{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreieqhyoon2ntmgjg3tlf3ktvstjar4rxj2r6litd6wgnvxkup76waa",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:ha7wpngv4f2qwrk5hta4ktbb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh3c3gkwtfd2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreifibm2m3zcw6iqexluf4ix6nxrkcqvbteer75gerysqnhia7mymc4"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/png",
    "size": 1180892
  },
  "path": "/white-sox/2026/03/14/cubs-manage-without-manager-craig-counsell",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-15T04:29:37.904Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Cubs were without their manager for a second consecutive day, and no one around the club seemed to mind. In fact, knowing camp would run smoothly with bench coach <b>Ryan Flaherty</b> at the helm made <b>Craig Counsell</b> being away to watch his daughter play basketball seem like a win-win for all involved.</p><p>“Early in camp, he made sure each staff member would have a day to take off,” said Flaherty, who coordinates the Cubs’ spring camp plan. “It’s Craig’s [turn], and he gets to see his daughter play in a big basketball game. It’s pretty special.’’</p><p>Junior point guard <b>Rowan Counsell</b> averaged a team-high 21.4 points for the Whitefish Bay Blue Dukes, who played in the Wisconsin Division 2 state semifinals Friday and championship game Saturday night in Green Bay.</p><p>It has been a good couple of family weeks for Counsell, whose son <b>Brady </b>played against the Cubs in a Cactus League game on March 5. Brady, a Diamondbacks prospect, exchanged lineup cards with his father before the first pitch.</p><p>It was time for Counsell to be a girl dad this weekend. Flaherty, a father of three, was glad to see it happen.</p><p>“It’s a time of year we have a chance to do that because in the regular season, we don’t have that chance,” he said.</p><p>“It’s six weeks we’re here. It’s the same thing every day, and you kind of get away from it, come back refreshed and maybe you come up with a good idea on an off day. I think it’s good.”</p><p><b>Brown sharp</b></p><p><b>Ben Brown</b>, who’s being stretched out as a starter but would be fit to assume a multi-innings relief role if he makes the Opening Day roster, was excellent as a starter with four innings of one-run, two-hit ball against the Rockies on Saturday.</p><p>“I threw a ton of good pitches today,” Brown said. “Most changeups and executed sinkers I’ve thrown. The four-seamer played really well off the sinker. Really encouraging.”</p><p><b>Jake McCarthy</b> tripled and scored on a groundout in the Rockies’ first, but after that, Brown racked up six strikeouts from the second inning through the fourth inning without walking a batter or allowing a hit. He struck out <b>Ethan Holliday</b>, McCarthy and <b>Brenton Doyle</b> in order in the third.</p><p>“We’re hitting our stride right now,” Brown said. “The awkward swings and soft contact . . . we wanted early, easy outs. Just seeing the swings was encouraging.”</p><p>Brown (5.92 ERA last season in 106⅓ innings with 15 starts) had sparkling moments, but an up-and-down 2025 saw him dropped from the rotation. The Cubs’ rotation has plenty of depth, so it’s possible Brown opens the season at Triple-A Iowa to continue starting.</p><p>Bouncing back from a rough outing against the Padres, Brown (3.38 spring ERA) threw 51 pitches, 39 for strikes.</p><p><b>Ouch</b></p><p>Top shortstop prospect <b>Jefferson Rojas</b> walked off the field with training staff after making a play in the field. There was no immediate word on the extent of the injury for Rojas (1-for-3), who had the only hit against left-hander <b>Kyle Freeland</b> in his scoreless three-inning outing. It was a 110.1 mph liner into the left-field corner for a double.</p><p><b>Rockies 4, Cubs 3</b></p><p><b>Braxton Fulford</b> walked off the Cubs with a two-run home run against <b>Grant Kipp</b> at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale on Saturday. The Cubs are 9-11 this spring with 10 days and 10 games left in camp.</p><p>• Catcher <b>Moises Ballesteros</b> was 1-for-3 with a double and a run and had three balls overturned for ABS strikes for <b>Ben Brown</b>. Right fielder <b>Kevin Alcantara</b> had two of the Cubs’ eight hits, including an RBI single. Designated hitter <b>Jonathon Long</b>, back after being out with a bruised left elbow, went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.</p><p>• Opening Day starter <b>Matthew Boyd</b>, his stint at the World Baseball Classic completed, will pitch in a minor-league game Sunday on four days of rest after his last outing with Team USA.</p><p>• <b>On deck: </b>Dodgers at Cubs, 3:05 p.m. Sunday, Mesa, Marquee, 670-AM/104.3-FM, <b>Emmet Sheehan</b> vs. <b>Jameson Taillon</b>.</p>",
  "title": "Cubs manage without manager Craig Counsell",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-15T04:36:16.869Z"
}