Cubs minor league manager and uber-legend Ryne Sandberg came out publicly in support of re-instating Pete Rose back into baseball. He went as far as to say he wouldn’t mind having him on his coaching staff. 

I know Sandberg is just talking out his –ss but who knows?  And with rumors of re-instatement surfacing once again, Pete might remember those words. 

And unless things change for Sandberg, that would make Pete Rose a Cub.

Generally, I’m favor of re-instating Pete Rose back into baseball but I’m not THAT ready.

Related posts

• Beginner’s Guide to Following Chicago Baseball on Twitter (0)
• Let’s just pack it up now, cuz it won’t get any better for the Cubs (0)
• Has Theriot broken string of failed Cub shortstop experiments? (0)

Posted in: Managers by The Baseball Zealot
No Comments »

Looks like that the Cubs are playing musical chairs with their minor league staff.  Mostly precipitated by the promotion of Pat Listach from Cubs triple-A team in Iowa to a coaching position for the Washington Nationals big league club. 

Ryne Sandberg who has been at the helm for the Peoria Chiefs will move up a notch and manage the double-A team, the Tennessee Smokies.  This will be a bit of a change for Ryno as he will play under NL rules for half the season.  that will be a first for him. 

Meanwhile, former Smokies infield and bunting coach Bobby Dickerson will take over for Listach at Iowa. 

So who’s going to manage the Peoria Chiefs?  Marty Pevey, who comes to the Cubs from the Toronto Blue Jay organization.  He’s bounced up and down from minor league manager role to the Blue Jay coach (most recently in the first base coach role).  His big claim to fame so far is being awarded the Florida State League Manager of the Year when Dunedin went 84-54.  Currently, Pevey has a minor league manager record of 541-510. 

Carrie Muskat has the whole list of minor league staff moves at mlb.com.

Related posts

• Beginner’s Guide to Following Chicago Baseball on Twitter (0)
• Let’s just pack it up now, cuz it won’t get any better for the Cubs (0)
• Has Theriot broken string of failed Cub shortstop experiments? (0)

Posted in: Cubs, Minor Leagues by The Baseball Zealot
No Comments »

For those in the area, plan your trip to see the Peoria Chiefs this year.  The Chiefs, who are the Chicago Cubs single A affiliate, have already come out with the promotion schedule including all-you-can-eat hot dog nights (I know a few people who could give them a run for their money), free Joe Girardi t-shirts, and the headliner, in my opinion:

“Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter headlines the special guests at O’Brien Field this season as the VIP guest for the annual Legends at the Ballpark night with IPMR on Saturday June 14. Sutter was a closer for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves amassing 300 saves from 1976-1988 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. He and Chiefs Manager Ryne Sandberg had a memorable matchup in July 1984 when Sandberg tied the game twice with homers off Sutter on national TV at Wrigley Field.”

I think most Cubs fans who were around back then remember that game.

I planned to go see the Chiefs after having team broadcaster Nathan Baliva on our podcast last year but just never got around to it.  I’ll have to make good on that this year.  The Chiefs home season starts April 7 and single game tickets go on sale Monday.

Related posts

• Cubs minor league pitcher sentenced for brawl incident (0)
• Would Sandberg want Rose on his staff? You bet he would. (0)
• Sandberg movin’ on up (0)

Posted in: Minor Leagues by The Baseball Zealot
No Comments »