Former Arizona Diamondbacks' manager and current Cubs' color analyst Bob Brenly interviewed on Thursday for the vacated skipper's job in Milwaukee. Brenly is on a short-list of candidates that includes former managers Ken Macha and Willie Randolph. Brenly recently signed a contract extension to remain with Len Kasper in the Cubs' booth and some feel Brenly could be the best man for the job....especially with his knowledge of the team the Brewers have been trying to catch for the last two seasons.
According to a report by Paul Sullivan in the Tribune, if Brenly ends up on the Brewers' bench then former Cubs and current Arizona Diamondbacks' color analyst, Mark Grace, could take Brenly's vacated spot on Cubs' television broadcasts.
Other names that have been mentioned as a possibility to join Len Kasper if Brenly does depart....former Cubs, Eric Karros, Dan Plesac and Todd Hollandsworth.
Grace was asked about the possibility on Thursday and said "he hadn't heard anything about the possibility of returning to the Cubs as a broadcaster."
Grace was very outspoken about the Cubs last two post-seasons. Here is a link to the full report from the Tribune....it is well worth the read.
Could Grace replace Brenly in Cubs booth?
Bob Brenly in Milwaukee could prove to be a very smart hire for Doug Melvin. Brenly knows the Cubs strengths and weaknesses and has seen the entire division up close for the last four years....plus according to Sullivan, it would be interesting to see how he handles facing Alfonso Soriano after the comments he made criticizing the Cubs left fielder on a couple of occasions this past season.
Brenly's comments about Soriano were very accurate at the time and pointed out one of the many challenges Lou Piniella must meet next season....
Not only could Mark Grace return home....but he would replace his former manager and the skipper responsible for the 'ring' on Grace's finger.
I'd hate to lose Brenly to the Brew Crew because of the "inside" edge he'd gain on the Cubs for his team.
However, if he does go.....I would LOVE to see Gracie back with the Cubs!! I order the baseball package each year, and I watch D-Back games just to hear Gracie. He is an AWESOME analyst!! If we can't have Steve Stone back....Grace is next best!!
I have to say, I was not a fan of Brenly, but he did grow on me. I enjoy his honesty in the booth. The best comment I heard from him was the day in Pittsburgh when talking about Soriano's defense he said "throw a dart in the Cubs dugout and you will find a better defender than Soriano". Priceless.
Peavy Update from Padres website:
Atlanta figured to be the prime trading partner for the Padres, as they are actively seeking a front-line starting pitcher and Peavy is from nearby Alabama. But Braves GM Frank Wren said Thursday that the Braves are "looking to the future when that next wave of talent arrives in Atlanta," in direct response to a question from The Associated Press about Peavy.
The Cardinals, once considered a good trading partner, are apparently out of the Peavy sweepstakes, as are the Astros, who don't have the inventory of prospects or the Major League-ready talent the Padres would command in return for Peavy.
The Dodgers and Cubs, who have also had preliminary talks with the Padres, could also be considered, though Towers isn't too keen on the idea of seeing Peavy in Dodger blue, especially since the division rivals face each other 18 times per season.
I really, really, would like to have Hermida with our club, and if we traded for Peavy, we wouldn't be able to get him.
But we are talking about JAKE PEAVY. This guy is probably one of the top 5 pitchers in the game, with a reasonable contract. I also wonder if we have actually talked about a trade..
If we traded for Peavy, I'd then sign Milton Bradley for RF, and possibly trade for Roberts, and call it an offseason.
1.Roberts
2.Theriot
3.Bradley
4.Ramirez
5.Soriano
6.Lee
7.Soto
8.CF platoon
1.Peavy
2.Z
3.Harden
4.Dempster
5.Lilly
BEST.ROTATION.EVER.
Yes....adding Peavy would make the best rotation ever!!
Signing Bradley??? No way! Anti-Team Player....this year he had to be restrained from attaking the Royals Broadcaster up in the booth! He's a dipshit....
The Brewers expect to name their manager by the end of next week, before the GM meetings....
Bradley? ... no thank you.
Bradley, no way.....Lou would eat him alive, as would Cub fans. I wouldn't mind Ibanez though, plus I think Lou likes Ibanez.
I really don't think Brenly would be that great a manager. As a DBacks manager, he abused his pitchers (similar what Baker did with Prior and Wood), and his hitters had a minor drop in OBP during his reign (compared to their career).
I've heard him say some meaningless comments. Overall, he's not a threat.
Maybe he'll do well the next year, having all the talents that Milwaukee nurtured throughout the years. But with the Crews' scout director (Zduriencik) leaving the team and becoming Seattle's GM, I can't see much success Brenly would in the rest of his tenure.
I read Mark Grace's statements about the Cubs playoff performances and to be honest he was saying the same things I've been saying. Are they cold, direct, and would probably piss off alot of people, Yes. But are they correct. YES!!!!!!!!
They should be "humiliated" with their performance.
I would love to see Mark Grace come back to Chicago. I've heard a few of his games on MLB.TV while the Cubs where plying the D-Backs and was impressed.
But, I think his comments and thoughts are the same as almost any other Cubs fan after this years performance.
They should be proud of their season, overall, but ashamed of their performance in the playoffs.