The Cubs’ first-year manager might have been at his most animated all season in throwing down a challenge to the entire organization.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell admits a 'big gap' exists between the Brewers and the rest of the NL Central division.

When the Chicago Cubs made Craig Counsell the highest-paid manager in baseball history, thus pilfering the leader of the rival Milwaukee Brewers in the process, this is not the end result the front office had in mind.

The Milwaukee Brewers have done it. Despite going through plenty of changes both on an organizational-level and in the big-league roster this past offseason, the Brewers have secured the NL Central crown on Wednesday by virtue of a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies and a 5-3 loss for the Chicago Cubs.