Mike Quade, New Cubs Manager, "Gets It"
by Al Yellon on Oct 19, 2010 5:18 PM CDT
in Chicago Cubs News
Email
Print
Remember a couple of years ago when I suggested the Cubs pick up Kevin Millar, because he was the player who led the Red Sox "idiots" to the World Series? Because he was the one who finally was able to get the message through to the Red Sox players that the alleged "curse" meant nothing?
OK, I got laughed at, and justifiably so at the time, because Millar wasn't a very good player by then. And when the Cubs brought Millar to spring training this year, he wasn't very good either and wound up providing comic relief and then retiring. It wasn't Millar that the Cubs needed, it was someone like him; someone who could tell the team that the 102 years didn't mean anything, that they just, presuming they are talented enough (as they were in 2008), need to go out and play baseball and forget about the rest of that, someone who understands Cubs history and culture and what it means to be a Cubs player and fan.
Maybe it wasn't a player they needed. Mike Quade just might be that guy.
Introduced today as the 51st manager in Cubs history (57th if you count the sad souls who were the College of Coaches), Quade essentially said just that: asked about the 102-year drought and all the media-driven frenzy that often surrounds it, he claimed it doesn't matter -- that he'd tell his players to just focus on their jobs and do what they know best.
Perhaps the most meaningful thing Quade said at his introductory press conference was, "I know six weeks isn't six months." He knows he has work to do, but clearly, he already has the respect of the players on the existing roster -- many of whom will be back next year, and many of whom he has coached for four years at the major league level, and four years before that as the manager at Triple-A Iowa.
And that's what owner Tom Ricketts said was one of the three most important criteria in hiring a manager: first, that he should want to be a coach (or teacher); second, that he be committed to the organization, and third, that he know the city and the team. Quade went to Prospect High in Mt. Prospect and used to sit in what we called "the grandstands" at Wrigley Field in those days with his parents. He's about a year younger than I am -- so he grew up with the great teams of the late 1960's who never made it to the postseason. As a fan growing up with those teams, he surely felt the disappointment that we all felt. And Quade admitted that he's an "organizational guy"; he said he'll play the roster that Jim Hendry gives him and ask every man on it to give his maximum effort.
And really, what more could any of us ask from a leader of this team? Quade, to be sure, is not a Dusty Baker or Lou Piniella, coming into Chicago with a World Series win or appearance under his belt and, presumably, "knowing" what it would take to win in Chicago. Both men admitted, not long after taking the job, that they had no idea what they were getting into. Even something like attending their first Cubs Convention was an education for Baker and Piniella -- that type of event wasn't part of their experience in San Francisco, Cincinnati or Seattle. Mike Quade already knows what that's about, having attended previous conventions and also having been a spring training instructor before he was a minor-league manager in the Cubs organization. He's now spent eight years in the organization as well as having grown up in Chicago; his street cred here is unassailable.
Jim Hendry said, as we all pretty much assumed, that the "short list" of candidates was narrowed to three -- Quade, Ryne Sandberg and Eric Wedge -- by last week. When Wedge was hired in Seattle, that dropped it to two. All three candidates had also interviewed separately with Tom Ricketts, then each had a separate dinner with the Ricketts siblings, so they could all get to know each one. But Hendry said he didn't want to waste time by interviewing 12 or 14 people; he said, as I had written here several times, that he wanted to have his management team in place by the time of the organizational meetings, which will begin the first week of November. To that end, Quade, Hendry and Randy Bush will begin to select their coaches over the next two weeks.
And that brings us to Ryne Sandberg. Hendry said he broke the news to Ryno this morning, and it was a tough thing for him to do. He said he has the ultimate respect for Sandberg as a player and person and there will always be "a place for him in the Cubs family," though what that "place" will be is uncertain. Could Sandberg be welcomed back as a coach if he doesn't find a job elsewhere? No one wanted to commit to that today, neither Hendry nor Quade, but neither closed the door on such a possibility. Sandberg, for his part, is clearly disappointed.
I thought I'd be, too. As most of you know, I have been in the Sandberg-for-manager camp for months -- not because I loved him as a player (even though I did), but because I thought he had done the work asked of him, proven himself, and was prepared to be a major league manager. Others disagreed -- we had many spirited discussions -- and though I stayed in Sandberg's corner, I did try to listen to the arguments in favor of others. It appears clear that Joe Girardi was never considered -- Hendry didn't directly address that issue at the news conference, saying only that Girardi has a great job with the Yankees and that "Mike Quade was our guy regardless of the time frame."
But I think some of the over-the-top "I'm never going to be a Cubs fan again" or "I'm cancelling my trip to Chicago" comments over this are unnecessary. Mike Quade has energy -- just listening to him talk, you can see the man is engaged and thinking about baseball every step of the way -- and passion for his work. In a followup question to a reporter who asked him about the day games (he mentioned that when he was in Oakland, they played the second-most day games in MLB to the Cubs), I asked him whether he'd try to put together a bench of players who could step in and start, to give his regulars rest (you all know that's something we haven't had the last two years). His answer was illuminating: though he acknowledged that a good bench is always a good thing to have, if his regulars are doing the job and don't need rest, he wouldn't force it just to say he's doing so.
A thinking man's manager, willing to change with conditions. What a breath of fresh air. I think the Cubs got the right guy. I'll be interested to see how they fill out the coaching staff in the next two weeks.
434 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I really like this hire.
Its completely different than typical “cubdom”. A guy who loves baseball. Not a baseball star. A lifer who still (seemingly) has some actual LIFE left in him.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
by Allie on Oct 19, 2010 5:24 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
It's a very gutsy move IMHO.
It would have been tempting for the Chicago Cubs to pick Ryne Sandberg over Mike Quade because it would sell tickets and be the popular thing to do. Sandberg’s minor-league record notwithstanding, hiring someone because it’s popular is precisely the wrong thing to do. Larry Bowa was hired as Phillies manager in 2000 and one of the main reasons why is because the Phillies at the time had low attendance. They needed a guy who could fire up the fanbase so they picked Bowa who is still loved in Philadelphia. 4 years later, Bowa was fired and replaced by Charlie Manuel. I think we all remember how Phillies fans reacted to Manuel’s hire. They hated Charlie Manuel. The fans and the media mocked him, calling him “Uncle Charlie.” Now, 6 years later, “Uncle Charlie” is loved in Philadelphia. He took them to the World Series 2 years in a row, winning 1 World Series, and he might guide them there a 3rd year in a row this year.
Had Mike Quade finished the season with a losing record as manager, Ryne Sandberg would have been named the manager IMHO. You can’t deny success. The Cubs played like a completely different team the last 40 games under Quade than they did under Piniella. They looked, at times, like they were sleepwalking while playing for Lou. It was like a spark lit in the clubhouse once Mike Quade took over as manager. I am happy that it was Quade who was selected.
by jeffmills1972 on Oct 19, 2010 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Not necessarily the best analogy
The Phillies hadn’t had a winning season in seven years when Bowa was hired, and in three of the four seasons he was there, they were over .500 (one game below in 2002). They won 21 more games in 2001 than in 2000. He WAS successful.
As for the Cubs, Sandberg and Quade were about equal in my opinion. And if you have a chance to keep a team icon in the family under those circumstances, you do it. They still should have waited to see if Girardi was interested (and by his comments today, it appears he might have been). But for whatever reason, Hendry can make a million bone-headed decisions and still keep his job. Having said all that, Quade seems like a really good guy, and I hope he’s a great success.
"I need the warmth of your smile to heat my frostbitten sorrow."
by markleonette on Oct 19, 2010 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions
the lack of kevin millar is why the cubs sucked this year
what? too late?
He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA
no, i got it
it just that someone somewhere thinks millars whoopee cushions would have risen this team to the promised land
He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA
by jesus christos on Oct 19, 2010 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions
It's not that.
It’s someone who can get the players to forget about the pressure. They obviously felt it in 2008. They need to not care about that.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
That's what I've never been able to understand
On the one hand I hear people say this job is a huge pressure cooker, it’s been a 102 years with out a title, it’s a tremendous burden, and whoever comes in here better understand that. Then seemingly in the same breath they say we need someone who doesn’t care about any of that. Well, which is it?
I’d like to think that if I were the new manager of the Cubs, I wouldn’t give two shits what happened prior to me taking the job. I wouldn’t care if it’s been 1 year or 102 years since the last title – I’d only care about what’s going to happen from this point forward. Of course, I’d probably figure out a nicer way to say that but the point remains.
So can someone explain why this 102 year thing is so important to the team and its manager right in the here and now?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I'd go so far as to say...
that we need a GM and Manager that are willing to say that to the media and fans just the way you put it the first time.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Oct 19, 2010 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Alright then... when I make it big, you're my PR guy!
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Because it's human nature.
And regardless of whether you want it to or not, it has gotten into the players’ heads. It’s hard NOT to think of that when you come here and you think, “I want to be on the team that breaks this drought.” — or — “I want to be the manager of the team that breaks the drought.”
That’s just human nature. Of course you want to do that. But someone has to be the guy who makes everyone KNOW that it doesn’t matter.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Well, that and the media bringing it up every 5 minutes
may have some influence on it getting inside the player’s heads…
There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?
Right.
Which is why the team needs someone — ANYONE — there, who understands it and can say, “Screw all that.”
Maybe Quade is that guy.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Hope so. He seems to be so far...
There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?
Sigh
Puh-leaze…
Quade? Really Quade?
Quade is not the person who is going to make the Cubs forget about the pressure. In fact Quade is never even going to sniff a playoff appearance (but that’s really not the point). The reason he is not, even if the Cubs we’re lucky enough to make it to the playoffs, is because he doesn’t perform on the field. Quade won’t pitch to a batter, hit a home run, field a grounder, or throw out a base runner.
You don’t change the culture of a team by saying things like, “the curse means nothing”. You send that message by performing. I would even argue that Schilling and Ortiz we’re the two guys who changed the outlook of those Sox teams.
Seriously, do you think back to the 2004 Red Sox and say to yourself, “Wow, they did it because Francona made them feel no pressure.”? No, you think about Schilling pitching in game six and Ortiz hitting in clutch situations.
That’s why I have been advocating so heavily for the Cubs to invest in an elite ace pitcher. Somebody who excels in pressure situations. Somebody who carries the team on their shoulders and performs. Considering the state of the current team, it may not matter now. But in 2013 or later the Cubs need that type of player.
THE FONZ HAS ARRIVED!
You don’t change the culture of a team by saying things like, "the curse means nothing". You send that message by performing.
That’s exactly what he said, in essence. He said he’d keep the focus on playing baseball and winning baseball games.
Yes, the Cubs need some better players. But that’s a good start from a leader.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
You're half right
The Cubs, like every organization, need better players. The thing is though that you have no way of knowing whether or not Quade is ever going to "sniff a playoff appearance). Sorry, I don’t believe in psychics.
I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey
You are right in that the manager is not the biggest factor
But then, why did you even bother to post here, let alone write a fairly long post? Why even respond to this non-event?
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
Because
Al wrote that he thought that Quade may be the manager that get the Cubs players past the pressure of 102+ years. I stated that I don’t buy into the idea that a manager has that effect nearly as much as certain players on a team. Then I wrote that the Cubs need more players like that, especially an elite pitcher.
