Quade Era Set to Begin 2011

e time after the close of a disappointing 2010 season on picking their new manager.  They didn't have to look very far either.  Mike Quade, who served as interim manager following Lou Piniella's abrupt retirement in August, was selected to serve as the franchise's 51st manager.  The decision was somewhat expected, even amidst a loud chorus of Cub fans calling for the hiring of fan favorite Ryne Sandberg.

The decision does not appear to be a bad one when considering that Quade took a Cubs team that had just lost 20 of its last 25 games to a record of 24-13 under his guidance.  Yet, the team went only 2-4 against eventual NL playoff teams and posted a 9-7 record against teams in playoff contention, a fact that has some Chicago sports commentators and Cubs fans leery of the hire.

Quade had no experience as a big league manager until taking the helm in the Cubs' dugout with six weeks left in the season.  Prior to his ascension to interim manager in August he was Lou Piniella's third base coach.  He has managed minor league teams from Puerto Rico to Western Canada, with a myriad of stops in between. His resume includes 17 years and 2,378 games of experience as a manager at the minor league level, compiling a career record of 1,213-1,165.  He is a well traveled baseball man.  Beginning as an outfield prospect in the Pittsburg Pirates organization in 1979 and culminating in his hiring as the 51st manager of the Chicago Cubs.

 There is some controversy in this decision amongst many of the Cubs' faithful, who had hoped to see their longtime hero Ryne Sandberg awarded the position.  Sandberg had spent the last four seasons managing in the Cubs' farm system, compiling a record of 284-277-1.  He spent last season managing the Cubs' Triple A affiliate, the Iowa Cubs, to a tie for first place with a record of 82-62.  This would earn him Manager of the Year honors in the Pacific Coast League.     Unfortunately, to the dismay of Cubs' fans, Sandberg has decided to sever ties with the organization after learning he would not be awarded the manager position he openly coveted.  In doing so, he has decided to return to the organization that traded him to the Cubs when he was a young, minor league third baseman.  He will spend the 2011 season as the manager of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, the Triple A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.

While many of the Cubs' faithful may be disappointed with this hiring, it is important to note that many veteran Cubs' players spoke out and lobbied for Quade's return as the full-time manager during the final week of the season.  Many of them especially praised Quade for his communication skills.  Three months from now, pitchers and catchers report to spring training camp in what will be the official beginning of the Mike Quade era.  The 2011 season will offer Cubs fans a chance to evaluate the first major baseball decision under the new ownership group.