Lou Piniella To Retire: Who Will Be the Next Chicago Cubs Manager?

Following Cubs skipper Lou Piniella's announcement that he will be retiring after the season (and here I figured he had retired a long time ago), much speculation has centered around who will be Sweet Lou's replacement.

While wondering why anyone would want to manage this mess of a team, I decided to play Vegas bookie and lay odds on each of the known candidates.

So here we go, presenting the next manager of the Cubs may be a crapshoot, but this will help to "even" the field, so to speak.

100:1 — Tony LaRussa

Now, this one's really a stretch.

Tony LaRussa is currently the manager of the St, Louis Cardinals, the most hated rival of the Cubs outside of the White Sox.

Still, he is an accomplished manager who would certainly pique Jim Hendry's interest.

Sadly or otherwise, he won't be available and Cubs Nation will just have to accept the fact that the Cubs job is just not THAT desirable.

75:1 — Greg Maddux

Look, as much as I respect Greg Maddux, I just don't think he wants to manage.

But since his name has come up in conversation, I am considering him, though I am placing the likelihood of his candidacy at 75 - 1.

Could he be the next Cubs pitching coach? Sure, it's possible that he could follow in his brother's footsteps, but even that is unlikely.

From all indications, Maddux wants to be a GM. Could he replace Jim Hendry? Well, based on the press conference, Hendry is here to say. Check back in a couple of years.

50:1 — Joe Torre

I know that Joe Torre's contract with the Dodgers is up after this season, and Hendry desires managers with experience, but why would a guy as accomplished as Torre want to manage the Cubs?

Not to mention that he is turning 70. He simply would not leave the West Coast to manage a mess of a Cubs team at his advanced age. Still, his name continues to come up as a candidate.

25:1 — Joe Girardi

Look, I realize that Girardi is a former Cubs player and that his family is there, but unless the Yankees fire him, I just don't see why Girardi would leave the Yanks.

Girardi is also a former Yankees player and he has already won a World Series in the Bronx, so why would he leave a place where he can be successful for years?

The only reason he is rated higher than some others is that his contract is up following this season and he is young.

10:1 — Alan Trammel

Sure, Alan Trammel has managerial experience, but not only is he associated with the Piniella era, he is thought of as a failure because of his tenure as Tigers manager.

But it wasn't his fault that the Tigers were terrible while he was there, and he does seem to have a positive relationship with the current Cubs roster, so he must be considered.

Still, he is somewhat of a long-shot.

7:1 — Fredi Gonzalez

Everyone expects Gonzalez to take over as the replacement for Bobby Cox in Atlanta, but according to a major league source, he will be a candidate for the Cubs position.

Gonzalez, who was fired by the Marlins on June 24, has a long personal and professional relationship with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry stemming from the time they worked together with the Marlins.

Still, I fully expect him to go to the Braves. But if he doesn't, then he will be a serious candidate for the Cubs.

5:1 — Bob Brenly

If anyone has a serious chance to circumvent Ryne Sandberg as the next Cubs manager, it is this guy.

Not only has Brenly managed before, but he has won a World Series title with Arizona.

In addition, "BB" has the advantage of having watched and analyzed the team atop his perch as Cubs TV analyst.

If the Cubs decide to go with veterans, and let's face it, they have some contracts that will be hard to move, then Brenly is your man.

2:1 — Ryne Sandberg

The odds-on favorite to land the job as Piniella's replacement is former Cubs great Ryne Sandberg.

Sandberg has agreed to manage in the Cubs minor league system for the last four years and he feels he is ready to take over as the major league skipper.

Despite his reputation as a player without a thought, he has seemed to transform his personality into a manager who is somewhat fiery and who could be able to communicate with the young players.

If the Cubs go young, and rebuild, Ryno is the obvious choice. But Hendry values experience, and has said the Cubs will not go into full rebuilding mode.

Meanwhile, how will Cubs fans take to eventually having to "boo" their hero?