So, the speculation is who will follow Pinella? Barring the reincarnation of Casey Stengel, John McGraw, or bringing in Joe Torre, who could win with the Cubs? As I said above, the manager is only part of the solution: smart player management, smart free agent signings, solid talent assessment; the ability to put together a cohesive team are the measures of good teams and front offices.
Of course, the Cub nation believe that the next manager is already in the Cub organization: Ryne Sandberg, Hall of Fame Cub second baseman has been paying his dues in the minors, learning who to be a manager, but I think that the fans that are rooting for Sandberg are thinking with their hearts, not their heads. First, of course, Sandberg made the Hall in part with his glove, but his MLB longest errorless streak is as a result of never going for the difficult chance. When I worked at Wrigley Field, my initial opinion of Sandberg was that he was cold and aloof, but I later thought that he was just vapid and didn’t have anything to say.
I became more impressed with Sandberg after his thoughtful Hall of Fame speech when he blasted the steroid cheaters who were setting baseball records. But that does not make him a good manager. Also, it would be giving this man one of the hottest seats in baseball; under constant scrutiny; in charge of the losingest franchise in sports history and the franchise where he played his entire career. In effect, he could become the baseball version of Denis Savard, who became head coach of the Blackhawks when he wasn’t ready of the job.
The other clamor is for former Cub catcher and World Series winning manager Joe Girardi. Girardi’s contract expires at the end of the season, and, admittedly, Girardi is from the Midwest (a fellow Northwestern alum), and the upside of the Cub job is that if you do get this team to win a World Series, that manager could have a job for life; or could be “Emperor of Chicago;” and be a historic figure. But why would Girardi quit the Yankee job, where you know that the franchise will do everything possible, spend the most money, to bring you the best team possible, to take a job for a team still trying to build what the Yankees have been doing for decades?
Others are mentioned, but really, given Baker’s experience (and this year’s success in Cincinnati is proving that Baker can manage), Baylor’s history and Pinella’s winning experience and history, who can do this job? And, what top manager would throw caution to the wind to take the Cub job? Torre’s contract with the Dodgers expires at the end of the season and he says that he will made his decision on next season soon (and that he’s leaning toward staying in LA according to him). Tony LaRussa’s contract also expires at the end of this season, but he has been such a fixture in St. Louis, I can’t imagine him leaving (although he has had run-ins with the current GM).
Perhaps the Cubs should hire a low key, lower name manager. Not to be cheap (although he would come cheaper than a top name), but to try and take some of the heat off the job and the man in it? And get a better general manager.