Quade Ex-Manager Fast
By Lew Freedman
Some administrators shoot first and ask questions later. Theo Epstein asked questions first and shot later. But he did shoot and he executed Mike Quade, the Chicago Cubs manager by himself without employing a hired assassin.
Quade had to go. He parlayed a good month in 2010 into a full-time job in 2011 and then proved he had been a hasty hire as the Cubs slipped into oblivion once more. Epstein reportedly met with Quade in one long meeting, talked to him another time, and when he decided to pull the trigger he flew to Florida to deliver the news of Quade’s firing in person. I don’t know whether he flew first class, but dismissing Quade face-to-face was first class and not everybody in an authority position does the right thing.
Now comes the real challenge, finding the right guy to be the Cubs manager in 2012. Who’s next? Epstein could bring back the rotating collage of coaches from the early 1960s, but I’m betting he’s leaning against that social experiment being revived. Ernie Banks is too old. So is Billy Williams. Ron Santo just died, so he is out of the question.
Greg Maddux, soon to be in the Hall of Fame, is a special advisor to the Cubs, but Epstein has announced that he won’t hire anyone who hasn’t already been a big-league manager, or has indepth experience as a big-league coach, so that would seem to rule out the career 355-game winner. It doesn’t rule out his brother Mike, however, who was not nearly as accomplished a Major League pitcher as his younger brother was, but who has proven to be an astute pitching coach with the Texas Rangers and others.
The No. 1 candidate, if he feels like managing next season, should be Terry Francona. Francona proved adept at handling the pressure in Boston and was at the helm of two Red Sox World Series teams while working with Epstein. I haven’t heard anything that suggests they are feuding or sick of one another and the partnership worked swimmingly in Boston. Hiring Francona can’t be beat.
In the event Epstein wants a new sidekick and Francona is weary enough to seek a leave of absence from the dugout, there are no flat-out slam-dunk candidates. Among recent marquee managing names, Bobby Cox is retired, Joe Torre is working for Major League Baseball, and Tony La Russa just announced his retirement and probably would hang up the phone if it was suggested he lead the St. Louis Cardinals’ longest-standing rival.
Former Detroit Tigers manager Alan Trammell, now bench coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, might be a good fit. Former White Sox skipper Jerry Manuel, too. Bob Brenley won a World Series managing the Diamondbacks and he is already close at hand, working as a color commentator on broadcasts.
Many may be interviewed, but only one can serve. If Francona is a no-go, then Brenley may well be the guy chosen as the next manager of the Cubs.