Rick Renteria Named New Cubs Manager

[SouthSideRyan]

Hoyer hired Ausmus as Special Assistant to Baseball Operations a year after coming on board as Padres GM

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Theoretical/sabermath question: If a manager called for 30 extra sacrifice bunts a year, spread randomly throughout the lineup, how many runs would that cost his team?

[Guest]

Someone needs to dig up some super smart quotes from Ausmus or something.

[XZero771679666304]

I'm not sure I buy into the Ausmus thing. The FO may like him, but I have a hard time imagining they'll dump one noob manager for another. My feeling is that if they're going to ditch Sveum early, they'll do it for a known commodity who probably won't be available later (like Girardi).

[Guest]

I'm not sure I buy into the Ausmus thing. The FO may like him, but I have a hard time imagining they'll dump one noob manager for another. My feeling is that if they're going to ditch Sveum early, they'll do it for a known commodity who probably won't be available later (like Girardi).

 

I think this FO doesn't think that way and if they truly think it's time to cut bait with Sveum, it's because they don't like the job he does and they won't hire someone they don't necessarily think is the best candidate just because he's a "known commodity."

 

In other words, if they think Ausmus is the best candidate, I think they would hire Ausmus.

[XZero771679666304]

I'm not sure I buy into the Ausmus thing. The FO may like him, but I have a hard time imagining they'll dump one noob manager for another. My feeling is that if they're going to ditch Sveum early, they'll do it for a known commodity who probably won't be available later (like Girardi).

 

I think this FO doesn't think that way and if they truly think it's time to cut bait with Sveum, it's because they don't like the job he does and they won't hire someone they don't necessarily think is the best candidate just because he's a "known commodity."

 

In other words, if they think Ausmus is the best candidate, I think they would hire Ausmus.

 

You may be right, but I wasn't trying to say they would hire a guy because he is a "known commodity", but because he might be they guy they want, and his stature might make it less likely he'll be available later. Or to put it more succinctly, Girardi almost certainly won't be available beyond a small window beginning soon, while Ausmus probably will be.

[Guest]

I'm not sure I buy into the Ausmus thing. The FO may like him, but I have a hard time imagining they'll dump one noob manager for another. My feeling is that if they're going to ditch Sveum early, they'll do it for a known commodity who probably won't be available later (like Girardi).

 

I think this FO doesn't think that way and if they truly think it's time to cut bait with Sveum, it's because they don't like the job he does and they won't hire someone they don't necessarily think is the best candidate just because he's a "known commodity."

 

In other words, if they think Ausmus is the best candidate, I think they would hire Ausmus.

 

You may be right, but I wasn't trying to say they would hire a guy because he is a "known commodity", but because he might be they guy they want, and his stature might make it less likely he'll be available later. Or to put it more succinctly, Girardi almost certainly won't be available beyond a small window beginning soon, while Ausmus probably will be.

 

Yeah. I don't disagree but that just overlooks the possibility that they aren't happy with Sveum and want him out now.

 

The more smoke we're getting, I'm starting to buy into the idea that they feel Sveum deserves some blame for the lack of progress from key players this year. That or there was some internal conflict between he and the FO, which at times there seemed to be (the weird Rizzo/Castro comments earlier in the year, when he said Baker would be in the bullpen because there was no room and then Baker was starting like 3 days later or whatever, just as examples).

 

 

If this all happens, I wonder how much turnover there'd be on the coaching staff.

[Guest]

It seems that at least part of the reason Sveum would be considered for the chopping block would be because of issues that a more veteran manager is much less likely to struggle with, communication chief among them. I had a similar reaction to the mention of Ausmus, by all accounts he's a bright guy and seems like a good candidate, just like Sveum. I'm just not sure if cycling through candidates of a similar profile after two years because they failed at the one part of the job they can't "prove" a proficiency for ahead of time is a great process.

[davell]

This is a failure of sorts, even if a manager is not necessarily all that valuable. To me, there's too much talk at this point and not enough refutal from the FO to make me think this isn't happening. My guess is they want to be sure they've got enough candidates to choose from that they like and that they feel comfortable they can land IF they lose out on Girardi, who I figure is their top choice.

[Guest]

Really hope it's not Girardi...but I suppose there are hires I would hate a lot more.

