While he manages the Iowa Cubs to a hopeful playoff berth, you’ll forgive Ryne Sandberg if he’s got bigger things on his mind. Yesterday, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry came to interview Sandberg for the Cubs’ open managerial gig. Of course, the concept of an “interview” for a job that the candidate knows all too well, and of a candidate that the potential employer knows all too well is a little silly, but hey, whatever works.
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry was in Albuquerque on Tuesday, and it wasn’t only to watch the Cubs’ Class AAA Iowa team as they try to make the playoffs.
Hendry also was there to talk with Iowa manager Ryne Sandberg about the Cubs’ managerial job….
Hendry may have a tough decision to make. Sandberg has not been shy about saying he’s ready to manage in the big leagues as he completes his fourth year as a minor-league manager in the Cubs’ system….
It’s unknown whether Sandberg would accept a major-league coaching job instead of the manager’s position even if Hendry tries to sell him on that option. Daily Herald.
With apologies to Sandberg, it’s hard not to see him emerging as the team’s primary fall-back candidate. The team knows what they’d be getting with Sandberg, so the mere fact that they’re interviewing so extensively suggests that they aren’t sold on Sandberg as a big league manager yet. At least not while the possibility of a perfect fit might be out there. And it would be unlikely that Sandberg would ditch the Cubs for another job before the Cubs actually make a decision.
Thus, the Cubs remain interested in the possibility of Sandberg if they can’t get into Harvard, so to speak.