As you said so yourself, I believe this is a non-event type move. Sure, it’s a new manager, but until changes are made by acquiring the right players, things won’t change. And more specifically, that would require a new GM. Obviously, we still have JH for likely two more years.
I thought that’s what we do here. Post opinions and have discussions, right?
THE FONZ HAS ARRIVED!
You couldn't be more right...
…and people get excited when a new manager is hired and that is normal to think how they will get the club over the hump.
I like Quade and wish him the best, but you need the right players to overcome and win a championship, plain and simple.
A lot of managers have been made to look good because of how their players perform and just as many have looked bad because of player performance. Quade may be a very capable manager, but his fate will be in the hands of his roster.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Oct 21, 2010 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Right
Sure Quade “gets it”. I’m sure Ricketts, Hendry, Piniella, and Baker all “get it” too. The Cubs haven’t won a world series in a long time. The attitude needs to change and the pressure, instead of making our players fold like a taco, needs to make our players excel. Everyone gets it.
Here is how I look at it:
A GM’s job is to assemble a group of talented enough players so that a manager can use them in the most productive way to win games.
The focus of this team should be to find that right group of players. There are some things to like about our current team, but a lot of changes still need to be made. With payroll being reduced, and aging players that likely won’t be moved, it’s very difficult to have a positive outlook for the next few years.
Quade will likely fail because the talent on the field is just not good enough. Just like you said, his fate is in the hands of his roster, which is assembled by the choices of a GM.
The Quade move, has place holder written all over it. The poor guy is going to be a punching bag to beat up on while this club rebuild over the next two years. All in the meantime, Hendry gets a pass to continue to direct this ball club. And it’s only a matter of time before Hendry is replaced.
THE FONZ HAS ARRIVED!
by amaru on Oct 21, 2010 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm really really really hoping this works out .
Now, let’s get him players to win with .
Sandberg for manager!
by mrcubsfan on Oct 19, 2010 5:30 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Quintessential Quade
So much fanfare with Dusty then Lou, I think Mike is the right guy without all the hoopla. I take a hearty quaff from my mug in honor of Quade…
by Fully Kreusened on Oct 19, 2010 5:38 PM CDT reply actions
Happy and sad about this
Happy because Quade was moderately successful with the same players Pinella clearly stunk it up with.
Sad because Ryno will be elsewhere. No way does he stay with the organization. I say this because think about it, would you stay with an organization where you put your time in for 4 years in order to get the big seat and then someone else was given that big seat? Doubtful. commence flaming responses.
The 2010 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp ruled!!!!
by VegasCubFan on Oct 19, 2010 5:40 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
No, I see your point
And I think that Sandberg will go through the “hurt” phase for a while. I doubt he’ll pick up as a manager anywhere else, though, so if he wants a job, he can either ask Q for one or go elsewhere. If he goes elsewhere, I hope it’ll be in the NL where he can return to Wrigley for a three-game set and get the outpouring of love from the press and the fans that will surely follow. It will help repair that rift and Ryno will probably remember that he’s always been a Cub.
And in a few years, when Hendry and Bush are gone, maybe he will be again.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
What are the chances someone
takes a flyer on Sandberg as a major league coach? Bench or whatever?
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
If Sandberg goes anywhere else,
It would likely get the bloggers writing overtime.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I see it happening...
…it’s how I’d react. Tell me to go to minors and get experience, and ride those frickin’ buses and sleep in roach motels for 4 years, and THEN you hire someone else? I know he probably wasn’t promised anything, but, I’d be quoting the most famous Austrian actor of all times when I said to the Cubs…" I’ll be back ! ! ".
Say it ain't so, Joe!!!
I was already thinking that...
Not sure who the Cardinals bench coach is now, but I can see TLR bringing Ryno in.
And cackling evilly the whole time… mwah hah hah hah…..
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Yup...groom him to be his replacement...
…wow…how long before that #23 comes down off that flag pole if THAT happened? I love drama.
Say it ain't so, Joe!!!
Why would they take
his flag down? That won’t happen.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
imagine if Ozzie Guillen made room for him 9 miles south
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
I thought he already made room for Zambrano.
Oh wait…
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions
I see Sandberg..
ending up in LA on Mattinglys staff. They are still looking for coaches to fill out the staff, and I just have a feeling he will end up there.
See the Cubs 2011 schedule at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/sched2011.html
Also see what old Cubs Scorecards looked like at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/scorecards.html
i wonder is NYY fans are as upset over Mattingly being in LAD not NYY
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
Wasn't there some rumbling about Sandberg
going to SEA?
Maybe he’d sign there as a coach to broaden his horizons and say he’s coached in both leagues.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
Sandberg will probably wait to see what happens
with the final few managerial openings first. There’s still an outside, outside chance in Toronto. II can’t see him agreeing to a coaching job before that, although I think he’s on the deep backburner there. Maybe Pittsburgh takes an interest now that he’s clearly out of the Cubs race. don’t know, nothing out there to suggest it, but maybe.
i actually forgot about the brewers
because all the spec has been focused on bob melvin for a long time. maybe … can’t say that I recall any sort of relationship between Doug and Ryne.
I could see them hiring him...
…. even as a coach, just to tweak the Cubs.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
if he wanted a job as a major league coach
he could probably get it. There’s enough roster turnover and the Cubs have said positive things about Sandberg publically that someone would probably give him a look.
I just think that'd be his way into the bigs
Now he’s proven he can manage at the lower levels, I’d still want someone who’d done the job in the bigs. I know he played but managing is different.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
Yeah,
I wonder what will happen with Ryno now. I can imagine a lot of Cubs fans will watch him to see what he does, and where he goes (if anywhere).
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions
agree with this
I do think it’s possible that Ryno will volunteer to be the bench coach for 2 years. If Quade sucks, at the end of his contract the job is obviously Ryno’s. If he takes the Cubs to the playoffs twice, we’ll be happy, and Ryno will get a job elsewhere. I’m not sure where else he’d get a manager’s job, and if not that, then why not be the next man in line in Chicago?
by PrincetonCubs on Oct 19, 2010 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Was hoping Sandberg would become
what Dodger fans wish they had in Mike Scioscia… Nothing agaist Q, he’s seems like a good baseball man and a nice guy.
The press conference
What concerned me about that press conference was…it appears, by the way the Cubs finished off the season, that it may have caused illusions of grandeur with the “Big 3” (Quade, Hendry and Ricketts)…and that could be catastrophic.
Let’s hope they WILL seriously take a look at the ENTIRE 2010 season and NOT just the 6 weeks of somewhat meaningless games…like they said. Thinking the “pieces are in place” is not wise.
Say it ain't so, Joe!!!
I really think those comments were just lip service.
This was mentioned in the other thread, and I just don’t think Quade’s answer was THAT significant. Hendry has said that the Cubs are three or four players away.
Quade on CTL ...
just said he didn’t know what the roster would look like next year.
No, I don't think they were lip service at all.
I think all of them know very well that a lot of work needs to be done.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
That's what I'm saying.
Sorry, if I was unclear. Quade indicated that he could win with the guys currently on the roster. I’m saying that was the diplomatic thing to say/lip service.
He knows work needs to be done. So does everyone.
Oh, right.
That part, yes, was lip service.
I was at the news conference. This guy knows what he has to do to build a winner, and better, he is willing to put in the work to get there. He also seems almost flabbergasted that he got to this point — never expected it after putting in 25 years of riding the buses. I could see it in his eyes — Quade is going to work his ass off to stay here, now that he’s here.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al Yellon on Oct 19, 2010 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I like this hire.
And even if my thinking on this is wrong, I really don’t think that the difference between Quade and Sandberg is that big. And I don’t think Girardi was ever an option.
How is that gonna happen when Ricketts wants to cut payroll?
Greinke would be a good start, ya think?
Say it ain't so, Joe!!!
Yes,
offer KC: Cashner, Hak-Ju Lee, and Gorz or Wells for Greinke straight up.
"You've got to get your damn shirts rolled up and go out and kick somebody's ass. That's what you've got to do. Period." -- Lou Piniella
And that would get it done?
A likely relief pitcher, a young infielder who may never hit enough and a cheap backend starter?
I suspect Brett Jackson would be on the KC ask list.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
Well, I'm in the minority in thinking that Cashner
is likely to end up as a reliever. But most consider him to have front-end of the rotation stuff. Lee is considered to be as good if not a better SS prospect than Starlin Castro, good enough to move Castro to 2b. And a cost-controlled young left-hander like Gorz. I think these players are all people KC would be interested in. I do think that this offer could get it done. You start by offering low, not by offering the moon.
I doubt the Cubs would offer 3 of their top-five prospects, but you’re right it might take that to get this deal done. What was Halladay traded to Philly for? I know the Phillies parted with a few of their top prospects, do you know where they ranked and how they compare to Cashner, Lee, Jackson?
"You've got to get your damn shirts rolled up and go out and kick somebody's ass. That's what you've got to do. Period." -- Lou Piniella
The first two probably won't happen.
The second two might. That’s a start, anyway.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
you get the point though
Ace, big bopper at 1st, solid reliever, bench guy that can play several positions
Al...I was thinkin'...
since you get invites to press conferences (that’s gotta be really cool, by the way) and stuff, ya need to invite Ricketts to pop on BCB at a given night and time and I / WE can let them know who they need to get to win. I got it all figured out for them and his money is no object.
Say it ain't so, Joe!!!
Actually, I've been thinking about asking him to do that.
I’ll see if I can arrange something like that.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
can we bring back BLou to moderate?
SARCASM
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
ha
best bet would be to submit questions beforehand and have Al post them. Similar to posting responses to Tom’s statements
Rudy and Rothschild
Will be back though, correct?
I like this hire
and wish him the best of luck.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
So do I...
…I just fear he won’t be put in the best position to have success because of a guy named Jim Hendry.
There are a lot of things to fix folks and I don’t believe they have the right baseball leadership to get that done.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Ryno isn't ready
He thinks because he’s a HOF player that he should be instantly handed the managerial job. I think most people forget that Ryno was granted a courtesy interview in ‘06 before Lou was hired. He had no managerial experience whatsoever, and Hendry basically said, look, we’ll start you in the minors and see what happens.
If Ryno has no desire to stick around for an extra few years in AAA, is that really the kind of work ethic we want at the helm of our Cubs anyway?
WHAT???
Who was the last Hall of Famer to manage FOUR YEARS in the minor leagues? I remember Mike Schmidt managing ONE season in his hometown, Clearwater. Sandberg was told he needed to go the minor leagues, so he went and was, by all accounts, successful. This is a slap in the face to Sandberg, and there’s no way around that.
"I need the warmth of your smile to heat my frostbitten sorrow."
by markleonette on Oct 19, 2010 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions
How is it a slap in the face? He wasn’t guaranteed anything. If Quade crashes and burns, 2013 would be a great time for Ryno to take over. If he can’t handle 2 more years in AAA, let the crybaby go.
I wanted Ryno, dont get me wrong
but I agree this isnt a slap in his face, this is the Cubs as an org making a decision that they believe is best for winning, and as a Cubs fan that is what I want
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
Welcome to the real world
I’m pretty sure Hendry didn’t promise him a manager spot. 4 years serving your dues isn’t much.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
♫Meet the new boss....same as the old boss♫
Until Quade puts Soto in the lineup and bats him higher than 6th for more than 5 games in a row.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Oct 19, 2010 5:58 PM CDT reply actions
i hope it works out for Q
But I want Ryne on the staff. I would have bet the house on Ryno getting the job ???
by cozmotaylor123 on Oct 19, 2010 5:59 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Willing to bet something here.
