Mike Quade Era Starts With A Bang, Will Surely End with a Whimper
The Cubs came out thumping last night for their new manager knocking out 15 hits and taking 6 walks, 3 of them by Soto as they pitched around him in the 8th spot. The last time the Cubs had an interim manager it was 2002 and the job went to Bruce Kimm (with Rene Lachemann getting one game before Kimm took over). The Cubs responded well that first game for Kimm, winning 7-3 over the Braves, but he ended up going 33-45 on the year, nearly identical to Baylor who was 34-49 before being fired.
You have to go to 1991 for the next mid-season firing, when Don Zimmer got canned after going 18-19 and once again a one game gig was given to bridge the gap, but this time to Joe Altobelli before Jim Essian took over. If my math is right, the Cubs won that game as well for Essian, a 5-2 win over the Mets thanks to Greg Maddux, but Essian didn't fare much better than Zimmer did for the rest of the season finishing with a 59-63 record.
Some other interim manager results since 1970 for the Cubs.
1987 - Frank Lucchesi (8-17), lost first game to Pirates 4-1. Replaced Gene Michael (68-68).
1986 - Gene Michael (46-56), lost first game to Cardinals 1-0. Replaced Jim Frey (23-33).
1983 - Charlie Fox(17-22) , won first game 2-0 over Reds. Replaced Lee Elia (54-69).
1980 - Joey Amalfitano (26-46), lost first game 14-6 to Giants. Replaced Preston Gomez (38-52).
1979 - Joey Amalfitano (2-5), lost first game 3-1 to Mets. Replaced Herman Franks who resigned (78-77).
1974 - Jim Marshall (25-44), lost first game 10-2 to the Phillies. Replaced Whitey Lockman (41-52).
1972 - Whitey Lockman (39-26), lost first game 6-5 to the Astros. Replaced Leo Durocher (46-44).
Kimm nor Essian got to keep the job the following year and I'm sure the same will happen for Quade unless the team goes on a crazy hot streak to finish the year. Gene Michael was the last interim manager to keep the job after the '86 season although he didn't even make it through the '87 season. Amalfitano did get a chance in the strike shortened '81 season but with poor results. Marshall stayed through 1976 before being replaced by Herman Franks in 1977 and Whitey Lockman stayed on for 1973 and part of 1974.
Quade's big move for tonight against the lefty Lannan is to move Soto up to the 6th spot, offsetting that inspirational move by batting Jeff Baker 5th and playing him in RF. Dewitt stays in the leadoff spot after going 3/5 with a HR and a 2B. Byrd sits after being hit in the hand yesterday and leaving the game early.
DeWitt 2B, Castro SS, Nady 1B, Ramirez 3B, Baker RF, Soto C, Soriano LF, Colvin CF, Zambrano P
And Justin Berg has been optioned to Iowa, lefty Scott Maine has been recalled (acquired in the offseason in a deal for Aaron Heilman).
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