Counsell's Quick Hook on Colin Rea Has Cubs Fans Fuming

That's the context the Rea decision lands in. When you're scoring once a night, every pitcher who's giving you length is precious cargo. Pulling a guy who's cruising at 69 pitches in a tie game is the kind of move that maybe plays in May when you've got runs to burn. The Cubs have not had runs to burn in roughly a month.

Steven Cheah

@StevenCheah

Good outing my Jamo! Now if we can only get a few runs…

And the lineup tinkering on top of it isn't exactly inspiring confidence. Moving Dansby Swanson up the order is the kind of shuffle that says the coaching staff is searching, not solving. Cheah's reaction to that one said it all without saying anything.

Steven Cheah

@StevenCheah

Dansby is moving UP in the order?

The bigger picture: Counsell was the splashy hire, the guy who was supposed to squeeze every drop out of a roster that needed managing. Instead the Cubs are stuck in a stretch where the manager's biggest decisions are getting second-guessed in real time by their own broadcasters, beat reporters, and now the loudest Barstool voice in the fanbase. 69 pitches isn't the whole problem. It's just the cleanest example of it.