Maybe just a quarter or so, fifty cents tops, but my guess is that if next year’s Cubs are respectable, and even close to contention after the All-Star Break, we’ll be seeing a lot of the naysayers claiming they were really behind it all along.
No doubt.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
I hope we get the chance to find out...
I was a “Girard guy” from the offset…even before Lou, but, I was always content if they went Quade OR Sandberg. I just want a frickin’ World Series!!!
Say it ain't so, Joe!!!
I think my (perhaps over)reaction today
was the result of Hendry being the decision maker with input from a guy who has owned a team for a year and a guy who thought it was a good idea to sprinkle holy water in the dugout before the 2008 playoffs.
If someone I respected told me Ryno wasn’t the man for the job, I could live with that. The fact that the guy who I think is just a terrible general manager is the one who did it, that’s hard for me to accept.
But I will, and I will move on.
by paulucla on Oct 19, 2010 5:59 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Confetti....everywhere...mass hysteria...
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Oct 19, 2010 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Back off!
If you see this, JUST IGNORE IT! Because when you start this, it just encourages people to respond.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
So he's the troll and I'm the one in the wrong?
Why not just ban the troll so we don’t have to go through this constantly.
You're unbelievable.
Aren’t you tired of picking fights today?
I posted something
woodenleg trolled. take your frustrations out on that dude.
thats harsh
He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA
by jesus christos on Oct 19, 2010 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Not really.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
Why not?
Exaggeration is the word of the day. And I’m not sure I’m exaggerating.
Well because in the history of all that is BCB...
…this is the one (and probably only) time where paulucla has a point.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Correct, and he gave input
on the hiring decision as well.
I suspect his input was small.
Notice who was NOT at that press conference table.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Well, the holy water
guy was consulted by the awful general manager, we know that much.
"God only knows"
Maybe he’s picking up “good vibrations.” ;-)
by jeffmills1972 on Oct 19, 2010 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions
LOL
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
Beach Boys are awesome!
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
"My favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese, from the blue box." Geovany Soto
"They played like son of a guns......lord have mercy." Mike Quade
But Wilson is also a man of strange impulses. For instance, whenever he finishes a game, he turns away from home plate and makes an exaggerated crossing motion with his arms that he has said is to honor the MMA fighting culture
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=lc-wilsonnlcs101510
He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA
by jesus christos on Oct 19, 2010 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions
"the MMA fighting culture"
LOL, okay…Being a part of that “culture”, that’s actually embarrassing to read.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Oct 19, 2010 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions
pretty sure the whole thing's a joke with him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf0j1rmZVbM
start around 3:00 (the whole thing’s worth watching, the dude’s hilarious, the West Coast version of Dempster
by PrincetonCubs on Oct 19, 2010 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions
That's great stuff.
In less than 5 minutes I became a big fan.
Come visit me inside Wrigley along the Addison side mezzanine fence straight up from 1st base.
by section229beer on Oct 20, 2010 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions
I think he's making some kind of a "W"
For some reason I’m a big Brian Wilson fan. Maybe it’s because I think he’s insane.
Counting the days until 4/1/11...
N/M
It has something to do with the MMA fighting culture like jesus christos posted above. shoulda read his post first.
Counting the days until 4/1/11...
Every time someone says MMA fighting culture
I throw up in my mouth.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Oct 19, 2010 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Pretty sure
its for his father who has passed
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Mixed Emotions
First of all, I want to congratulate Mike Quade. We’ve been hearing a lot lately about guys “paying their dues” in the minor-leagues and Mike Quade certainly has done that. Mike’s been with the big-league club since 2007 and he deserves a lot of credit for the way the players responded. How many times have we seen losing teams replace managers late in the season and the players quit on the manager? The Cubs were out of the playoff race in August and there were many rookies given a shot at playing. To their credit, the veterans didn’t quit on Mike Quade. They played more as a team the last 40 games of the season than they did in the previous 122 IMHO. I’m not suggesting that all of the credit should go to Mike Quade, but his leadership and watching him interact with the players are what impressed me the most.
As a Cubs fan, I always want to see the manager’s job go to the best guy qualified for it. Deep down, I knew in my heart that Mike Quade was going to be the guy they hired. Be that as it may, I will admit that I was on “Team Ryne.” I wanted Ryne Sandberg to get the job as manager for selfish reasons, but I also believed that he did a great job in the minor-leagues and that Tom Ricketts would want a successful manager who knows the young players and is very popular with the fanbase. With all due respect, I am not a fan of Jim Hendry. And, although I could be wrong, I have reason to believe that Jim Hendry did not want to hire Ryne Sandberg as manager. No one will ever admit this, but I think that Tom Ricketts wanted Sandberg and Jim Hendry wanted Quade. Ricketts might have said something to Hendry like how it’s his call and hopefully he made the right choice.
I wish Mike Quade all of the best. I’m very happy that he got the job as manager. However, I hope that Ryne Sandberg is offered a job on the coaching staff. If he turns it down, fine. It sounds to me like Ryno is beyond disappointed for not getting picked as manager, but I think the worst thing he could do is be “sour grapes” about this. Take the high road, Ryno. No one promised you the manager’s job. But I do want to say in closing that I think the Chicago Cubs are making a huge mistake in not offering Ryne Sandberg any job in the organization next year. Sandberg didn’t have to start from the bottom in the minor-leagues and work his way up to Triple-A. He’s been riding the buses for the last 4 years and he’s been successful as a manager. You don’t see very many Hall of Famers doing that. So, I highly recommend that the Cubs act quickly and try to work something out with Ryno. If I’m Mike Quade, I’m on the phone with him right now, offering him a spot on the coaching staff. Maybe not as bench coach, but he could be the third-base coach next year. Whatever happens, I wish Ryne Sandberg the best. Go Cubs go!
by jeffmills1972 on Oct 19, 2010 6:02 PM CDT reply actions 4 recs
For Ryne
it might be better for him to go to another organization. One of the roadblocks Ryne probably faces is that the Cubs have done an admirable job of pushing his name out there, but he doesn’t know many of the new power players out there, so when scouts come in critiquing his in-game managing capability, that may limit his ability to land a managerial job. short of it is, Ryne may be better off extending his reaches if he truly desires to be a major league managerial job.
Again
so when scouts come in critiquing his in-game managing capability
Is this based on the Miles article? Your really harping on this questionable piece of information. Its clear that you support Quade, but the quoted statement is simply not true based on what Miles wrote in the article you quoted in the other thread.
What is true is that there was were a variety of opinions within the organization related to Ryno’s readiness to manage in the major leagues.
toonster has been consistent in describing the scuttlebutt that he has heard
Don’t do him the disservice of claiming that he is irrationally basing everything on one Miles article. It’s not true.
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
I disagree with you
In the previous Quade post, I mentioned that toonster’s comments that scouts believe Ryno makes poor in-game decisions is one of the most damning things you can say about a manager
And I (and maybe some other Ryno supporters) would like to know what some of Ryno’s in-game managerial weaknesses were
I feel like it would be informative. We’ll see if toonsterwu replies
And I disagree with you
Because toonster has been among the top 5 insightful commentators on this site for as long as I have been on here. He has built up a reputation by posting thoughtful, reasoned arguments and observations. You…well, you might have a chance at the bottom 5.
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
by vonde6 on Oct 20, 2010 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
In many businesses
you have to go somewhere else to gain the respect you have already earned, if that makes any sense.
This may be one of those cases.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 21, 2010 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions
The only thing Quade 'gets' is in the way of Sandberg
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
"My favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese, from the blue box." Geovany Soto
"They played like son of a guns......lord have mercy." Mike Quade
by Cubbiegoon on Oct 19, 2010 6:05 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Oh, you're right.
First, Phil will never see this.
Second, thank heavens we don’t have to listen to him tell us he was right all next summer.
(Sorry. This was a private joke between those of us who sit in section 301. Carry on.)
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
He is still waiting for Hoff to lead the team.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Oct 19, 2010 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions
He'll be waiting a long time.
I guess I should call him. Lord knows he never reads his email.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Speaking of I Told You So's...
I wonder what Will Carroll is thinking right about now?
His tweet from October 14
Hearing that Mike Quade will be named Cubs manager, with Ryne Sandberg as bench coach. Could happen as soon as next week. 3:49 PM Oct 14th
Looks like he got half of it right and the jury’s still out on the other half – then again he pretty much had a 50/50 chance on the manager part to begin with.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Hendry might have been
somewhat in the corner after Dempster and a few of the “older vet’s” had their say and did a mini-campaign for Quade. I have nothing at all against Quade, let’s see how it all comes shakes out come "11. Did he have to wonder that if he did bring in Sandberg after the “endorsements,” would the high-priced help have a relapse ala april -august and this time it’s him heading home to look after some important family matters??? Don’t imagine his “gut feelings” and long term, backloaded block buster deals….. aw, nevermind, that’s another story for another day!
"most football players are temperamental, thats 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental" Doug Plank
So when are we going to see The BCB Interview: Ryan Dempster?
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
LOL
Didn’t get one. Maybe another time. Dempster didn’t stay long after the main Q&A.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Dempster was at the Ricketts intro news conference, too, no?
Does he live in Chicago full time now?
by Not Bruce Froemming on Oct 20, 2010 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes. He did
last off season too.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
He probably...
…likes going to Hawks games.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I bet he does.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
Why not?
Better show his support now.
"most football players are temperamental, thats 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental" Doug Plank
...
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Oct 19, 2010 6:20 PM CDT reply actions 7 recs
The only honest, almost non-jokingly thing I can say is,
I hope he doesn’t suck.
Deep down, actually, not that deep down, I know this team will not be that good next year. I feel bad for Quade because now that’s on his shoulders, probably.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Oct 19, 2010 6:20 PM CDT reply actions
One thing I'll say for certain
I’ll bet somebody $100 that Cashner will never sniff a starting role with the Chicago (or Iowa) Cubs as long as Quade is the manager. We should just trade him now to an organization that might try and use him as a starter over someone as mediocre as Casey Coleman
Why do you say that?
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Oct 19, 2010 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions
its just like when
Jeff Slappymanzilly was put in the pen – he has never sniffed a starters role since
I'm detecting sarcasm.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Oct 19, 2010 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep...to Kansas City, along with Barney or Colvin AND draft picks...
…for Greinke and that 1B guy that Al owns stock in.
Say it ain't so, Joe!!!
Looking at the season in full
I’d rather they go after Butler, instead of Kila.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Oct 19, 2010 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions
I think Kila might be easier to get.
I doubt the Royals deal Butler.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I don't think they deal him either
I also think Kila may not be our guy.
Let’s get Derrek Lee back.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Oct 19, 2010 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions
No thanks.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions
so this is how it will be
again
He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA
by jesus christos on Oct 19, 2010 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions
I like this, but I am surprised
I thought that Sandberg would have the job based on his ability to help sell season tickets.
I don’t understand those who are not ready to give Quade a chance, when he is not exactly being given a team of thoroughbreds to work with. Let’s see what he can do with this bunch over the course of a season.
