Chicago Cubs Rumors: New Manager Must Be Pitching Guru for Cubs to Succeed

The last 24 hours have been interesting for the Chicago Cubs. They fired Mike Quade and are now looking for a new manager.

Rumors are swirling all over. Cubs' Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg was very quickly shot down.

Wednesday, November 2 at 2:38 p.m. ET

Jon Morosi reported that Sandberg does not meet the criteria that Theo Epstein is looking for. 

Patrick Mooney of CSN was one person to report that Theo Epstein had called Sandberg to tell him that he was not going to be considered. 

In that, Mooney quoted Epstein as saying what he wanted out of his new manager:

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“He must have managerial or coaching experience at the major-league level.”

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On Thursday, the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham reported that the Cubs are going to interview Pete Mackanin, Dale Sveum, and have interest in Mike Maddux. 

Of that group, Maddux is far and away the one that makes the most sense. 

The Cubs have not been above .500 since 2009 and haven't made the playoffs since 2008. That kind of production, or lack thereof, can be chalked up to any number of things. 

But if there is one thing that we've been taught it's this: If you pitch, you will at least contend. 

Maddux has been very successful in his time as the Rangers' pitching coach. That is a hitter's park, and it's very hard to pitch through Texas summers. But while the Cubs have been under .500 in each of the last two seasons, the Rangers have won consecutive American League pennants. 

Yes, they have great hitters, but Texas rarely lacks hitting. They are winning now because they pitch.

The Cubs would be foolish to not give Maddux the opportunity to bring the same success to Chicago that he's brought to the Rangers.

The Cubs play in a hitter's park and play in a division loaded with them. If Maddux can bring that kind of success to Texas and their staff, shouldn't he be given the same opportunity in Chicago.

Remember that the Cubs' best success in recent years has come when they pitched well. 

If they want to win the World Series, they won't do it without pitching. I am not saying Mike Maddux would win a World Series in Chicago, but his track record suggests that he has far and away the best chance.