The Cubs new front office is not wasting anytime. Less than ten days after Theo Epstein officially began calling all of the shots, Team Epstein dismissed Mike Quade and has started interviewing candidates for the Cubs managerial opening … and the Cubs’ brass is taking the interview process to a new level.
As a part of the Cubs new interview process each candidate will discuss theories regarding game situations and after meeting with Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, Jason McLeod and Randy Bush, each candidate will meet with the media. Team Epstein wants to see not only how a candidate reacts with in game situations but how they handle the media spotlight as well.
Pete Mackanin will be the first interviewed by the Cubs. Mackanin reportedly had dinner with Cubs brass Thursday night and will continue his interview Friday that concludes with a media session at Wrigley Field. Pete Mackanin has already interviewed for the Red Sox job and will spend Friday with the Cubs before meeting the Chicago media at Wrigley Field.
Mike Maddux is expected to follow Mackanin in the interview process. The Cubs received permission from Texas on Thursday to speak with Maddux. Maddux has laryngitis and will not be able to interview until next week. Like most of the candidates, Maddux is expected to interview for the Red Sox job as well.
What makes Mike Maddux a very interesting candidate, besides his own accomplishments, is his younger brother Greg.
Greg Maddux served as special assistant to Jim Hendry last season and is under contract with the Cubs for the 2012 season. Greg has repeatedly said he does not want to return to baseball in a full-time capacity. According to a report from the Sun-Times, a source close to Greg said the idea of working with his brother might sway his thoughts on returning to the game in a full-time capacity and he could serve as his brother’s pitching coach. Theo Epstein reached out to Greg about staying in the Cubs organization prior to Mike Maddux becoming a managerial candidate.
The Cubs have not received permission from the Brewers to interview Dale Sveum but they are expected to speak with him in the near future. Sveum has already interviewed for the job in Boston.
The other candidates include Sandy Alomar, Jr., Tim Bogar, DeMarlo Hale and Dave Martinez. Each of those names are expected to be made public as soon as the Cubs receive formal approval from their current organizations. Jed Hoyer said Thursday that he is expecting to interview five or six candidates.
With the Cubs new interview process, it will not be a secret as to who the candidates are this time around.
Tom Ricketts is not expected to be involved in the first round of interviews. The Ricketts family will meet with Team Epstein’s recommendation before Epstein and his staff moves forward and names a new manager.
Stay Tuned …
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