With the announcement of Lou Piniella’s retirement, Chicago Cubs fans have once again picked up their talks as to why former Cub and current manager of the Triple-A affiliate Iowa Cubs, Ryne Sandberg, should be their new manager. And you know what? It makes perfect sense.
1. Sandberg understands the Cubs. As a former player, Sandberg knows what being a member of the Cubs is all about. I have to hand it to Cubs fans for being so loyal when their team is a terrible as they are. Even though attendance at Wrigley Field is down, Cubs hats and t-shirts are still worn with pride. Sandberg understands that the “lovable losers” will stand by the Cubs no matter what their position in the standings is. But more importantly he knows how badly they want to win.
2. Sandberg has been preparing for this job. He hasn’t spent four years in the minor leagues for nothing. Sandberg took the job in Iowa so that he would have the proper seasoning when the Cubs job opened up. He even says he’s been preparing for this opportunity.
3. Cubs fans love Ryno. Ever since Ryne Sandberg first hinted that he wanted to be the manager of the Chicago Cubs one day, it’s all fans could talk about. It would would make a lot of Cubs fans smile if GM Jim Hendry makes the move. Of course there has been talk of pursuing Dodgers manager Joe Torre who is in the last year of his contract, or Yankees manager Joe Girardi who has strong Chicago ties. I honestly don’t think Cubs fans care about getting a big name with experience — they want someone who they already love and respect. Hendry should take a page from the Chicago White Sox book and hire one of their team’s former players.
4. Sandberg’s ready to win. Like I said before, Sandberg understands that the greatest desire of the Cubs fans is to finally win a World Series. Honestly, they have the talent to do so. I just don’t believe Piniella has put much effort into managing his players this year. Sandberg was a Cubs player and loves the team, and I think he can gives the fans what they want. He currently has the Iowa Cubs in first place so what’s to say that he can’t do the same thing with Chicago Cubs?
I say go for it Hendry. You are not going to be able to find a manager who cares more about this team than the man who is sitting in Iowa waiting for his chance. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts should be 100% behind this as well. There’s a man who is living his dream by owning the team he loved his whole life. This isn’t just giving a fan a shot at managing one of the most popular ball teams in the nation. This is giving a passionate, devoted former Cub his shot at giving the fans what they want and possibly giving some hope to the hopeless Cubs.
