I am listening to Spiegs chat about this article. I can think of a lot of reasons to dump Hendry. Bottom line as Rozcrest points out is Hendry can choose whomever he wants. I don't think his handling of Sandberg was as professional as it could have been, but this is not the reason Hendry should be gone.
Sandberg might return to minors — elsewherehttp://www.dailyherald.com/article/2010 ... 711099799/Sometimes words are unnecessary.
And in the case of Ryne Sandberg, his next move might speak volumes.
Advertisement
Sandberg has been talking to several teams about major-league coaching and Triple-A managing jobs, after telling the Cubs he was no longer interested in managing their top minor-league affiliate.
Last week Cubs GM Jim Hendry announced what everyone else already knew, that Sandberg wasn't returning.
But Hendry added, “I don't think that was ever in (Sandberg's) plans, to be in the minor leagues after this year.”
Sandberg was surprised to read that statement in the papers, not to mention the suggestion that Sandberg could “come to spring training” if he wanted.
To do what, sign autographs and be a Cubs ambassador?
“I'm committed to baseball and what I'm doing,” Sandberg said Monday of his tenure in the minor leagues. “My goal is to reach the majors again, just like everyone else in the minor leagues.
“But I want to coach and teach and continue to do that, whether it's in the minors or the majors. I'm committed to that. I always have been. I never stopped.”
Sandberg -- who learned of the opportunity to return to Iowa (AAA) by watching a Cubs news conference -- said he has a real fondness for Tom Ricketts and harbors no ill will toward anyone with the Cubs but had little else to say about the Cubs' situation.
You don't have to be a genius to see he had no future with the Cubs under Hendry, and Hendry doesn't have to apologize for that.
He should hire and fire anyone he wants as long as he's got the power to do so, but his statements show how distant their relationship has been, and how little he knows about Sandberg.
“Ryne felt it was in his best interests, and (Cubs) ownership's best interests, to not accept the job at Iowa,” said Sandberg's agent, Jim Turner. “He did not want ownership or the fans or Mike Quade to feel that he was sitting there waiting for a disappointing result and an ax to fall in Chicago. That's not how he's built.”
Sandberg said a few weeks back that, “I had more press conferences this year because of what was happening (with Lou Piniella) in Chicago than I had the year I went in the Hall of Fame.”
Another year of that wouldn't benefit anyone, so a clean break was best for all.
“By not accepting the Des Moines job, Ryne's sending a clear signal to the 29 other teams,” Turner said. “He's serious about reaching his goal, and that goal can be reached with any major-league team.”
The Red Sox and Phillies have Triple-A openings, as do a few other teams, and Philadelphia is intriguing if for no other reason than the Phillies drafted Sandberg in the 20th round in 1978, and he played at every level of the Phillies' minor-league system before his trade to the Cubs in 1981.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) reside in Allentown, Pa., about 75 minutes north of Philadelphia, and last season were the top draw in Triple-A baseball.
Sandberg declined to discuss which teams had called but said there are several in play at both the major-league and minor-league levels, and he thinks he may know within a couple weeks where he'll be working in 2011.
All we know for certain right now is where he won't be working next season.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
