You're going to read a variety of takes from other opinion-makers ranging from "Why wouldn't they wait for Joe Girardi to become available" to "How could they turn their back on Sandberg", and any and all thoughts and emotions in between. That's fine if they want to go that direction.
To the first question, my response would be to point out that Girardi was already interested in being the Cubs manager before the 2007 season, and they turned him down. He wasn't about to put his neck out there again at this time, especially when the current state of the Cubs is not the most optimum to say the least. The Yankees on the other hand, are in a much better position to contend in 2011.
With regard to the second question...well that answer isn't as cut and dried. Did Ryno do everything that the Cubs asked him to do? Yes. Did Sandberg appear to take his job seriously? He was named Pacific Coast League Manager Of The Year this past summer, so yes. Do the Cubs really have anything to lose by hiring him? Not really. The only one with anything to lose is Sandberg, and that would be his reputation. Still, it didn't seem like Sandberg cared too much about that possibility. So why isn't Sandberg being named Cubs Manager today? For the same reason Quade is being named manager, and the same reason the Cubs are in this pickle they're in: Jim Hendry.
Jim Hendry has become the Matt Millen of Baseball General Managers. This is now Jim Hendry's third managerial hire during his tenure. He has spent an obscene amount of money that has resulted in absolutely nothing (Even though some readers are still waiting for the parades to start for the 2007-2008 Division Championships) in terms of satisfying the only expectation that matters in the minds of serious Cub fans which is winning the World Series. The money spent by Hendry has completely mortgaged the future of Cubs contention until 2014. Despite all of it, Hendry managed to snowball the Ricketts into keeping his job, and since he never wanted Sandberg to be Cubs manager in the first place...well it's pretty academic as to why Quade is manager, and Ryno is not.
As for Quade, it's a real low risk hire for the Cubs, and a nothing to lose move for Quade. A two year deal is nothing. If you think about it long enough, it's almost laughable. I mean can you imagine the Yankees or Red Sox giving a manager a two year contract? I don't. Quade, for his part, certainly doesn't seem to care as he's been nothing but affable and direct about his enthusiasm for the job.
Whether he can continue the good baseball the Cubs seem to play under his tenure this past season (24-13 record in case you were wondering) remains to be seen. One thing's is for sure...he'll need to start off hot next season to avoid chants of "We Want Ryno" in April.
The reason Hendry still has a job doesn't have anything to do with 2007-2010. Obviously. (ha). It has to do with his modernization of the farm system earlier in the decade and the current crop of young players who were everyday contributors this season. The Ricketts family has seen the Red Sox model, combining home-grown talent with improvements through free agency, and I think they are hell-bent on getting the former one fixed before they start throwing money down a black hole. So why does Hendry not pay for his sins of 2007-2010. Well, for one, you call two division titles "absolutley nothing," but it's more than most franchises have achieved in a four-year stretch. Secondly, and more importantly, I think Hendry has sold the Ricketts on the idea that the spending binge "wasn't really him." That he was told by Trib Co. and McDonough to spend a ton of cash to dress this team up for sale. He did that. It didn't work. But, he was just following orders.
ReplyDeleteMy problem with Hendry isn't the salary situation. I just don't think he's too smart. I think MLB teams have gone away from long-time "baseball guys" who measure players by RBI and grit...except for the Cubs. Hendry never makes a move that comes off as smart. Always seems to be reacting versus getting ahead of the game. And, more than that, he's had PLENTY of time to win a World Series in what has been a mediocre National League during most of his tenure.
That being said, I think you underrate a couple things: 1. How much the Cubs payroll drops after 2011. The only dangerous arbitration that's pending is Marmol. 2. How bad the NL Central is. You can bounce back pretty quick in this division.
You're all over the place again, but at least you remain consistent about being the only guy who is waiting for the parades to start for those division championships.
ReplyDelete"Wasn't really him"? That's the biggest crock of shit I've ever heard. "Wasn't really him" went out and paid for Fukudome? "Wasn't really him" signed Milton Bradley and gave him a three year deal when every other team knew not to do that? "Wasn't really him" gave $10 million to Jeff Samardzija? Boy I'd love to work for you Mike. You are very forgiving.
BTW it doesn't matter how much you think the Payroll drops after 2011, the days of big free agent spending by the Cubs is over for quite some time.
Let me clarify...if Ricketts bought that "wasn't really me" excuse, I'd love to work for him because HE is very forgiving. Again if that's what really happened, I don't know who that's a bigger indictment of, Hendry or Ricketts?
ReplyDeleteBTW I think the more logical explaination might be that Jim Hendry is signed through 2012 as the GM, and it would be more financially painfull to pay two GM's versus one, similar to the Lovie Smith situation with the Bears.