Dale Sveum Named Chicago Cubs Manager
By Editorial Staff
The Chicago Cubs are set to introduce Dale Sveum as the club’s new manager this morning. Sveum, who was formerly the Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach, accepted the offer to take over in Chicago and become the 52nd manager in Cubs history.
The Cubs reportedly made Sveum their selection to replace Mike Quade earlier in the week, but it hadn’t been known if the 47-year-old would accept. Sveum, who was also in the running for the Red Sox managerial opening, was expected to give Boston a chance to match the Cubs offer.
Wednesday night the Red Sox announced that they were no longer interested in Sveum, saying that they instead wanted to pursue a candidate with more managerial experience. Yesterday, Sveum reportedly accepted the Cubs offer and is set to be introduced as Chicago’s next skipper this morning.
Along with Sveum, the Cubs interviewed Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale. Terry Francona also told reporters that he spoke with Theo Epstein regarding the opening, but Tito came to the conclusion that he wasn’t the right fit for the Cubs at this time.
Though this will be the first time Sveum has been hired to manage a major league club, he did act as interim manager of the Brewers at the end of the 2008 season. Under Sveum, Milwaukee ended the regular season with a 7-5 record, clinching a wild-card spot in the process.
It was during this time that Sveum says he discovered his desire to become a major league manager. Sveum said the situation “definitely whet” his appetite to take over a club. Once he became interim manager, Sveum says that he “felt right at home and very comfortable” in the role.
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