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
...
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Oct 19, 2010 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions 7 recs
You need the music.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions
I like it
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
They'd be booing Ryno, too.
The fact of the matter is that Cubs fans want to win. Period. If Mike Quade guides this team to a pennant next year, they’ll be on the “Team Mike” bandwagon. Because as much as Cubs fans love Ryne Sandberg, the fact is that had he been hired he would have made mistakes. He would have lineups that made fans scratch their heads. He would have made pitching changes that made fans frustrated. And when the first losing streak happened early in the season there would have already been calls from former devotees to have him replaced. Ironically, they would have been lamenting the fact that Quade wasn’t picked to be manager.
Being a big-league manager is a tough job for anyone. I guess you could say that it’s similar to being a teacher. I don’t know about you, but for me the best teachers I ever had were the ones that weren’t the most popular. They were the ones who got the most out of me, even when there were times I couldn’t stand them. I’m not saying that Ryne Sandberg isn’t a good teacher or couldn’t be a successful manager. I’m just saying that you don’t pick people to be managers or coaches because they’re popular or well-liked.
by jeffmills1972 on Oct 19, 2010 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions 10 recs
There's too much sense in this not to rec it.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions
You nailed it...
…and if you look at all sports, most of the greatest coaches/managers were not well liked by their players, but were certainly respected.
A coaches job is to get the most out of a players talents, and it is human nature to have to handle some guys in a way they don’t “like” to pull it out of them.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
well said
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
I feel very good for Quade.
He’s certainly earned it. Overall, I also think that the hire is a little bittersweet, but I really do, in the end approve. I really liked the press conference and the things that Quade had to say. However, I do feel bad for Ryno. Deep down I still think it’s his job eventually.
Hopefully not too soon, though….I really want to see Quade and the Cubs have a great couple of years and even more after that.
Counting the days until 4/1/11...
in reality
I hope it is never his job – that means that Quade is winning World Series’
by hansman1982 on Oct 19, 2010 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
I like the way you think.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
rec'd
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
And, Quade is now the fifth thing Mt. Prospect is famous for...
1) guy from American Idol
2) Bruce Boxleitner
3) Dave Kingman
4) The Bluesmobile
Not exactly an auspicious list…
It's 106 miles to Chicago...
I like Boxlietner.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Oct 19, 2010 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions
I met him once.
He told me he hated Greg Maddux and really liked Lou Piniella.
;-)
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, lets be honest, it wasn't really the Bluesmobile
The Caddy was traded away for that cop car and the microphone.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Oct 19, 2010 6:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Just a mic
The cop car which was “the new Bluesmobile” (after fixing the cigarette lighter) was purchased in a separate transaction at an auction.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
You traded the Caddy for this?
No. I traded it for a microphone.
OK – I guess I can see that.
"They found a delivery in my flaw." - Dan Quisenberry
5) Me
you WILL respect that
"A good cigar is like a beautiful chick with a great body who also knows the American League box scores." Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger
I'm the King of Everything
That should be famous enough.
"A good cigar is like a beautiful chick with a great body who also knows the American League box scores." Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger
To those "former" Cubs fans who quit the team...
I say, good riddance! You were that quick to bail on the team and you’ll be just that quick to jump back on the bandwagon when the team plays better next year. I, for one, am proud to be a Cubs fan and there ain’t no way in hell I’m quitting on this team. Not now. Not ever. Mike Quade, go out there and continue to work the magic you did the last 37 games of the season.
by jeffmills1972 on Oct 19, 2010 6:50 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Happy for Mike Quade
He did pull together the team the last part of the year, appears (on camera) to be like a likable guy, and he’s earned the opportunity.
Now, about that First Baseman’s position and bullpen….
Congratulations to Mike Q!
Sweeter words have rarely been spoken: "...and the cardinals are down to their final out."
What are the expectations of Quade to produce a winner?
When Baker and Piniella were named managers, they were the “high profile” guys who supposedly knew what it would take to bring a winner to the North side. As Al pointed out, Quade understands the drill. At the end of the day, we’re looking for the Cubs to follow the Braves model – keep getting to the playoffs and roll the dice. We thank Lou for helping raise the bar of expectations, but Quade now has to pick up that ball and run with it…
Get 'em on, Get 'em over, Get 'em in!
Congrats Mike
Well deserved. I hope the team is back in the playoffs, and really no reason why it should not be playing in the worse division in baseball.
Hoping it was Sandberg, however this is a good move.
Go Cubs. Go out and try to get Grienke.
We should get all new players.
That would help.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
Frickin' keeper league rules...
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
sign each one to a NTC?
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
With a bunch of backloaded contracts?
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions
I am happy for Quade, but...
…I just hate how all of this has been handled. I do think Ryno deserves better than this treatment. It just feels like he’s been kicked over to the curb… and whether you like him or not, he worked HARD in trying to EARN this position.
I can’t help but wonder if Hendry EVER wanted Ryno to be manager of “his” Cubs? Couldn’t have Quade and Hendry talked with Ryno to see if there could be a spot for him… in which they all agree upon, BEFORE going public?
Congrats to Quade… I am happy for him because he has earned a spot like this. Still, I am not resting easy with this… regardless of what we think, 2011 will most likely be starting with a dark cloud… much like it did in ’09 after the Bradley sigining.
The Cubs don’t need this cloud hanging over ’em during spring training and/or the season.
by TheHawkRules on Oct 19, 2010 7:13 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
This sums it up.
Even in the good times, the organization has a tin ear.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I disagree
The only way there is a dark cloud is if the players themselves were lobbying for Ryno and did not want Quade. Nothing I have seen suggests that. Even if players made public statements in support of Quade that were purely token, there would’ve been a leak that players wanted Ryno by now.
The only dark cloud that exists are in the minds of people who thought Ryno should’ve got the job.
by Danwood on Oct 20, 2010 6:44 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
No offense...
But I can’t agree with your first statement because there is a very good chance, the reporters, fans, etc… are going to be hitting the team hard about this whole issue during spring training, and very likely during the season.
Maybe… if Sandberg joins as a coach or something, a lot of this will die down. But if Sandberg leaves the Cubs… this will be a talked about issue for a long time. (at least until we have something else to talk about)
by TheHawkRules on Oct 20, 2010 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions
How? Why?
…are going to be hitting the team hard about this whole issue during spring training, and very likely during the season
I fail to see how this gets talked about any more than two weeks from now.
Players are not going to be asked about a managerial candidate who didn’t get the job in February and March, they’re going to be asking about how things are going, their development, the new acquisitions.
Players are not going to be asked about a managerial candidate who didn’t get the job in April and May. They’re going to be talking about the prior day’s game, the upcoming series, Z’s latest outburst (but hopefully not), etc.
Again, the only people who will be dwelling on this for months to come are the fans who feel slighted because their guy didn’t get the job.
by Danwood on Oct 20, 2010 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Well said.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
yep
rec’d
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
We will see...
If Sandberg leaves, reporters will talk about it….
If Quade and his Cubs start off bad, the reporters and fans will be talking about how they should have hired Sandberg, etc…
I can easily see it playing out somewhat like the whole Milton Bradley situation. The season starts with some question marks, but if the team starts off good… everything will be forgiven and moved on. If they start off bad, it’s very possible it can spiral out of control with a lot of people want Hendry gone. (Maybe a better example will be Mac in St. Louis this last season)
Its cool if you disagree… reporters always need something to talk about to stir the pot, this will likely be the spoon that stirs things up. We will see.
by TheHawkRules on Oct 20, 2010 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
In your origional post you
said the reporters, fans, etc. would be hitting the team hard about this issue during spring training and very likely during the season. All the players have to do is refuse to discuss it (which they will) and end of story. Reporters can write about it all they want but if the players refuse to talk about it there’s not much of a story.
If Hendry does not do much to improve this team this off season it will be a long season next year. Not even Sandberg could change that.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
A bigger question...
…is whether Ricketts has it fixed in his head that Hendry will be here for the rest of his contract regardless of 2011 performance.
To me, he is already 12 months behind making the right move in regards to his GM and how much longer is he willing to keep the status quo?
What will he judge Hendry on in 2011? Will the club need to make the playoffs to save his job? Will there need to be additional signs of young player development (regardless of 2011 record) to save his job?
Lastly, how equipped is Ricketts to make the right call here?
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Those are great questions.
I’m afraid none of us know the answers to them and like it or not we will have to wait and see how things play out and what Rickettsa does. Could be another long season ahead. :(
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
I'm predicting at least 162 games
But don’t quote me on that
Hendry should have hired SAMCRO as manager and coaching staff in one move
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
I loved the press conference
I was lukewarm about this to tell you the truth until the press conference and his interview with Boers and Bernstein. I was forced to listen to this on the Score because WGN wasn’t coming in well over the net for me.
I also am beginning to think it might be better for Ryno to get his managerial feet wet elsewhere.
Formerly known as cubstoseriesby100. Thanks Al for letting me change my outdated screenname.
I think the Cubs made the right move.
The only thing wrong is who made it. Hendry should have been let go after his performance for the past years. I understand the skeptics. It’s hard to trust that the guy who got things wrong can fix them. Just look at the NY Mets as an example.
Nevertheless, I think the team hired the right guy for the current situation and wish Mike Quade the best. Ryne Sandberg is still in a developing stage and hopefully he’ll recognize that soon. Ever since his name entered the contest the only good ending for him would have been to hire him. That may not have been the best for the Cubs, though.
A few months ago
I have a good friend who is a diehard Tigers fan as diehard a Tigers fan as I am a Cubs fan.
She talked about what happened with Trammel and I wonder what would happen if Sandberg’s tenure was a disaster even if it wasn’t his fault like what happened in Detroit wasn’t totally Trammel’s fault?
Formerly known as cubstoseriesby100. Thanks Al for letting me change my outdated screenname.
By far the ballsiest hire...
I like the hire alot, but I guess that’s universal. This franchise is possibly heading in the right direction.
Honesty compels me to say,
I like Mike Q.
Hey Mike Q, we're long overdue.
Wellington Castillo is trying to get his free agency early!
And in other news, Hill just bought a home on the lake!
Cubs Personal Hygene Policy
what will cubs players think when Mike Quade tells them to get a hair cut?
"They come to see me strike out, hit a home run, or run into a fence. I try to accommodate them at least one way every game." - Gorman Thomas
Let's make this clear, as I mentioned in the earlier thread.
Mike Quade suffers from alopecia. His hairlessness is not his choice.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
well, the pro is he wont go gray managing
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
So we can't call him Q-ball?
Damn, that seemed like a promising nickname, too.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
well once the team gets on a good winning streak...
…regardless of if it’s due to long-ball or small-ball, I’m sure folks will be saying the Cubs are playing Q-ball. And Quade won’t mind a bit.
Not sure how long Q’s had this condition, but I worked with a guy who had it since he was in high school – believe me (him), he heard every nickname/slam/insult in the book. Definitely sucked for him at the time, but worked out great in the long run. Once he realized what he had and that it was really not a big deal, he moved on and developed a great attitude. Needless to say, he was one of the best sales guys on in the office.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
IIRC...
… I heard he has, like your co-worker, had it since high school.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I know he has alopecia
He has had it since he was 3 and frankly I think he looks good. I don’t think he suffers anymore, I think he just lives his life with it.
