July 5, 2019: Managing the Future

On the eve of the final Crosstown games of the season, let’s take a look at the opposing managers.  Before we do that, I sure hope they extend the Cubs Sox games to 2 full series next year.  This 4 game stuff is crap.  With the Sox window opening, and the Cubs in the golden era, the more games we can see them play each other the better.  Of course, I’d love to see us meet when it really counts… maybe soon.

But speaking of that window opening… let’s start with Renteria.  How much longer will he be at the helm for the Sox?  How much longer should he be?  First off, trying to find details of his contract is confusing.  Supposedly, he is signed through the end of 2020.  The Sox said they gave him a contract extension back in the fall of last year, but didn’t say for how long.  What they did say that he was originally given a 3 year deal in 2017, which takes us through the end of this year.  But now he was extended, but we don’t know for how long?  Sounds to me like the Sox are hedging their bets big time, and rightfully so.  If/when the Sox win the World Series again, will he be the manager?  I would say probably not.  And with the window just opening, isn’t it time to bring in a big gun at the helm?  Like Collins to Jackson, Savard to Quenneville, and Renteria to Maddon, Chicago teams had to pull the trigger to get the guy in here to take us to the next level.  Isn’t it time, like, now for the Sox?  Girardi, Scioscia, Maddon????  But no, the Sox announce an extension???  But not really???  I’m definitely not as close to this situation as I am with the Cubs, but Rick should surely be on the clock, no?  I wouldn’t put it past the Sox to simply announce his extension just as an opposite way of handling their managerial position than the Cubs with lame duck Joe.  Like look, we’re extending OUR manager… you know, the guy you let go… you know, while your manager is a lame duck.  Sox are petty like that; the Cubs obsession runs through that entire organization.

But yes, what about lame duck Joe?  I’m telling you, the way they’ve been playing, and the fact that they haven’t committed to anything beyond this year with Maddon, makes me feel nervous.  Like, he could be gone… after this weekend type stuff.  Kind of like the Coach Q decision, not sure how that makes us better, but… change certainly looks like it’s needed.  There needs to be some kind of shakeup in the dugout, but I’m thinking more player moves than anything.  I was going to write about that today, but didn’t want to damper my spirit after the Cubs first win in a week.  Would the Cubs take out Maddon mid-season?  I’ve heard Joe talk about believing in each other, and seeing how guys really are when the team is going through tough times.  I would have to imagine that him and Theo are on the same page here, that they stay on the same page throughout the season, and maybe talk more than normal during slumps.  So… Joe should know where he stands, right?  Well, he blew off some steam yesterday, possibly feeling the heat from the potential final days as manager of the Cubs?  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:  I don’t always agree with Joe, but I think he is a fabulous manager.

And yes, wouldn’t this be a interesting twist…. the Cubs fire Joe and/or don’t resign him after this year, the Sox fire Renteria and hire Maddon.  Can you imagine???  All those Sox fans talking trash about Joe would be kissing his ass; all the Cubs fans loving Joe would start to let the hate out for all the times when he did shit we didn’t agree with.  Man, that would be crazy.  First off, I don’t want Joe to go anywhere; secondly, if he did, the Sox would be smart to scoop him… it would be smart for the Sox to get any other seasoned manager than Renteria sooner than later. 

Managing the future?  Who will it be on both sides of town?  All we know for sure, is that it will be Maddon in the Cubs dugout and Renteria in the Sox dugout on Saturday at Sox park, and as a Cubs fan, that’s totally fine with me.  Go Cubs!