FIRED!!! Why would a Ferrerman care?

Well, he said he didn't quit....and that he wasn't fired but, Charlie Manuel is no longer manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Hall Of Famer, Ryne Sandberg, was named interim manager, moving from the third base coaches box into the dug out. Good for Ryno! He has been wanting to manage at the Big League level for several years now. Evidently he had asked prior to the Cubs hiring Lou Pinella maybe seven years ago but, had no managing experience at the time. Hall Of Fame or not, it's customary that a man move up in the ranks, usually beginning in "A" ball, in the low minors. Jim Hendry, them General Manager of the Cubs gave Sandberg that position either to appease him or to groom him. Most minor league managers are baseball lifers with different degrees of hope to get to The Show like the players they coach. But, unlike the players, a home run swing or a wicked curve are going to fast-track them. Even a winning record is no guarantee of promotion. Sandberg rose through the ranks with success at each level but, when Pinella retired a couple of years ago he interviewed but did not get the parent club's  job. It was said that Hendry didn't like him and it was his decision to make.

Hendry went with Jim Quadde, a guy who was no more or less qualified than Sandberg. I was on the fence about that move.  Managers are hired to get fired. Whether dickhead Hendry liked him or not, if Ryno had taken the job then he was doomed to a team that could at best hope to be .500 for the next couple of seasons. People get frustrated with mediocrity and want trades and heads, sooner than later. Hendry was no genius but, he did Sandberg a favor by not hiring him that year. Quadde was a hapless nice fella who clearly was overwhelmed by the job and just thrilled to be there. It showed in post game interviews. He was gone after a year and so was Hendry.

Enter Theo Epstein as GM and a mission to rebuild. This is where and when I thought the Cubs should go with Sandberg. His minor league stints had show his ability to manage young players, some of whom are with the Cubs now. I saw him as a natural for a rebuilding program. Theo Epstein saw Dale Sveum. Theo never listens to me.

Sveum is alright. My only real problem with him is his hard to pronounce name. Gosh, I wish Harry Carey were still around! Sveum spelled backwards, by the way, is Muevs.

Sveum is doing a good job with what he's got. Theo is unloading dead  heads like Marmol and big contracts like Soriano and the Cubs are, well, rebuilding. As a manager you work with what you've got. You can't pitch and hit for these guys. I'm not going to be one of these armchair geniuses who don't like the way he handles pitchers, and other cliches. Baseball is a business and managers manage as much as they are allowed to. Sometimes that means trotting out the closer who real, REALLY, seems to be getting paid by the other team because somebody fucked up and paid him too much money. It's like you are the GOP and you have to say with a straight face that Palin or Herman Cain is perfect for the job....

Business. Ryne Sandberg knows that now. The Phillies mightcould  finish at .500 this season with Sandberg at the helm but, they were going to do that with Manuel anyway. As interim manager, there is no guarantee that Sandberg gets the job next year. In fact, it's typical that a favored coach takes over until they decide who they might go with for the next season. Sandberg was drafted by the Phillies back in the day but, his HOF career was with the Cubs. I can't speak for Phillie fans but, I doubt they love him like we do. He's a class act as a ballplayer and a man and Cub fans wish him the best, even if it's not with us.

Now, who do I replace Larry Meber with? Tough question for a Hall Of Fame Ferrerman. I've got a guy in the minor leagues that I've been bringing along. Maybe he's ready...