"They come to see me strike out, hit a home run, or run into a fence. I try to accommodate them at least one way every game." - Gorman Thomas
by RiskyBusiness on Oct 19, 2010 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions
He may not suffer physically
but he may suffer when made fun of because of the Alopecia.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
Expected this...
After the “flashy” hires of Bake & Lou, it seemed a foregone conclusion to me that they would go with someone like Quade. Do I like the hire? Well, I don’t hate it. I do have reservations… In my estimation the brass want someone they can “control”. Quade fits the bill, Ryno doesn’t. This will seemingly drive Ryno from the organization- and someone will snap him up quick. If & when Quade fails, where do the Cubs turn then?
Oh well- just some musings from the left coast… I’m still a fan & I hope for the best, but I can’t help but wonder…
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 8:11 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
JIMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
TIMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 8:24 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
been too long how is ya
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
I am well...
It’s been a long year! Come through some tough times, and am steadily moving forward. I have been concentrating on my career & it is paying off. How are you, compadre?
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 8:37 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
hanging in there
decided i will return to school and finish my degree, then i plan to move from Austin to ??
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
JIMMY AND TIMMY!!!!!!
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions
only one VCF?
how arte thou
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
Doing fine.
Looking closely at graduate schools. First choice is Marquette.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Ahhh, the Big East.
I remember the days when the Big East was in the east.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
I remember something my father told me,
About Marquette’s basketball team. Apparently, one year, they were ranked REALLY high in basketball. When the NCAA tournament field was announced, Marquette was not in the Midwest bracket. In protest, Marquette instead refused the invitation and went into the NIT, which they won.
About the Big East, I don’t remember those days but I’ll take your word for it. The conferences are changing every few years (see Nebraska switching to the Big Ten next year).
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Weren't the two tourneys just about equivalent in terms of respect at that point?
IIRC, it wasn’t until the mid-80s or so that the top teams always went to the NCAAs, so turning down a spot in the NCAAs wasn’t the huge deal it would be now.
These days, if a team turns down an NCAA bid, it’s usually because they’re under investigation.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
My daughter goes there.
Undergrad though. She loves it. She’s coming home for a mid-term break today. Yay!
Look into my eyes!
Vermont!!!!!
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 8:55 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Vermont!!!!!
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 8:55 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Did you mean to double-post?
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Shonuff!
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 9:13 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
The "other" VCF is VegasCubFan.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions
but you are the Vermont...
VegasCubFan is like KGC to me, you’re original recipe. The KFC in my BCB world.
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 9:36 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Ah I see.
So how have you been? Been a while since I seen you on BCB.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions
See the Cubs 2011 schedule at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/sched2011.html
Also see what old Cubs Scorecards looked like at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/scorecards.html
LOL!!!!!!!
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 20, 2010 6:46 AM CDT up reply actions
JIMMEH JIMMAY JIMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
"My favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese, from the blue box." Geovany Soto
"They played like son of a guns......lord have mercy." Mike Quade
Just Win Baby
And the Rangers got jobbed on that Cano “not a homerun”.
Congrats to Quademodo
Hard to figure how anyone who regularly participates in this site can find fault with this hire. The man paid his dues, earned the respect of the players, and righted a sinking ship. This hire bucks a trend, and suggests that new ownership is not solely concerned with selling tickets. I was impressed with his persona in the CSN interview tonight; he was relaxed, humble, and confident. This hire was not on the radar 1 month ago. Perhaps some other surprises are in store as well.
"Chicago Cubs fans are ninety percent scar tissue." - George F. Will
This sucks...
for Ryno. He interviews for the job back in 2006 and is told that he needs to go get experience. So he starts at the lowest level and works his way up to the highest possible level before MLB. And is very successful in doing so. And even wins the manager of the year award. He did exactly what he was told he should do. And he did it better than anyone could have expected. And the Cubs wind up hiring a guy who got the opportunity to manage the Cubs for a month because Lou Piniella threw the towel in on the season. There’s really no way around the fact that Ryno got dicked over here.
And Al, how do you go from pimping Ryno for the last two months to “thinking the Cubs got the right guy” today? Where’s the loyalty?
Exactamundo!
(Excepting the questioning of Yellon- I haven’t been around much lately, so I wouldn’t know).
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 8:31 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Hey.
I’ve said all along that I’d be fine with the selection of Quade, since he did a good job with 1/4 of the season.
I agree with the post below that Sandberg likely wasn’t ever really seriously considered.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Why do you think that
they never seriously considered Sandberg?
I don't know if Al has any info into this
but I think it was because the choice was being solely left to Hendry, and Sandberg wasn’t on Hendrys radar.
It's because Sandberg was never considered for the
managerial position. Al and some other people think that this came down to Wedge, Quade and Sandberg, but from what I’ve been hearing all day is that Sandberg was never being considered.
I don’t know how anyone can think that the Cubs have “got the right guy” considering he was chosen by a failed general manager.
That's news to me...
Linky?
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 8:40 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
i never heard or read that either
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
I don't have a link guys sorry but I travel alot
for work and heard from a couple of different people on WSCR, that it was down to Wedge and Quade. Girardi also never would have been given a chance considering the decision was left to Hendry and he passed on Girardi the first time. Hendry passed on Girardi because he felt that he wasn’t his “kind of guy”. Since this decision was being left to Hendry, Sandberg never had a chance.
Sorry, If you don’t like the source of info but they have a couple of former beat reporters that still have reliable sources.
From what I've been hearing all day
8th graders don’t feel English homework is necessary.
"Chicago Cubs fans are ninety percent scar tissue." - George F. Will
you do remember
that Quade was also interviewed in 2006 and basically was told that he needed MLB experience.
I think it’s quite unfair to suggest that Quade got hired solely off his 37 game stretch. As I’ve pointed out elsewhere, Quade had all of Sandberg’s positives and more. Take away his 37-game stretch, and he is still a better on-paper candidate, IMO.
Sandberg didn’t get dicked over. He was told he needed to get experience. He went and got it. Doesn’t mean that he was going to get the job. Quade was told the same thing as well.
by toonsterwu on Oct 19, 2010 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
The difference being is that Sandberg was the face of the franchise,
maybe one of the greatest Cubs of all time, that accomplished what no other HOF has in the minor leagues. Quade is just another guy. I’m sorry but it has to feel like a slap in the face to Ryno.
I'm sure it does...
… just like anyone in a company who had hoped for a promotion and didn’t get it.
I’ve been there. I know how that feels. It sucks.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Again Al, I'm sure you as a baseball fan can
recognize the significance of what a player of Sandbergs stature did. He went back to the bus, went back to where it all began, payed his dues. And now he’s left wondering whether he still has any ties to the team he accomplished so much with.
He’s most likely finished with the Cubs, he’s not been offered his job back in AAA, he’s not been offered a coaching position(which would be a mistake). It’s kind of sad.
I agree with you completely.
He could be offered a coaching position, if he doesn’t find anything elsewhere, he might take it.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
How could the Cubs have today's presser with the Sandberg situation completely open-ended?
It’s kind of mind-boggling. They had to know Sandberg’s name would come up, and all anyone can do is stammer about it and spout platitudes.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Because the managerial hire was made.
You’re not going to sit on that. What if it leaks out?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I was on the other end once,
promoted over personnel who were more popular and thought by many to be more deserving. It was no picnic. Instead of accomplishing things, management was reduced to polarized political camps. I was approached by a competitor two years later and welcomed the opportunity to leave.
One of Lee Elia's 15%
by waiting4cubs on Oct 19, 2010 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions
This is in the theme I posted earlier in this thread
Sometimes you must go somewhere else to be appreciated.
Happens in all lines of work.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 21, 2010 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm sure Ryno
is disappointed. He might be a bit angry. Maybe he’s sad, annoyed. Maybe he will never talk to Quade again.
I just don’t think it is anywhere near fair to suggest that the only reason Quade got the job was for that 37 game stretch. It might’ve been a factor, but a lot of people are making it out to be the sole factor, or the primary factor.
it certainly wasn't the only factor...
I think of it hypothetically. What if Quade had failed miserably in his “tryout”? What if Ryno had been given the same opportunity?
Here is what I think will happen; Ryno gets snapped up & is successful. (Just like JG). I don’t abhor Hendry, but this has to be his last gasp.
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 9:09 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I don't see how this can be his last gasp...
…leaving this decision completely up to Hendry and allowing Crane Kenney to be involved in the interview process should point to how absolutely clueless Ricketts is. I don’t see the end in sight.
Let me amend my previous statement...
I hope this is his last gasp. Hendry has done it his way all along, sometimes finding success, sometimes not. He has had tussles with managers on roster & direction of the club. To me this screams control issues. So if this truly was “his” hire, and he passed on Ryno- just like he did on JG. Well I hope then that his tenure will finally reach it’s conclusion.
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 9:22 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I do not believe Crane Kenney was involved in the interview process.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Well, I don't remember
Hearing that ballhawk or the construction cranes outside Wrigley Field were involved.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions
That was on last nite as I was reading this thread
Definitely one for the ST:TNG Episode Hall of Fame.
After reading VCF’s comment, I was going to post the big “FAIL” graphic, but it seemed more fitting to post the Tamarian interpretation of “failure”.
“Sokath, his eyes opened”
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
There was a radio interview today where
Ricketts credited Kenney with help in the process.
by troutfishin on Oct 19, 2010 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions
That's not what they said in the press conference.
They implied Kenney was simply involved in the final contract signing.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
No Al, I'll have to find the link but
but Kenney was involved both times that Sandberg was interviewed.
Please do.
Because that’s not what they said.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I have googled this
and found nothing. The first interview with Ryne was in AZ and there was no mention of Kenney being there. In fact all that is mentioned is Hendry being there for that interview. Good luck finding him mentioned in the Chicago interview.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
Right.
And although he was at the press conference — he said hello to me — he was NOT at the table. I’d think that’s significant — the team president not involved in speaking to the media about a major hire like this.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I'm sure...
…Ricketts let Kenney have some meaningless input just as a courtesy to him.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
rec'd
You got that right, toonster. They have both “paid their dues”.
Arguing that Sandberg has more of a right to be angry is arguing for the divine rights of Hall of Famers.
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
He was told he needed more experience to be considered.
I’m sure even someone as bumbling as Hendry didn’t say, “Go down and get some experience and the job is yours.” Obviously if there was a better guy available, he should get the job over Ryno. I think Quade’s a better choice. Others don’t. But it’s not like Ryno got screwed.
by the nth on Oct 19, 2010 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
+1
There seems to be an awful lot of weeping over Sandberg here. I’m sure he’ll be fine. The fact of the matter is that Quade’s and Ryno’s qualifications were very similar. Each has spent a significant amount of time in the minors and each has been fairly successful there. Quade was fortunate in that he was able to audition for the job and won it on his merits.
Ryno is a loveable fellow and a fan favorite, but he wasn’t screwed here. He got beat out by a better candidate. It happens all of the time. It’’s probably happened to each one of us here. It stinks when you think you should have gotten a job you were qualified for, but these things are always subjective. This job was never Sandbergs to lose. The Cubs would be remiss if they decided to give this job to him just because they thought he couls sell tickets.
