Chicago Cubs Think Small

Cub fans have been anxiously waiting to see what kind of owners the Ricketts were going to be, and last week the first clue hit us right between our Cub blue eyes.

In their first major decision, the Ricketts rejected the dozens of quality managerial candidates who would love to work at Wrigley in order to chose Mike Quade, a company guy with 24 career wins and a desire to throw batting practice, as the club's front man. 

That’s right, one of the most coveted manager jobs in all of baseball just went to one of the least coveted candidates. This is not the kind of aggressive move that gets Las Vegas odds makers buzzing and Cub fans cheering.  

No one would confuse the Ricketts family with the “win at all costs” approach of the late George Steinbrenner, Mark Cuban, or Jerry Jones.

Bold leadership does not seem to be part of their DNA. That’s regrettable when you consider that a 103 year championship draught is not going to be turned around with a business as usual approach.  

You also have to question the business acumen of a family who spends $900 million on a team best known for its ineptness, and then decides to promote from within.

The final Cubdom embarrassment behind this train wreck was deciding to announce the new manager before Joe Girardi’s fate was known. You know Girardi, the guy who has won championships and continually expressed a desire to manage the Cubs. There just isn’t a logical reason for not waiting until the end of the playoffs when Girardi could signal his intentions.  

Mike Quade would still be available in November, December and he’d still be available a half hour before the first pitch on opening day. 

Sadly, with this new era of Ricketts “think small” leadership, Cubs fans might be staring at another 20 wait until next years.