The Chicago Cubs’ coaching pressure is starting to build as the team has not met its expectations. While the team has had multiple 10-game winning streaks, those have not told the whole story of the season. Much of the blame has been on the coaching staff for various reasons. The hitting and pitching have been inconsistent. Meanwhile, the starting lineups have remained fairly consistent in the struggles, as the team is not experimenting with the young stars, who may be able to provide a spark that could have helped the team’s slump in May. All of this has left fans frustrated, which creates an interesting dilemma about the future of the coaching staff.
Behind the Growing Cubs Coaching Pressure
While the Cubs’ coaching pressure has been growing for years, this season has made it a lot more visible. Fans are growing increasingly frustrated, as May has been marked by poor play. As a result, the Cubs have once again fallen behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the division. There have been a few things that have gone right. Besides the breakout season that Ben Brown has had, the starting rotation has struggled. A majority of the hitters have struggled with consistently getting hits. Unless the team rebounds, it is hard to say that any of the positional coaches are safe. Additionally, Chicago has not made any adjustments that could make fans feel promise for the rest of the year.
Recent Struggles
Fans have been frustrated for a few seasons. When the team brought in Craig Counsell, on a deal that had made him the highest-paid manager at the time, the hope was that he would bring Chicago to the next level. During his time with the team, it has not gone so well. He has now coached for three seasons, and the results are overall disappointing. His first season was in 2024, which resulted in an 83-79 record. They missed the postseason and lost the division to the Brewers.
Last season was far better, as they went 92-70, which resulted in making the postseason. Although they did finish second in the division to the Brewers once again. The postseason had mixed results, as they beat the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round before losing to the Brewers. As it has become a theme, Chicago can’t get past Milwaukee, which may be one of the most disappointing things. Last season also saw the Cubs collapse during the regular season, which cost them their division lead.
Overall, Chicago has struggled to cross into the next level. They have been stuck in the same spot for many years. At this point, it seems like the plan for the team’s staff could be in place. If they miss the playoffs, a change in the coaching staff may be necessary. If they were to make the playoffs, it would likely keep their jobs safe for another season. Anything further than the first round likely freezes the Cubs’ coaching pressure for a bit more time.
Focusing on 2026
It is easy to take a step back and look at the future of the team. If you do not think that Counsell can be a long-term solution, then you may want to start looking at other options. However, this season is what matters the most. It can be argued that they not only have one of the best rosters in the division, but potentially the whole league. They were able to fight back against the Pittsburgh Pirates to split the series and now must take on the St. Louis Cardinals in a rivalry with plenty of history. While it has been an underwhelming stretch, the National League Central is still completely up for grabs.
Last Word on the Cubs Coaching Pressure
At some point, potential and expectations have to translate into results. The Cubs still have plenty of talent with positional players, pitchers, and even coaches. If they can all get to the same level, then they are perfectly capable of quieting some of the criticism. However, the pressure on the coaching staff is becoming hard to ignore. If Chicago can’t contend this season, then a difficult decision could be waiting once the season comes to an end.
Main Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
