Cubs' Counsell Pushes Bunting for Star Player

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell has expressed a desire for his young center fielder, Pete Crow-Armstrong, to incorporate more bunting into his game. This approach diverges from the current baseball trend, which heavily emphasizes home runs and power hitting, often sidelining traditional "small ball" tactics like bunting. Counsell's philosophy suggests that strategic bunting could provide a stabilizing element to Crow-Armstrong's game, potentially smoothing out the "highs and lows" he experienced in the previous season.

During a recent appearance on MLB Network, Counsell detailed his reasoning, acknowledging Crow-Armstrong's significant power potential and expected home runs throughout his career. However, he also pointed to the player's streaky performance patterns. Counsell believes that "gradually improving" aspects of his game, such as swing decisions and using the opposite field, alongside more frequent bunting, could lead to more consistent offensive output for the young star.

The discussion also touched on the conventional wisdom surrounding bunting, particularly in difficult counts like 0-2. Despite some pushback, Counsell remained steadfast in his view that bunting can be a valuable, albeit underutilized, tool. His encouragement for Crow-Armstrong to bunt more highlights a potential shift in strategic thinking, even within an analytics-driven sport, emphasizing player development and consistency.