Sanberg isn’t the first guy to lose out on a job he was considered for and he won’t be the last. If he is smart, he’ll keep his options open, have his agent inform teams that he is looking for a manager’s job and come back to the Cubs if he is not offered one. There’s no need to weep for Ryno, he’ll be fine.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Oct 20, 2010 7:00 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
And another person who lives in fantasy land
Sandberg was promised an opportunity. He received it. The fact that he was considered after 4 years was more than he would have received anywhere else.
I really doubt his contract reads “Guaranteed to get the Cubs manager position when it becomes available”.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
And wtf...
does our manager not have eyebrows?! I don’t know how to post pictures, but he looks awfully creepy here: http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/1019/chi_a_mikeqts_576.jpg
see above
He has a medical condition causing that
by LT on Oct 19, 2010 8:29 PM CDT up reply actions
I've never heard of alopecia before.
I take it I’m not the only one learning about it.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions
i too am learning it
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
NBA player Charlie Villanueva
also has Alopecia. When he played for the Bucks and they were playing the Bulls Charlie had a luncheon for children in Chicago who suffer from the disease.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
I worked with a guy who had it years ago
His bad toupee was easy to ignore, but the lack of eyebrows is something that you are always noticing. But you feel like such a doofus for not being able to ignore it.
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
To post pictures,
When you are writing a comment, obtain the URL for the picture itself (it’s easy if you have Firefox, right click on the picture and select “copy image location”).
Once you have the picture’s URL, click the little tree icon in a comment box, and when prompted, enter the page for the picture (you can paste it in as well).
Click “post”, and you will have the picture in your comment. If you’re not certain you have it, the “preview” button is your friend.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions
Or do a !http://pic.ture/url.gif!
In this part here.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
Listach as bench coach?
Levine lists it as a possibility. I actually never pondered the possibility. Didn’t know how much of a relationship the two had while coming up in the Cubs system. interesting enough idea.
And you've become jesus christos. Oh wait...
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Possibly hiking up Mount Marcy during the weekend of October 23-24. State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 19, 2010 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions
I want Adam Corolla to come and save us all
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
BOOOO
In 2 years when Quade and Hendry are both fired, maybe they can get it right with Maddux and Ryno. I believe Hendry has a fine assortment of nudie pictures of all previous and current Cubs brass.
Quade’s 37 game stretch got him the job—period. If he went 10-27, there is no way Hendry hires the guy. This will mirror the performance of Dome—brilliant starts to end with supreme suck. Dome fans hope “if only he keeps it up over a full season…..” Now we’ll get to hear, “but his 37 game stint translates to 104 wins over a full season…..”
I am happy for a lifer like Quade to get the job—no hate on him. I just feel this is another wrong decision by Hendry. This is still a 70+ win team and 1/2 a roster to be over-halued.
Quade got consideration
when Lou was hired. There was more than the 37 games taken into consideration for his hire.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
do you agree
that he would have still been hired today if the Cubs went 10-27?
I have no idea
and neither do you.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
wow, that was a nice snarky reply
nice talking to you—I guess you can’t offer an opinion. I happen to believe there is no way he is hired had they not played well the last 37 games under him. Time will tell. I don’t feel good about this move.
It didn't seem snarky to me.
She doesn’t know. And the truth is, none of us do. You might be right — or maybe Quade was the guy Hendry wanted all along.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I took
the “neither do you” as a snarky reply saying my original position is irrelevant. Doesn’t seem like a way to foster any discussion.
None of us know—you are right. but I didn’t see her reply to the other 1000 posts in the last 2 threads saying to every differing opinion—“you don’t know anything and neither do I” Maybe it’s just how I read it—I know tone is hard to detect in these forums. It could very much be on me.
I will say I want Quade to be the manager of a World Series champion in hte next couple of years!
Why interview a guy who doesn't have a chance?
Al, I am happy with Quade being selected as manager. However, it doesn’t make sense to me that the Cubs would interview Ryne Sandberg if Jim Hendry knew that he didn’t have a chance of being manager. Would it not have made sense to just take the “interim” label off Mike Quade after the season ended? Especially considering that the team went 24-13 with him as manager to finish the season? The Phillies in 1980 went 19-11 under Dallas Green to finish the season and they didn’t interview other candidates for manager. They just took the interim label off of Green. Supposedly, they wanted to hire Whitey Herzog. I don’t know if that’s true, but after they saw the job that Green did, they gave him a one-year contract to manage the Phils in 1980.
I think that Ricketts wanted Sandberg, but he let Hendry make this choice and probably told him “Whatever happens, remember it was your call.” So, if Mike Quade turns out to be a flop in 2 years, he’ll be gone and so will Jim Hendry. Personally, I want to see Quade succeed even if that means Jim Hendry stays.
by jeffmills1972 on Oct 20, 2010 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions
people are pissed off that sandberg got interviewed and didnt get the job
do you realize how pissed off people would be if they didnt interview him and just gave quade the job?
even i would be a little angry
He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA
by jesus christos on Oct 20, 2010 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Wasn't meant as a snark.
There were other considerations taken in this hire and the 37 games were just one of many considerations. I really didn’t have a choice between Quade or Sandberg but I do feel good about this hire.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
What if the queen had balls?
If Quade had gone 10-27 it would have raised some questions as to his fitness for the job. The fact of the matter is that he didn’t go 10-27. He was given an opportunity and he impressed Hendry and Ricketts. I have no idea if Quade will be a good manager, but this isn’t like Bruce Kimm was given the managerial gig off of a hot streak. Quade is a very well-respected person in the baseball community who has a wide-range of experience. He actually comes closer to fitting the profile of a successful manager than Ryno.
I can see how some can be disapointed in the hire on a personal level because many wanted to see Ryno get the job. But if you stack the two candidates resumes next to each-other, I have a hard time seeing how Ryno comes out on top. If Sandberg truly is managerial timber he will get a shot somewhere. I think it is way too early to make any judgments about who the better manager will be.
She would be King...
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 10:33 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
she would be a Drag Queen?
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
She would be ballsy
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
I think he probably would've
in all honesty.
the reason being
if you compare their qualifications for the job, Quade still comes out ahead of Sandberg as being the better qualified candiate. If it came down to those two and Quade had gone 10-27 … it might’ve been a harder sell, but if this was truly Hendry’s call, as all indications point to, then I think there’s a good chance that he simply would’ve picked the better candidate.
Possibly not
It might have been Eric Wedge. For whatever reason, Cubs brass didn’t choose Sandberg. People need to get over it.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
Let's just say that the decision-making prowess of "Cubs Brass" deserves every bit of criticism it gets.
The mindset of….
“Cubs should do X!”
(Cubs do precisely the opposite of X)
“The Cubs’ decision to do Y was a good choice!”
….baffles me. Especially after the last 3 years of watching Hendry’s poor decision-making get exposed for what it is.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Agreed
Some people on here just need to be honest that they will rubber-stamp any move that the Cubs make. I have been saying for months that one of the main reasons people are behind keeping Hendry is because they figured he would be retained by Ricketts, whereas they knew Lou was done after this season, so they had no problem blaming him for the team’s issues.
On the whole managerial selection process, I really didn’t care because (a) I don’t think a manager makes that big of a difference; and (b) I don’t expect the Cubs to seriously contend for a World Series for the next few years. The only thing I was concerned about was that the Cubs were going to hire someone for the wrong reasons and that it would portend future bad decisions.
Quade could have been hired for the wrong reason (his late-season record) but I have a feeling he wasn’t, because selling the fanbase on a former superstar is easier than selling the fanbase on a couple months of baseball when all but the most die-hard had tuned out. I am actually happy they didn’t hire Girardi because he would have been expensive and I believe he is overrated.
Quade actually fits the profile of many successful first-time managers as far as breadth and depth of previous experience. In that regards I think it is a good move.
by JSB on Oct 20, 2010 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
way to discount 17 years of managing in the minors for Quade
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
I like this hire
There was a part of me that wanted a Sandberg hire, but that’s the part that watches movies like The Natural.
As far as it goes, when Sandburg was told he needed to get minor league experience, that should have been the first clue he probably wasn’t ever going to manage here. If Dusty or Lou had brought home that ring, Sandburg would still not be on the Cubs’ bench in 2011. His only hope was that the Cubs would fail and not have a decent candidate in the wings.
Well, the Cubs had a decent candidate in the wings. Having seen him here in Rockford a LOT of years ago, I think we’ll be alright from the standpoint that the manager won’t lose us games like Dusty did.
[...]when Giants coach Steve Owen, a certified defensive genius, was asked how he planned to stop Nagurski, he said: "With a shotgun, as he’s leaving the dressing room."
or Lou?
Quade is a minor league lifer, who after 17 yrs. is finally getting his shot. (I for one hope he leads the Cubs to a WS title). In my estimation there is a reason it has taken THIS long for Q. to get his shot…
Sandberg was told to go get experience managing. Ryno did so, and was quite successful. Before that he was a roving instructor, hanging around ST, offering advice, etc. Ryno wasn’t promised the gig, but let’s be honest here; he was placed on the “management track”. I trust you see the difference.
I think if Bake or Lou had won it all- surely either would have retired an instant living legend. So it seems disingenuous to me to say Sandberg wouldn’t have been the manager anyway.
I think Ryno “gets it”. I mean in terms of playing the game the right way, knowing that hard work, determination & leadership lead to success on the diamond, and on the bench. I don’t give a rat’s ass about 102 years or some dream that Ryno returns & leads us to WS. I think the decent candidate in the wings was Sandberg, not Q.
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 10:15 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm curious about this "minor-league lifer" tag applied to Quade
Is it because of his playing time? Because many successful major-league managers never had a major-league career worth noting, if any at all. Or is it because of the large number of years he spent managing minor-league teams? Because he’s spent 8 of the last 11 years coaching at the major-league level…
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
Clutch!
It’s nothing to do with having played mlb, or professionally in any capacity. For me it has everything to do with the number of years spent managing in the minors, or coaching at the ML level BEFORE getting his shot at actually holding down a ML bench. I think Quade is either extremely humble, or was never considered ML manager material until recently.
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 19, 2010 10:42 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Hola, Jimmy
As others have pointed out, he applied for the Cubs’ position in in 2007, after managing in their MiLB system for a couple of years. But that was after a stint at the major-league level (his first) for the millennial A’s, who were constantly successful in division play (vs. Lou’s M’s, I might add). In those days, a higher-level position seemed to be awaiting him, but the Cubs tossed him at the minors, where his talent and experience were probably more necessary. It’s been a long time coming for him, yes, but not that long when you consider that there are only 30 similar positions extant at any given time. He applied once, was turned down, accepted a lower position with good grace, and has waited for this particular spot to open up again.
I’m not saying that he’s gonna be awesome or that there are nothing but good times and parties ahead, but he’s been considered worth a shot for something better than base coach for most of a decade.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
you do realize
that in 2007, Quade was also given the indication that he could get stronger consideration if he got MLB experience, which he did. The idea that ryno going through the system somehow makes him deserving – I don’t buy that. Quade was as successful, if not moreso, than Ryno in the minors. He offered us a candidate that was willing to help “modernize” the Cubs through accepting and acknowledging the value of statistics. He’s a strong leader, he has a strong work ethic. He’s an excellent teacher. He clearly engenders passion amongst his players … like another manager in the Cubs system this year … Bill Dancy. Yet, all indications are that he maintained discipline. He’s a good teacher of fundamentals.
