With the news that Chicago Cubs manager is going to retire at the end of the season, it’s time to line up the candidates who potentially could replace Piniella in the Windy City. I personally think the Cubs manager job is a very attractive job for the sole reason that there are very little expectations.
If you lose, big deal. The Cubs have had 33 managers since 1908 and they all have had one thing in common—they all lost. If things don’t pan out in Chicago, then you are just like everyone else.
However, if you win, you will be remembered forever. The reward is much greater than the risk. That is a job I will take anytime and twice on Sunday.
I also think another plus about the Cubs job is Tom Ricketts. Think about how many teams not only in baseball, but in all of sports that have their ownership situation is in flux. The Cubs’ ownership situation is settled and should be settled for quite some time.
That being said (cue Larry David), here are the potential candidates to replace Piniella in 2010:
1. Ryne Sandberg. The manager of the Cubs Triple-A Iowa team and the most logical choice. Sandberg is loved in Chicago and it would be only fitting for him to come back and manage the team he played for.
2. Joe Girardi. Girardi played for the Cubs for a total of seven seasons, he is a Northwestern guy, and his contract expires at the end of the year. The Yankees believe the organization is more important than the manager (they are right about that) and might not want to meet Girardi’s contract demands.
3. Bobby Valentine. From all indications, the Cubs are looking for a big name and Valentine would fit the bill. One the reasons negotiations between Valentine and the Florida Marlins fell apart was because the Marlins wouldn’t guarantee they would put more money into the team. He won’t have that issue in Chicago.
4. Joe Torre. Torre’s contract expires at the end of the year and I think he has had it in Los Angeles. The Dodgers’ ownership situation is a clown show and if you look at Torre during his press conferences, he looks like a beaten man. A change of scenery could do him good.
5. Eric Wedge. Probably a long shot, but he is a Midwest guy (born in Indiana) and was fairly successful in Cleveland. I have always liked Wedge as a manager and think he would be a good fit in Chicago.
6. Alan Trammell. Another long shot, but Trammell is currently the bench coach in Chicago and does have managerial experience in Detroit. Usually when the manager goes, the bench coaches aren’t too far behind. I would be very surprised if Trammell got the job.
So those are my candidates to replace Piniella. Who’s your choice?
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