The rapid change under the hood for the Chicago Cubs’ organization continues apace, with a whole lotta turnover hitting the training staff.
We already knew that long-time strength and conditioning coach Tim Buss was out, and we also knew that medical administration director Mark O’Neal departed this summer. But there’s more:
#Cubs' turnover continues with several exits for members of their athletic training staff, sources tell @MLBBruceLevine https://t.co/rYkWnvX9GK pic.twitter.com/pIxjgRGGIg
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) November 4, 2019
Per Bruce Levine, “Assistant athletic trainer Matt Johnson, massage therapist Laura Paluch and yoga instructor Christine Schwan won’t return for the 2020 season, sources said. All three were a part of the Cubs’ traveling party and played key roles in the players’ daily preparation.”
For now it appears that head athletic trainer PJ Mainville is still on the staff, and the mental skills program is still going. But so much of the rest of the training staff is being turned over. That process started last year with the two notable hires from the NFL, and clearly is accelerating.
I can’t speak to the efficacy of the training staff, because so much of what they do is not visible to us – and is reliant on the players doing their thing – but obviously the problems with injuries and recoveries and timelines and drains on performance have been really significant the last few years. It would have surprised me if the Cubs *weren’t* turning over some portion of the staff.
Best of luck to those departing, and also best of luck to the Cubs in improving this area.