Again … go down the list of key traits a manager needs to have. Quade had everything Sandberg had … and more. The best candidate doesn’t always end up being the most successful, but I’d hope my team would hire the better managerial candidate irrespective of Q-rating and popularity.
DId he get any new experience since 2007?
Seems like he added 3 more years onto the several he already had on an MLB bench.
I think that the 37 games at the end of the year played way, way more into the consideration than “getting MLB experience”, which he already had.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I am with you Jimmy
Ryno got the shaft period. I would be shocked to see Sandberg in a Cub uniform as long as Ricketts is owning this club.
Thanks Ryno for four years in our system that we basically told you do, now you can move on. This is on Hendry and Ricketts.
I respect your posts
but I have to ask, so the fact that Hendry and Co. fast-tracked him, when many other quality managers have toiled numerous cycles in the minors, doesn’t count for anything? Sandberg was never promised anything – like Quade, he was also asked to add something to his resume to give him a better shot to be a manager in the future. Both did, and Quade got the job, IMO, because he was simply a better candidate right now. That said, Sandberg advanced faster than anyone could’ve expected in four years, and the Cubs, whether they like him personally or not, have not publically said anything negative and, as a result, Sandberg’s name has really gone up a lot faster than expected as a possible managerial candidate.
He didn’t get the job. Two good candidates competed, and one got it, and another didn’t. As a result of the last four years, Ryne Sandberg
a) Found something he is passionate about – he’s acknowledged that he wasn’t really sure at first when he started this process
b) is in a significantly better position to become a major league manager.
Heck, one of Ryne’s minor league managers back in the day, Bill Dancy, is still toiling in AA, and he is a very well-respected guy that players respond well to, and is considered to have a sharp baseball mind. Let’s not make it sound like Ryne got nothing out of the deal. He didn’t get the dream, but he got career advancement at a faster pace than many others.
He got a ticket out of town
which I don’t think anyone anticipated. I firmly believe like others, Ryno would of been introduced today instead of Quade if Quade goes under .500 the last 37 instead of the 24-13.
One thing Sandberg was passionate about and that was the Cubs. Now they ( Hendry/RIcketts) have created a situation that it is virtually impossible for him to come back to the Cub organization.
I see no reason why Sandberg couldn't stay in the organization, if he wanted to.
But it does not look like he wants to, which is a pity.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
They haven't even offered him a position.
They spent yesterday’s presser hemming and hawing about Sandberg – they went into the presser with no idea what to say about the situation.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Combine that with Ryno taking at least two requests for talk radio interviews
And playing the “betrayed” card, and it paints a picture of “Geez, we didn’t think he’d take it that badly…”
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
The Sandberg situation
It may have been handled badly (no surprise with Hendry) but I hope Sandberg doesn’t start playing the “betrayed” victim. He can say he was disappointed as that is to be expected but betrayal is a bit much for me. I haven’t heard any of the interviews so I’m not sure what he has been saying.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
I've been going by second-hand reports of them here
But those have been saying that he took it very badly and that the chances that he returns to the Cubs are slim. I agree with you that Hendry’s way of breaking crap news seems to alienate a lot of people, so it may be the case that the phone call/meeting started out poorly and any lifelines that were (or were intended to be) thrown out there were never taken due to that.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
true but lets remember in 2006
Quade was told to get ML experience to be considered, and he did that as part of Lou’s staff
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
He already had experience on an MLB bench in 2006.
What changed?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
They wanted more
And with the Cubs?
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
I doubt it. What changed was 37 games in Aug/Sept. 2010.
I don’t see how anyone can really dispute this.
I hope that Quade does an awesome job. I’m more disappointed in Hendry today than I ever have been, because it’s pretty clear that he’s just as clueless in managing personalities in the front-office as he is in assembling an MLB roster.
The next event that gets me excited about the Ricketts Era will be the first.
I take that back. He took down the prefab concrete.
The next event that gets me excited about the Ricketts Era will be the second. And as an aside, Bison hot dogs suck.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I'll be sure to avoid them
And yes, I think that the 37 game stretch was probably a factor – maybe even a large one. As others have said elsewhere in this thread and others, at the very least, it made the idea of Q continuing in the role palatable to a majority of fans. I do not, however, believe that it was the only thing at play here, and that unless someone can get Hendry to give a candid interview about his decision-making process (fat chance there), we’ll probably never know exactly how much any one thing factored into this decision.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
I don't even mind the decision so much.
What I hate is how badly they bungled the Sandberg situation.
Was there no time over the last 4 years when they could have addressed this?
Is it so difficult to – at a minimum – throw him a coaching offer, even if you know he’s going to reject it, so that you can say “we’d love to bring Ryne to our MLB staff, and we’ve made him an offer, but we understand he’s going to be looking for a manager’s job”?
It was as if Hendry and Ricketts had absolutely no idea that their handling of the Sandberg situation was going to be national news. They didn’t even seem to have an answer ready for the question. “Ummm… he’s been a terrific Cub.” Yikes.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
My take on it
Is just slightly upthread. It sounds like the bungling started early never got better. It may be that Hendry is so used to dealing with other GMs and agents (where a brusque, business-first attitude is encouraged, if not rewarded) that he just doesn’t know how to properly deal with delicate situations.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
Oh here comes the "right way" argument
I’m sure Mike Quade looks forward to playing the wrong way.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
sigh
No kidding
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
I know. :(
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
What's more important...
…is the right way to put a roster together, and that’s not something the Cubs have excelled at.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Talented people get passed over in ever line of business
Just because Quade toiled 17 years in the minors — that does not disqualify him for a MLB position.
So much of MLB is politicial — friends hire friends, the so-called ‘good old boys’ network that gave us Dusty Baker, Lou Pinella — and so many other recycled managers over the years in MLB.
Q has persevered under what seems to be impossible odds and has gained one of baseball’s most prominent gigs.
A lesson to never give up on your dreams.
This is quite remarkable, really.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 21, 2010 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions
molina, not ian
He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA
by jesus christos on Oct 19, 2010 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions
You love Molina
ewwwwww…..icky icky
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
"My favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese, from the blue box." Geovany Soto
"They played like son of a guns......lord have mercy." Mike Quade
which Molina?
Mo, Larry or Curly??
Carlos Silva lemonade: made from freshly squeezed Milton Bradley lemons. -- the Jim Hendry kook book.
anyone that homers off a yankee this postseason gets a token "ilu"
i love you, josh hamilton
He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA
by jesus christos on Oct 19, 2010 9:53 PM CDT up reply actions
That's why I want the Cubs to play the Yankees in the WS that will end the drought
It would make more people root for the Cubs and be happy they won, in comparison to if they play the twins
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
"My favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese, from the blue box." Geovany Soto
"They played like son of a guns......lord have mercy." Mike Quade
gotta love a two-out rally that just keeps going...
as I sit in my hotel room in New York I can feel the life being sucked out of this city.
Carlos Silva lemonade: made from freshly squeezed Milton Bradley lemons. -- the Jim Hendry kook book.
What will happen if the Yankees make another fantastic comeback?
We will have to hear it for the next 100 years on ESPN. That’s worse than anything.
"I'm not much of a chemistry guy, you know. Chemistry to me is a pinch-hit double with the bases loaded"--Jim Frey, Chicago Tribune, 1985.
dont jinx it
He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA
by jesus christos on Oct 19, 2010 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions
bases loaded for the yankees. oh no.
"I'm not much of a chemistry guy, you know. Chemistry to me is a pinch-hit double with the bases loaded"--Jim Frey, Chicago Tribune, 1985.
No problem they went down
and now a few homers later they are down 10-3. YIPEE
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Oct 19, 2010 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions
good thing girardi wont be cubs manager
hed probably bring mitre and guadin with him
He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA
by jesus christos on Oct 19, 2010 11:02 PM CDT reply actions
Prospect, eh? I scored the game winning goal against Prospect this season! (soccer)
Only time will tell if this was the right choice, but right now, I think he’s a solid choice to be the manager of the Cubs
by braziliancubsfan on Oct 19, 2010 11:09 PM CDT reply actions
Good for you, man
Glad to see we have another goal-scorer on the board :D
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
Gee if the Cubs had waited a day they might have been able
to talk to Girardi. Not that he would have taken the job.
Yankees going down.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Oct 19, 2010 11:28 PM CDT reply actions
I thought the Rangers would win the series
I mean, I wouldn’t have bet money on it … but geesh, I didn’t think they would dominate the way they have. I mean, I thought they had better SP, that their offense was as capable as the Yankees, and that they had enough “stuff” out of the pen. Add in solid up the middle defense, and I thought they were simply better, but I thought this would be a close series. It might end up going 7, but so far, it hasn’t been a close series.
I tried loosely defending Joba, but he sure made some bad pitches tonight. They are going to have to make a decision on what his future is sooner than later. If they’ve really lost that much confidence in him and don’t view him as a starter anymore, as spec/rumors have it, then they need to move him while his value is high.
The bats seem like they are simply going through a cold-spell. They can’t actually complain about Burnett all that much – that was about as decent a performance as they could’ve expected. Simply put … the Rangers might just simply be … well … better.
I know it is a little different situation
But I remember when Univ. of Iowa was getting ready to hire a new football coach after Hayden Fry retired. Being from Iowa Bob Stoops was the equivelant to Sandberg in this equation. Big time sucessful coach and a former Hawkeye star. Iowa put him on hold and interviewed some guy named Kirk Ferentz. Needless to say no one really knew anything about him as he had never been a big time college coach. Everyone in the state was all hyped about hiring Stoops but the school went with Ferentz.. I was in the Stoops wagon and pretty pissed when they hired Ferentz. Obviously if you follow Iowa football you know that they have been pretty damn good for his now 12yr tenure as head coach.
Mike Quade go out and take us to the promised land. All the Sandberg lovers will be screaming your name when it happens!
You will never move forward by looking back....
by By Santo's Grace on Oct 19, 2010 11:28 PM CDT reply actions
I have no connection to Iowa football, nor do I have an issue with today's hiring.
But in your analogy, Quade’s the guy who has led Iowa to two Big Ten championships, and multiple top ten finishes in the final rankings. Sandberg’s the guy who’s won a national championship.
Oklahoma and Iowa are not in the same league when it comes to recruiting. Ferentz has done
about as well as anyone can do given the type of player he has to work with. If you put Ferentz in Norman, Ok and Stoops in Iowa City, I seriously doubt that the results would be much different than they are today.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Oct 20, 2010 7:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, that has basically no relationship to what happened between Iowa and Bob Stoops.
They screwed that situation up BADLY. Stoops wanted to come, and he’d be the head coach if certain individuals hadn’t interfered. We lucked out that Ferentz was available.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Ah yes I remember that well.
Your analogy describes this situation well.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
Levine's chat
H/t to TCR.
3 other teams asked to interview Quade. Levine doesn’t say who, but I believe there was some spec that, if Alderson got the Mets job, he might’ve had interest.
Trammell could be back as bench coach. Honestly, I don’t mind that. He’d be a solid hand for Quade. I just figured he’d leave to join his buddy Kirk.