[Guest]

Someone needs to dig up some super smart quotes from Ausmus or something.

 

I'm not sure where I read it but I remember reading that Ausmus is thought to have a bright future as a manager and is at the top of those lists of potential future managers with no experience. That said, I don't know who suggested that; it could be some writer with flawed analysis.

 

Ausmus definitely has a reputation for being very smart.

[Guest]

Someone needs to dig up some super smart quotes from Ausmus or something.

 

I'm not sure where I read it but I remember reading that Ausmus is thought to have a bright future as a manager and is at the top of those lists of potential future managers with no experience. That said, I don't know who suggested that; it could be some writer with flawed analysis.

 

Ausmus definitely has a reputation for being very smart.

 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/09/gammons-brad-ausmus-is-top-choice-to-replace-sveum/

 

Ausmus actually interviewed for the Red Sox job last year to replace Bobby Valentine and didn't get it because GM Ben Cherington had made up his mind on John Farrell.

 

Ausmus has been a top managerial prospect for a while, though he hasn't had much experience. He did manage the Israeli national team. He's reportedly very popular with his players and that could give him an edge when working with and developing young players, which we consider a key with this rebuilding team -- especially with the influx of talent that will be coming in over the next 2-3 years. In that vein, it makes a ton of sense.

 

And Boston was impressed with his communication skills...hmm, that does say something doesn't it? If that is indeed what happens, the nice job by Desipio.com for pointing that out as one of the main reasons to fire him. Here's what Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe said after the interview last year:

 

"Ausmus 'was outstanding' during the interview, coming in 'very detailed both verbally and with written material' and with a coaching staff in mind."

 

Ausmus is currently with the San Diego Padres, which is yet another connection with the Cubs current front office as Jed Hoyer and, perhaps just as importantly, Sr. VP of Scouting Jason McLeod and Director of Amateur Scouting Jaron Madison.

[davell]

Really hope it's not Girardi...but I suppose there are hires I would hate a lot more.

I think that "name" hires are a necessary evil sometimes. It helps lend credibility when approaching FA and it would signify a turn for this organization into compete mode, which I think was the plan all along. Not getting Girardi, but making bigger moves this offseason. Last year, Theo trumpeted Dale, in saying he was a guy players would be wanting to play for, possibly as a precursor to making larger moves this time around and having Dale help with that. Things may have changed with that, but if the FO wants to win some FA battles, having a well-regarded manager in tow, could help in this aspect.

[d_money]

Are there any other former catcher managerial candidates out there not previously mentioned?

[gocubs2118]

Are there any other former catcher managerial candidates out there not previously mentioned?

 

I saw Sandy Alomar Jr. name mentioned today.

[Epsteenie]

@BleacherNation: RT @dan_bernstein: I'm told the #Cubs have been informed by Joe Girardi's camp that he will listen if they want to talk. Indeed they do.

[Guest]

Lots of smoke starting to form.

[davell]

Lots of smoke starting to form.

Tom Loxas just said we're Girardi's preference.

[d_money]

Lots of smoke starting to form.

Tom Loxas just said we're Girardi's preference.

Who's that?

[Guest]

Lots of smoke starting to form.

Tom Loxas just said we're Girardi's preference.

Who's that?

Yankees manager. Used to play for the Cubs. :)

[davell]

Lots of smoke starting to form.

Tom Loxas just said we're Girardi's preference.

Who's that?

Wrote for CubsDen, now on his own for ChicagoNow. Definitely has sources. Jesse Rogers tweeted some quotes from Theo today that made it sound like not to expect big things Monday. But then again, he also said Sveum's evaluation still going.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Sveum is so gone.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Sveum is so gone.

 

I'd be pretty stunned if he's not at this point with the whole "wait until Monday" thing. You can keep a manager anytime, but you only fire them after the season.

[d_money]

Lots of smoke starting to form.

Tom Loxas just said we're Girardi's preference.

Who's that?

Yankees manager. Used to play for the Cubs. :)

Hey-ohhhh!!!

[Guest]

Sveum is so gone.

 

I'd be pretty stunned if he's not at this point with the whole "wait until Monday" thing. You can keep a manager anytime, but you only fire them after the season.

 

 

 

unless you're the mariners.