By The Beachwood Ad Hoc Committee On Cubs Affairs
“Cubs general manager Jim Hendry made the right call Tuesday in announcing that Mike Quade would manage the team in 2011,” our very own Chris Rewers writes at sister site Agony & Ivy.
“Ryne Sandberg may have been the people’s choice, but the 53-year-old Quade was the choice of the players, who played with a lot of passion over the final portion of their schedule long after there was anything to play for.
“The Cubs were 24-13 overall and 17-5 in road games under the direction of their interim manager.
“The team’s performance down the stretch was a positive reflection of Quade’s performance, but also an indictment of the disconnect that existed between the manager’s office and the players during the final days of the Lou Piniella (they lost 20 of their last 25 under Uncle Lou) regime. Quade’s passion made it obvious to the players that he had their back, but it also made it clear that he was holding them accountable.
“The lines of communication were always open. Players remained informed on their roles and starters were often notified two or three days prior to getting a day off. Lineups were posted six hours before game time. Everyone knew where they stood and that is the mark of a good boss.
“Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said that Quade was chosen over two other finalists – Sandberg and former Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge. A disappointed Sandberg told the Tribune that he would explore other major league managerial and coaching positions. Hopefully, he will be part of Quade’s 2011 coaching staff. Wedge was named the Seattle Mariners skipper Monday.
“In choosing Quade, the Cubs hired a permanent manager from within the organization for the first time since Jim Marshall replaced Whitey Lockman during the 1974 season.
“The choice of Quade certainly pumps me up more than had the Cubs braintrust settled on a retread like Wedge.
“When he took the reins of the Cubs from Piniella on Aug. 22, I did not know much about Quade other than that he was team’s third-base coach and that he had done well in his three-plus years in that position. Unlike Wendell Kim, Quade went about his business without being noticed. It’s a telling trait for third-base coaches and umpires.
“But I soon discovered that Quade had an accomplished career as a longtime minor league manager and major league coach:
“* His teams won 1,213 minor-league games in 17 seasons.
“* He was twice named his league’s Manager of the Year – at Double-A Harrisburg of the Eastern League in 1991 and Triple-A Ottawa of the International League in 1993.
“* He led Class A West Michigan to the Midwest League title, Aguilas Cibaenas to the 1996-97 Dominican Winter League championship, and Vancouver to the Pacific Coast League crown and Triple-A World Series title in 1999.
“His performance in his short tenure as the Cubs’ interim manager was also impressive.
“Quade gave many of the team’s younger players a chance, particularly pitchers. Hurlers like James Russell, Scott Maine, and Marcos Mateo were called upon in clutch situations and, more often than not, got the job done. Cubs relievers closed the season with 28 straight shutout innings. The bullpen posted a 1.19 ERA in its final 25 games.
“He cracked the whip with shortstop Starlin Castro, benching the rookie phenom for two contests for a series of mental mistakes he made in a game against the Mets on Sept. 5.
“Quade also laid down the law with veteran players as a blog post from WMVP-AM’s Bruce Levine last month illustrated:
One veteran player was supposed to report for therapy with the training staff two weeks ago at 10 a.m. before a night game. Instead, he showed up at 2:30 for his treatment. Afterward, he found out his name wasn’t in the lineup. When the player approached Quade to find out the reason for his benching, he was told that off-the-field preparation was to be taken as seriously as batting practice or the game itself.
“The best part of the discipline was that it was handled behind closed doors. Quade made his point with the veteran and his teammates without embarrassing the unnamed player.
“Quade also seemed to be more involved than Piniella, always leaning forward in the dugout, taking his walks to the mound in purposeful passion, and even continuing with his teaching roles he filled as a coach. I don’t think Piniella, if ever, hit pregame fungoes as Quade regularly did.
“Quade’s energy rubbed off on his players.
“My only two beefs with Quade were:
“* His insistence on playing Koyie Hill instead of rookie Welington Castillo after Geovany Soto was shut down on Sept. 18. Castillo, who made just three of his five starts, after Soto has shoulder surgery hit .300 with a .983 OPS. Hill, who is not likely to be a Cub in 2011, hit just .214 and walked five times as much as he struck out in 2010. The 31-year-old switch-hitter was just 6-for-36 (.167) with one double and no RBI in 11 starts after Sept. 18.
“* His failure to give Tyler Colvin some playing time at first base.
“But both of those quibbles are minor.
“I understand that the Cubs fell out of contention long before Quade took over, but the difference in how the team went about its business late in the season was startling.
“It’s easy for a team to go through the motions under an interim manager and to quote Dallas Green, several Cubs teams have quit with a capital “Q” under interims: Charlie Fox in 1983, Frank Lucchesi in 1987, Jim Essian in 1991, and Bruce Kimm in 2002.
“Sandberg has paid his dues, but Quade has been doing so for much longer and his short but impressive major league track record gave him the nod.”
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Our very own Dan O’Shea concurs in his post at the Beachwood blog SwingsBothWays:
“It’s probably the right move and the right length of contract for a guy who guided the young Cubs of the latter part of the 2010 season to a 24-13 record. He probably will be working with pretty much the same group next season, and there was no reason to hire a World Series winner like Joe Girardi if the Cubs aren’t planning to add much next year.
“It seemed like maybe the Cubs were going to wait for Girardi, which would have very publicly made Quade or Ryne Sandberg second choice if Girardi had turned down the job. Of course, the most obvious choice prior to Quade’s late-season tryout was Sandberg, and if Quade hadn’t done well it would still be Sandberg.
“I’m wondering if the timing has something to do with Sandberg turning down a behind-closed-doors offer to be one of Quade’s coaches. The Cubs may now have to watch Sandberg take a manager job elsewhere, and if Quade stumbles early, fans surely will be calling for his head – and GM Jim Hendry’s – and demanding explanations for why Sandberg wasn’t hired as manager.
“Had Quade never been given the chance by Hendry, most fans probably would be behind Sandberg as top choice, but Quade’s success leaves them conflicted, and, as always, hopeful.”
From The Beachwood Q File
* What To Expect In The Mike Quade Era
* Q Ball
* The Quade Kool-Aid
* How Quade Can Seal The Deal
* Jim Hendry’s Interview Schedule
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Comments welcome.
Posted on October 20, 2010