Perhaps the most intriguing thing was that it wasn’t the staff that wasn’t trying Colvin at first, but rather Tyler pulled himself out of it each time. Makes you wonder what the Cubs offseason plan/strategy is (granted, they’ll probably really flesh it out at the org meetings). With all spec/indications that Colvin, for better or worse, is in-line for a starting job, one wonders how the Cub goes about this.
It seems all but certain that the Cubs will pursue a veteran bat of some sort for the middle of the lineup in either a corner OF or IF spot, though. My only hope is that they keep the 2nd base job open in an effort to try and find a better top of the order hitter.
I'm suprised
Good luck to Mike Quade.
"I think I'm going to a casino in Indiana and play snake eyes. I don't know what else to say, I'll be honest with you."
Go Quade! Go Cubs!
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
How is this "illuminating"?
I asked him whether he’d try to put together a bench of players who could step in and start, to give his regulars rest (you all know that’s something we haven’t had the last two years). His answer was illuminating: though he acknowledged that a good bench is always a good thing to have, if his regulars are doing the job and don’t need rest, he wouldn’t force it just to say he’s doing so.
Not trying to be a jerk, and I’m relatively happy about the hire, but I don’t see how “playing the hot hand” is some sort of revolutionary idea. Then again, it sounds as though you phrased your question under the assumption that he would be the guy responsible for roster construction, and we’ve had that argument many times before.
I'm not crazy about Quade
and he wouldn’t have been my first choice (Bobby V would have been) or even in my top 5, but all the same, as a Cubs fan, I wish him well and hope he can be the one to lead them to a WS victory.
Yeah, that would have been a way wrong choice.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Hey Al ...
did you see in the Levine chat that Colvin told Quade that he wasn’t ready to play first? I think this is a big, big development. It means the Cubs aren’t against Colvin at first, which might open up right field, and might mean the Cubs have more options than Adam Dunn.
I did not see that.
But when Colvin is healthy again, they should start working him out at first.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I hope they can work with him sooner rather than later.
That way, the Cubs can decide whether they can look for a first baseman or an outfielder before FAs start finding homes.
FWIW,
late in the year Colvin put in an hour hear and there working with Trammell and another coach (Sinatro, maybe?) during BP on first base foot work. That was right after DLee left, but Nady got most of the playing time.
I’ll bet that Colvin gets an early spring training start or two there.
Come visit me inside Wrigley along the Addison side mezzanine fence straight up from 1st base.
by section229beer on Oct 20, 2010 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Will Santo now promote Q to the "fine" Manager of Chicago Cubs
Good hire. I too was in Camp Ryno, but must admit that I think Quade was the best pick in the final analysis. What Quade’s 40 game late season audition showed me as a Cub fan was that having an engaged, energetic, sound “baseball guy” manager makes a difference. Without that audition, I think Q’s hiring would have caused an uproar from Cubdom. But hey, the guy got an opportunity and in 6 or so weeks showed that he was up for the job. Who was Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa, Sparky Anderson, Jim Leyland, etc., before their first MLB managerial gig? Good on ya, Q, and Go Cubs!
I like the hire
Sandberg was always my first choice as he was my idol growing up and I think he did a great job at Iowa, but after watching Quade work over the last 37 games of the year with less of a team that Piniella had and have the best record in the majors, sans Philadelphia, over that time it was a move I had no problem with. I said it and got bashed for it on this site that we needed a manager here that could relate to the Cubs, Baker could not, Piniella could not and that was why I was a big fan of hiring Girardi instead of Lou. He grew up in Chicago, went to Northwestern, played for the Cubs. Hendry went witht he experience and while we had some nice years under Lou I still feel that it was the wrong choice. Now we can hire Sandberg or Quade and both can relate to the Cubs 100% and I feel that is a huge intangible to be a Cubs manager no matter what anyone else on this site says, and I look forward to 2011.
My 2 cents
During the press conference, Quade talked about getting back to playing fundamental baseball which I am in 100% favor of. As the 3rd base coach and outfielder coach for the past few years, why wasn’t Quade coaching fundamentals all along? The Cubs outfield almost never hit the cut-off man, allowing the runner to advance into scoring position. That is part of being a fundamental baseball team too.
If Lou wasn’t out there coaching the players, like Quade implied, why weren’t the coaches taking the initiative to teach fundamental baseball. One reason Quade was named manager was because he is an “organizational” man. As an organization, don’t they all want to win?
THAT's a great point.
None of us can provide a definitive answer. I’d guess that Lou was probably too forgiving or too lazy to go after players, particularly veterans (Soriano, Theriot, Ramirez), who made bonehead/lazy plays the past couple years.
I have a hard time seeing a coach without the backing of his manager going after guys for bad fundamentals, especially if those guys are huge names.
This is almost certainly correct imo
Being an assistant coach is a tough job that’s very dependent upon the style of the head honcho, and we all know Lou had a big, cranky personality (that I even experienced first hand once). I’d bet that there just wasn’t that sort of comfort level where coaches could approach veterans without Lou’s backing, and Lou’s position was probably “what are you gonna do, they’re vets, they’ll figure it out.”
Now, you & I have had some disagreements.
But on this, I think you are absolutely correct.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Wow!!! Dysfunctional
I’m not trying to read to much into all of this, but this is what I’m hearing and seeing.
Lou was unapproachable. The coaches were, in a sense, intimidated by Lou, the icon and were afraid to step on his toes.
As the season progressed, and it became more clear Lou was done, Hendry was intimidated by Lou, the icon and couldn’t fire him. But, merely suggested, he go home and take care of him Mama.
Lou is gone and it’s time to hire a new manager. Ryno, the icon, the household name. Quade, a low profile, great candidate.
Hendry opts for Quade, not only, because he is a low profile name, but because he is approachable by coaches and players. I hope it’s not the case, but if it comes down to needing to fire Quade, it would be a lot easier than firing Ryno. I’m not saying Ryno isn’t approachable, but he is a icon.
I think you are spot on.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
Just because
Quade talked about “getting back” to playing fundamental baseball doesn’t mean they weren’t at least trying to play fundamental baseball before. And I don’t think the coaches would shy away from teaching fundamentals because of Lou being too lazy to care. In fact it’s probably the other way around. If you’re a lazy manager wouldn’t you demand that your coaches do those sort of things so you don’t have too? Basically, just because it wasn’t happening doesn’t mean Quade and the others weren’t trying (Lou included). Maybe they need to change the approach they were taking, maybe the players weren’t listening, maybe anything, who knows. Any new manager taking over a team that had a poor year is going to allude to things like the need to play fundamental baseball, I wouldn’t read too much into it.
I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey
A baseball guy who actually talks about baseball during press conferences
and stresses fundamentals? How refreshing. I remember him sitting Castro after some bonehead plays. I loved that.
Really, really good hire Jim Hendry. I’ve been wanting you gone for a couple years but I think you made the right step in turning this thing around.
I don't know where else to put this
so I will go ahead and put it here. To the extent anyone cares, I apologize to Al and everyone else for my outbursts yesterday. I have been a huge Sandberg fan since I was a kid and have been assuming he would be Lou’s successor for the last four years. So yesterday I let my surprise and disappointment get the best of me and acted inappropriately.
I remain bitter that the same guy that’s responsible for us paying Grabow $4.8 million was given the authority to decide that Sandberg should go elsewhere, but whatever. It is what it is as they say, so I hope Quade succeeds and the organization gets back on track, and that Ryno finds a good home elsewhere.
And we are in agreement there
I will be happy when the press conference is a new GM. Unfortunately, Hendry is still here so I hope he has learned from his dumb moves like Bradley and Grabow.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
Frankly
I don’t want a GM who simply panders to the fan base when selecting a manager. I also do not want a GM who tries to outsmart himself by making a clever, unconventional pick just to show everyone how clever he is. We don’t yet know which camp the Quade selection falls into. For the ledge jumpers I say this:
During the past 102 years, we’ve had all kinds of managers – some of the ‘best’ have blown through here and some of the worst as well. None have brought a World Series to the city. A manager is important, but ultimately just a piece of the puzzle required for what we all want for the Cubs.
Sorry for checking in so late on this,
but I was on vacation and nowhere near a computer when this happened. And I haven’t read through all the comments, so forgive me if this is redundant.
Overall, I think this is a good choice. Not a great one, necessarily, although it could turn out to be.
I think it’s safe to say Quade wasn’t on anybody’s radar when Lou left. But he saw a crack in a doorway and busted through it.
I’m impressed with what I’ve seen of him so far. He’s not afraid to hold people accountable, and he presents himself well in front of the media. He seems unafraid to go with his gut occasionally. And he appears to want to avoid putting square pegs in round holes and tailor his style of play to what he has in his dugout.
I would have preferred the Cubs waited to talk to Girardi, but perhaps, through back channels, he let the Cubs know he wasn’t interested. Or perhaps the Cubs weren’t interested in him.
As for Sandberg, I suspect had Q not made the late charge he did, he might have gotten the job. If the final two candidates were him and Q, it was little contest, IMHO. Again: Call him Ryne Smith and he wouldn’t have been in the mix.
That said, I hope he stays in the organization, either at Iowa or as a coach with the big club. If he really wants to manage, and someone like the Blue Jays wants to take a chance on him, bully for him.
Q deserved the chance. He’s been impressive to this point. I hope that continues.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Oct 20, 2010 4:18 PM CDT reply actions
Tell the truth
You were so happy you were on a bender and are just now able to type.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Oct 20, 2010 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Are we getting an insight into why you disappeared from this site after Lou resigned?
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
Disappeared?
For the last week or so, maybe, but I’ve been here all along otherwise.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Oct 20, 2010 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I was tweaking Doggie Stalker there
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
Slow on the uptake I am
Sorry, v6.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Oct 20, 2010 10:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, I might have been on a bender,
but it had nothing to do with who was the Cubs’ manager. ;)
by Not Bruce Froemming on Oct 20, 2010 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions
And, Al,
I know you’re disappointed Ryno didn’t get it, but I want to applaud you for the class you showed in your post. Well put, as you usually do.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Oct 20, 2010 4:21 PM CDT reply actions
If Keith Moreland
had spent the last four years in the organizations minor leagues in hopes of getting the managers job but didn’t would anyone care? Sandberg was a great player, a great Cub, a fine person and will forever be one of my favorite players. That doesn’t mean he should have been picked as manager. Frankly, Quade is the right choice. Sandberg may leave the organization, and that’s a loss, but Quade is pretty good at what he does too, wouldn’t that be a pretty big loss to the organization as well? The only thing Sandberg had over Quade is the PR boost he would have brought. I’d rather the team make decisions like this based on what’s best for the baseball side of the team, not the marketing side.
I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey
I still say that Joe Girardi was the #1 choice...
For Tom Ricketts AND Jim Hendry. As soon as it became reported a couple of days ago that Girardi would be given a 3-year contract extension after the season, within hours of that Mike Quade is hired as manager. Coincidence?
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bleed Cubbie Blue
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
Cubs By The Numbers
Cubs By The Numbers is a history of the ballclub by uniform number, but the biographies help trace the history of our beloved team in a new way. For everyone who's a Cubs fan, anyone who ever wore the uniform is like family. Cubs By The Numbers reintroduces readers to some of their long-lost ancestors, even ones they think they already know.
Click here to order your copy, available now!
Recent Stories in Chicago Cubs Game Threads
Recent Stories in Ticket Exchanges
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
