Cubs Managers

I had a decent write-up on this, but Firefox ate it. Eff it.

Anyway, Quade has been named Cubs manager with a two year deal and a third year club option. No word on what will happen with Ryne Sandberg other than he'll pursue other managerial openings. Of course, the only other team mentioned has been the Toronto Blue Jays and they're interviewing everyone and seemed to be favoring Sandy Alomar Jr. at the moment if the reports that they've brought him in for a third interview are true. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if Will Carroll's tweet rumor comes to fruition by the end of it all that Sandberg does indeed become the bench coach.

What can we infer from this move? Well unfortunately, the Ricketts seem serious about this whole let Hendry run the organization corporate philosophy they've been spouting since they took over. Quade is obviously a Hendry favorite joining the organization at about the same time Hendry took over the GM job. Then he was named to Lou's coaching staff despite any known past relationship between the two and finally picked as the interim manager last year when Ryne Sandberg or Alan Trammell could have just as easily been named.

I'm not going to put much stock in the team's magical turnaround last year under Quade. I believe the term, "dead cat bounce" is appropriate. He might be do good, he might do poorly and it'll most likely be determined by the moves the Cubs make this offseason and if some of the minor league talent continues to progress. Ultimately I would have preferred Sandberg get the job of course, he's the guy many of us grew up rooting for and those things just kind of stick with you, but I understand the hesitation as well on Hendry's part.

Godspeed Quade. Enjoy the honeymoon, it won't last.

Will Carroll tweets that Mike Quade will get the manager job for 2011 with Ryne Sandberg being promoted to bench coach.

In related news, I've registered firequade.com.

In future news, calls for Mike Quade to be fired will start around game 5 of next season.

UPDATE: If it wasn't obvious enough from "Will Carroll tweets", this was the beginning stages of a rumor. One in which Carroll then backed off when a guy "who's very WIRED into the Cubs" told him he was wrong, "especially on the timing" (the original tweet said it could be announced as soon as next week). Wittenmyer tweets, "don't believe every tweet you read".

I could not begin to tell you with any type of certainty who is right or wrong or what will happen, but I would say an examination of recent history would lead to the conclusion that Mike Quade is Hendry's choice. If that means anything in the end, I guess we'll find out. Hendry could have very easily gave Sandberg (or Trammell) the interim job after Piniella quit, but chose Quade. Then Quade went and done good, got the backing of the players, all of which most likely justified Hendry's decision in his mind. Whether the Ricketts pull rank on Hendry and insist on Sandberg to create some buzz and sell ticket plans, remains to be seen.

Ex-Sox skipper Jerry Manuel is already in place in New York. Now, the heads are continuing to roll in Seattle. The M's have canned manager John McLaren and replaced him with bench coach and former Cubs manager Jim Riggleman.

After three seasons running the Padres, Riggleman managed the Cubs from '95 through '99 and went 374-419 (.472). The team's best season under Riggs was in 1998, The Year of Sammy, when they went 90-73 and won a one-game playoff against the Giants to reach the post-season.