The new guy is much like the old guys. A baseball lifer. A "baseball man." A former major league infielder with no real major league managerial experience. It is another example of the new old boys club.
The Cubs hired Dale Sveum because he was a part of Theo Epstein's Boston coaching staff.
The Cubs hired Rick Renteria because he was part of Jed Hoyer's San Diego coaching staff.
Theo Epstein said, "As we discussed at the beginning of this process, we were looking for
somebody with leadership qualities and leadership experience, somebody
who has a track record of making an impact at the major-league level and
somebody who can really connect with players and create an environment
in which our young players can learn, develop and thrive. I believe we
found all these things in Rick Renteria."
Missing from Epstein's endorsement were several items on the initial search checklist, including the actual ability to develop young players at the major league level. Epstein couched his remarks on Renteria's ability to create a good "environment" for young players.
"The assumption that our team won't be able to play at a high level, I
don't make that assumption," Renteria said. "I assume that every team that
is put on the field ... has a chance to win a ballgame every single
day."
The points in favor of Renteria's hire were that he has a reputation as good communicator, he speaks Spanish, and can instill confidence in his players.
Renteria is another former journeyman infielder who will be in charge of team of journeymen replacement level players. Some have concerns about his ability to manage a pitching staff (and likewise the problem that the Cubs have no stellar pitching prospects in the rebuilding system.)
Further adding to the notion that Renteria is another "place holder" manager is that the front office would be retaining certain coaches and hiring a few new ones. An established manager with a winning major league track record would want to bring along his own staff. Renteria does not have that managerial clout.
Some fans believed that after the Girardi fail, the Cubs are merely rearranging the deck chairs on their Titanic; that Quade, Sveum and now Renteria are all really the same manager.
There is an unwritten rule in professional sports that a general manager gets two managerial hires during his tenure. The first hire may get a pass, but accountability hits hard if the second one fails. Renteria's deal covers the remaining parts of Epstein and Hoyer's contract terms. If Renteria is their guy who will be there when the prospects hit and the team is competing for a title, so be it. He appears to be the horse that the front office has placed its long term bet on.
