WATCH: Craig Counsell reacts to passing of Ryne Sandberg, roster moves, more

Tony Crumpton · Senior Editor · 16 hours ago

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell spoke to the media at American Family Field in Milwaukee to discuss how the Cubs are honoring Ryne Sandberg, Tuesday's roster moves, and more.

Watch the pregame video below:

Video summary/cliff notes:

(00:00) Craig Counsell reflects on the "Forever 23" shirts honoring Ryne Sandberg, saying it “hits home a little more” and the team wants to spotlight his legacy and what he represented as both a man and a Cub.

(01:03) Counsell recalls the statue unveiling as his favorite day as a Cub, emphasizing that his role is not just to win games but to bring people together — and that day was powerful in that regard.

(01:57) He notes how everyone has a personal story about Sandberg, describing him as a quiet man who still lit up a room — a rare and special trait.

(02:31) Counsell stresses the importance of recognizing people while they're still around. He expresses gratitude for Sandberg’s presence, especially while battling cancer and still showing up in uniform.

(03:02) Shifting topics, he discusses the difficult conversation of designating Chris Flexen, calling him a valuable contributor and acknowledging the unfairness that can come with tough roster decisions.

(04:05) Counsell acknowledges the battle ahead in the standings, predicting it may come down to the last week of the season given the competition.

(04:35) When asked about back-to-back poor starts from his top pitchers, he reflects that it highlights just how good they normally are — and how fine the margin is at the major league level.

(05:45) Reports on pitcher Jordan Wicks ("JO") are positive — everything went as planned and he’s set to start Saturday in Iowa.

(06:14) Regarding recent roster moves (like with Flexen), Counsell says it was primarily about getting a fresh arm, not necessarily paving the way for a trade — though he’s unsure what will happen in the next 3 days.

(06:38) Personally, Counsell says losing Sandberg is hard, but he chooses to focus on gratitude — for the friendship and the impact Sandberg had on him and others.