The View From Down Here - Mike Quade is Still Relevant?

Even though he has been fired since the end of last season, Mike Quade is still making news in Chicago.  A recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times by Daryl Van Schouwen suggests that Quade took exception to these comments made by new manager Dale Sveum when he was hired:

“When you lose that many games, there are obviously problems,’’ Sveum said. “Losing isn’t OK. Not running a ball out isn’t OK. It’s unacceptable, and that has to be communicated.’’

Bravo, Dale.  Bravo. At last, a Cubs Manager who gets it, finally  saying what every Cub fan has been thinking for years.  


There is nothing I have hated more over the last few seasons than to see Aramis Ramirez jog out a grounder.  Or Alfonso Soriano trot to first base on a ball he thought was gone, only to turn a double or triple into a long single.  

Quade had this to say in response:

“I can’t be bothered because I was pretty damn happy. Did everybody run out every ball? No. That’s going to happen with a lot of people [on a lot of teams].

Well, Mike, if you were happy with the Cubs' performance last season, then it's probably a good thing that you are no longer with the organization.  


During the 2010 season, Fredi Gonzalez, then manager of the Florida Marlins, benched Hanley Ramirez for dogging it on a ball that got by him in the field (one that he booted no less).  Hanley is ten times the player Aramis or Fonzie is.  Perhaps if Quade had done something like that from the outset, he would still have a job.