It's My Mind

The baseball season is over for the Cubs, but at least we still get to look at what's going on as far as who will be manager. Lou Pinella who was the manager of the Cubs for most of the season abruptly quit before the end of the season. He was slated to leave at the end anyway.

At the Chicago News Co-op, we see them talk about the Cubs interim manager, but this in relation to one of the Cubs broadcasters who one was a manager himself leading a major league team to a World Series:

Bob Brenly has sometimes wondered if the sparkle from the ring he won for managing the Arizona Diamondbacks to the 2001 World Series title has faded into irrelevance.

Seven of baseball’s 30 teams have managerial openings. Four teams changed managers in the 2010 season — a nearly 40 percent turnover within a calendar year. While the recycled likes of Buck Showalter and Jim Riggleman were hired for a fourth time each, Brenly has had one interview, with Milwaukee, since 2006. He doesn’t expect any more after turning down what he viewed as a courtesy invitation from General Manager Jim Hendry to apply for the Cubs’ job.

“I didn’t feel I was a serious candidate,” Brenly said, “and I think Mike Quade deserves a full shot to see what he can do.”

Quade, the Cubs’ interim manager, had a 24-13 record after taking over for Lou Piniella in August. Looming over the Cubs’ search is the presence of Ryne Sandberg, who burnished his Hall of Fame playing credentials by spending four years managing in the Cubs’ farm system. Ryno believes he’s ready for Wrigley Field, and it will be hard to tell him no.

Ah Ryne Sandberg, who I understand is managing in the Cubs farm system for the Iowa Cubs, a Triple-A team. You know I could go with a guy who entered the job with a winning record even if it was something of a mid-season replacement. I could also go with a popular former player who's had some success at the minor league level and may well be ready for prime-time. What to do? What to do?