Kolek planning to go pro
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/10/quade-gets-two-year-deal-to-manage-cubs.html
He has worked his way through every level of the minors.
This is a good hire for the Cubs. Their roster is high priced and not very good at this point. Quade is a low risk option. If he performs well...then they made a solid choice. If he doesn't, they can just dump him at low cost and rebuild the roster.As a Brewer fan, I just hope they continue to use Hendry to build that roster.
4 Whole years of minor league managing experience. The ONLY reason he is considered a major league candidate is because of his HOF career. I'm glad he has had success managing minor leage baseball, but minor league baseball is NOT about winning. Minor league baseball is about evaluating and developing talent. As a Cubs fan I have to say, I don't think anyone does that better than the Twins.
The celebrity/retred managers (Baylor, Baker, Piniella) didn't work so why not go with the little know guy?I just hope that Sandberg will accept a bench coach position to gain some Major League experience. He was the Minor League coach of the year but I don't think he is ready for the bigs yet.
Some guys just have it.
Although that is a generalized sports saying that I hate, Tony La Russa is another example of manager that was hired w/ out extensive experience.
As a Cubs fan I have to say, I don't think anyone does that better than the Twins.
I agree the Twins do it the best. But then they get bounced from the playoffs in the Divisional Series every year. I just don't get it.
I think it just speaks to the way that a great playoff baseball team and a great regular season team can be very different things. And I'm not even talking about mental toughness or any of that kind of thing, just team construction. The Twins do great with solid interchangeable parts pitching and solid 3-4 tool field players. In the playoffs, its better to have two great pitchers than four good ones. In recent memory, the only lock down pitcher the twins have had was johan. Plus they just don't have the four hitters to string in a lineup and get runs/knock out opposing pitchers.
He has learned to manage the young pitching staff well such as turning Samardzija around by teaching the kid a second pitch. Quade is a good baseball man...very organized and has a good mind....but really? He sat by idly while the old bar sot stood in place on the top step. And he won a few meaningless games in September. Quade is very experienced and knows the Cubs history but Hendry hired more of the same. Hendry passed on Girardi the last time becuase he was outspoken for Old Lou and he again blew this one. More so, after a disaster of season that was as un-fan friendly with ticket prices, a roster bogged down with wasted Hendry free agent pick-ups, a left fielder who refuses to catch a ball, and the late season trade-off of the most popular players--the Ricketts absolutely choked up a hair ball on the pr impact of hiring Ryno. Hendry reupped Rothschild the other day and hired the guy he can control as manager.
1. Sandberg never threw a single pitch in his baseball career. Wouldn't a pitching coach work w/ Samardzija? All of the experts, like Rothschild, mentored and gave up on him. Hendry vastly over paid for him to keep him out of the NFL. Brought up too early and was never taught to pitch as he was all smoke with a flat fastball. They finally exiled him hoping they could use him in a trade...Sandberg taught him a new pitch, taught him to cut his fastball and then lights out. Coincidence? Oh, that's right, it was all Quade?2. Starlin Castro is the only player deserving of the tag "young star." Sandberg managed him for roughly 2 months. Had him in AA too for a bit....but he also had him pre-season and Arizona league as an instructor. The group I am talking about is the Cashners, Barney's, Castillio's, all coming up3. You can't have mutiny in your clubhouse. The manager manages the ball club. period. ummmm...do you follow the Cubs? There was mutiny in the clubhouse. Quade was Hendry's lil' toady's college roommate--Randy Bush. That is why Trammel was named interim. Also, glad Quade wasn't accountable as a coach as the manager runs the ballclub. Sounds like a perfect choice--hire and retain the guys in place (as Quade has indicated he Will do) vs. the guy who developed and won with the players of the future...great recipe for success.4. You'd have to go back to Jim Riggleman as the last time the Cubs did not make a big name hire. More of the same my ass. Probably the last chance that a HOF player will have to manage. Quade is a shade over .500 as a manager. Sandberg has won at every level. 5. Don't compare Quade to Girardi (jury is still out if he is a good manager anyway). compare Quade to the men who did NOT get this job. ummm...Girardi was on the list...told Hendry to go away. Manager of the years, World Series, team fighting to get back...our jury criteria sound like Chicos for Buzz.6. Rothschild has done an ok job with the pitching staff. Pitching wasn't really a problem for the Cubs last season. Hendry's boy...did a great job with Carlos and Jeff, right? The young pitchers whom Lou threw to the wolves and pitch day after day and then yo yo up between AAA and the majors? 7. Most important, Fire Jim Hendry and Crane Kenney. Does it matter who manages the team if you have bums running the show? Crane Kenny does not touch baseball decisions...he is doing he deal on the new Arizona complex. Hendry's mistakes have been colossal in the $$ hit....amazing that he is still employed.