimenting Craig Counsell for his insight post-game. A sarcastic take by a user to counter the Cubs manager. It seems like fans are tired of hearing the same acknowledgment every time after a loss. They are now asking for some real-world changes to make things work. How about offering a contract to Dave Robertson? The 39-year-old veteran had a 3-4 record and 99 strikeouts last year. He might be a potent option for the half-baked bullpen of the Cubs.

The Cubs’ pitching division is poised to cause a few heartbreaks for the fans this season. Other than just acknowledging the results, Craig Counsel should be more proactive in putting up the lineup.

Do you think the Cubs are good enough for a divisional win this year? Let us know in the comments below.