Chicago Cubs Rumors: Theo Epstein Foolish Not to Consider Sandberg and Francona

Chicago Cubs fans rejoice! Theo Epstein is going to lead the Lovable Losers to the World Series, with the hiring of Ryne Sandberg first up on his agenda after dumping one-term manager Mike Quade.

Wait, he called Ryno to tell him he's not a candidate for the position? Don't tell that to Billy Corgan, he might smash an old Halloween pumpkin or two because of his rage, not despite it.

Okay, okay, so the old Red Sox GM probably has a short list of bench men from his days in Boston. That means Terry Francona has to be at the top, right? I mean, Tito and Theo were great together. Francona is like the Peter Venkman to Epstein's Raymond Stantz when it comes to curse-busting.

Hold on a second, Tito's not on there either?! I thought Theo was looking for Major League experience. That's why he told Ryno not to hold out hope.

He's got Pete Mackanin and Dale Sveum lined up instead. Mackanin's had some decent success as a manager in the Majors, though only as a placeholder after the firings of Lloyd McClendon in Pittsburgh in 2005 and Jerry Naron in Cincinnati in 2007.

So Mackanin, the bench coach for the Phillies, knows the National League Central well and he's a Chicago native. However, let's be real, folks, Mackanin's name stirs up about as much excitement as—oh, I don't know—Mike Quade's.

Sveum knows the division pretty well, too, having spent much of his playing and coaching career in the Central time zone. He and Theo go back quite a ways, to when Sveum was a coach with the Red Sox club that busted the Curse of the Bambino in 2004. Sveum also has a reputation of being a numbers guy—something that appeals to the "Moneyball"-minded Epstein.

But he's not from Chicago nor has he had any managerial experience beyond an ill-fated 12-game stint (16, if you include the postseason) with the Milwaukee Brewers back in 2008.

Mike Maddux might be a good fit, and he's apparently on the short list. Maddux has had success as the pitching coach for the Brewers and the Texas Rangers.

And, of course, he's the brother of future Cubs Hall-of-Famer Greg Maddux.

But still, what about Ryno and Tito? What Sandberg lacks in Major-League managerial experience, he more than makes up for in knowledge of the organization—15 seasons as a player, four as a coach or manager in the Cubs' minor league system.

And if Theo is looking for Major League success, why wouldn't he simply turn to Tito, the man with whom he built an empire in Beantown?

Truthfully, folks in the Windy City should give Epstein the benefit of the doubt. He's the new sheriff in a town that's rarely known success over the past 103 years.

That being said, it's tough not to second-guess Theo when he hardly considers offering Ryno and Tito so much as a first interview for the gig.