Just two years ago, more than 33,000 fans showed up at Wrigley Field just to watch Ryne Sandberg manage his Class-A Peoria Chiefs in a game against the Kane County Cougars. Sandberg is the Cubs’ most recent Hall of Fame inductee and a fan favorite. He’s certainly paid his organizational dues as well, having now managed Cubs minor league affiliates at every level but Rookie ball. He’s familiar with the young talent and his name certainly carries a lot of weight with the players. He has also openly coveted the job since the moment he announced his retirement from the game.
Hiring him would go a long way towards erasing whatever bad vibes have been created by the team’s lackluster play this season.
Matt Lindner’s second in a six part series highlighting who could be the Cubs‘ next skipper.
He’s also had a small degree of success in the minors. He lead the Tennessee Smokies (AA) to a runner-up finish in the Southern League finals last season and currently has the AAA Iowa Cubs in a first-place tie with a respectable 51-44 record. The minor leagues are about teaching players and managers the fundamentals of the game first, and how to win second.
Sandberg certainly has shown he’s got a solid grasp on both fronts. He’s likely the man the Ricketts family will choose unless of course our next candidate suddenly becomes available.
Matt Lindner is a contributor to ESPN.com and MLB.com
For the introduction to this series go here.
For an exclusive with Ryne Sandberg go here