Who Is Your Choice For Cubs Manager?

but I heard he was quite impressive.

I’m slowly warming to the idea. But I trust whoever Theo/Jed pick to be good.

before I make up my mind.

… He said that of the top 100 managers of all time, only 4 have been pitchers. I’m not saying this means anything, it’s just an interesting stat.

Maddux doesn’t seem to be in any real rush to leave Texas. Pointing out that he hasn’t asked for these interviews and that it’s “neat” to be considered is telling, I think, too.

He doesn’t seem like he really cares if he gets the job or not.

My personal opinion is that he only kept the interview the Cubs due to the affiliation with his brother. I don’t see Maddux leaving Texas.

Is definitely more interesting than the season.

That says it all about the 2011 Cubs.

…the other night. I cracked him up when I said that, as I haven’t been right about a Cub managerial hire since, pretty much, Jim Frey, I’d leave this one completely up to Theo.

might smooth things over in my household.

Then again…

because he has the managerial experience, both in the minors and the majors, that I’m looking for.

But if Theo and Jed think that Mike Maddux is the guy and that he doesn’t need the managerial experience, I trust them and would think they made a good choice.

I’m much more impressed with the Cubs’ list than I am the Cards’. It’s weak and short-sighted. I still think both teams should consider the Rays’ Dave Martinez.

I have wanted Mike Maddux to manage for years with Greg as bench coach or if he is not full time then special advisor ( which he would be officially or not anyway as he and Mike have clearly done that for years, Greg explained years ago when Mike was pitching coach in Milwaukee that they routinely would go over stratagies for facing other teams, just not each others). I confess I tried not to dream it would be the Cubs or I might have gone insane.

Josh and others. I fully understand your concern that he is a “pitching coach” and has no managerial experience, but trust me after following him via Greg for years they are not guys who only see or understand pitching. They see the whole chess board. Mike Maddux is going to be a manager and I just hope it is with the Cubs.

FYI while I am sure Mike Maddux is serious about family considerations, the family has only lived in Texas since June and both his daughters are in college albeit colleges in the Dallas area. I say let the ladies have some fun on their own and let them hang out in Chicago in the summer, it is MUCH more fun than Dallas.

to make the right decision but I did vote for Maddux. There’s just something about his interview that I liked.

ever explain why they are not going after any guys who are currently managing a big league ballclub?

Maybe Presidents of Baseball Operations attend all the time, but It seems like Epstein is acting as kind of a ‘super GM’ and Hoyer his assistant. If so, then Hoyer will be hard pressed to make a decision on his own, with Epstein present and involved in everything. Could be I’m wrong and reading too much into it. Or perhaps that’s just their normal working arrangement? Could be a mouse turd I’m pole vaulting over, too.

it’s snowing. Ew. Wake me on February 2nd.

I like Maddux but I’ve said many times on BCB I am intrigued by Alomar. The poll should have been after the last interview, which for now is believed to be Alomar. Sure we vote Maddux because of what we know now. What if Alomar kicks arss in his interview?

Also a telling sign will be if there is a 5th interview. That would tell me the first four lack what our management team is looking for and maybe another look at one more person might be the one (Martinez).

Hmm big happy picture of your preferred candidate. I actually have not voted but perhaps it is like that
famous parody of the Florida ballot where all votes go to Maddux instead of Bush.

… i just like the sound of his name being in charge and he will do a good job with the pitchers. I just hope they fire the whole coaching staff and staert fresh. and that includes Rudy the flop Jaramilo. Since he got here Cubs bats have gotten worse and since he left TExas Rangers bats have gotten better.

I wonder whether they will be offered a 3 or 4 year term and for how much $ since none have previous MLB managerial experience unlike the most recent batch of Cubs managers

Maddux may already be negotiating with his ‘already have a job’ line. Since his team has been to the WS twice now he clearly has a strong negotiating postion – unlike the other candidates. Hope he gets the job.

till alomar interviews , but from what i have seen from the three already interviewed , i would choose maddux .

for Maddux, thinking he will be the best candidate, although it will be interesting to see where Alomar, Jr. is after his interview.

the Maddux faux-presser?

if so, I was surprised he wore wrangler jeans to the interview.

But I want to hear from Sandy.

I am skeptical on pitchers as well. But this guy has a little something extra in his mental makeup. Get us a strong former infielder or catcher as bench coach, and we will have something. Ryno, Davey Lopes, Alomar, Ausmus, Bowa, etc.

It’s that book he wrote, isn’t it?

I also enjoyed his interview and overall attitude, but lets not forget that the important stuff was what we didn’t see, and that is the simulations with Epstein and Hoyer. None of us saw that and its entirely possible that the affable and funny Maddux wasn’t able to manage his way out of a grocery bag. I doubt that and he certainly seems to have a great mind. I realize that part of a baseball blog is going to be anointing a new manager, but the fact of the matter is that none of us really know how Maddux will manage a game.

From the part that we saw, I really enjoyed Maddux and would enjoy him. Alomar is also very well respected and the Indians are extremely worried about losing him.

Question… has Dave Martinez even gotten an interview for any of this year’s managerial openings?

Time to bring in the heavy hitter – Les Grossman

Is the best choice out of the group. I don’t know how he’d like to manage. I wasn’t there for the interview. I am just basing my opinion on what I’ve read about Mike, what he’s done as a pitching coach with Milwaukee and Texas and his press conference yesterday. He seems to me to be the most genuinely enthusiastic of the men who have interviewed for this job. He seems like the type of guy who would embrace the challenge of managing for the Chicago Cubs and helping the team get to the World Series and win a championship. That’s good enough for me.

Admittedly, I am trying to get past the last name. I like his intelligence for the game. I am very curious to see how Alomar does today.

I don’t know if people like Maddux because he’s the brother of a past Cub legend or if they truly like what he has to offer.

Tough to have a chance in the poll when it’s posted before his interview.

I like Sandy. My only knock on him is how fixated he was on the process, almost like he was still in that room with the management team while standing with the reporters. To me that indicates a minor lack of presence.

I give my nod to Mike Maddux still, but wish Sandy could be his bench coach.