Dale Sveum Reportedly To Be Named Cubs Manager

”I need to take a step back and re-energize. That’s probably in my best interest right now. In fairness to myself, it’s the best thing to do.“This was the offseason if he wanted a job with a historic franchise that was willing to spend money on players, but I’ll bet some time off sounds pretty good to him right now.

On Sunday, they’ve found that replacement. According to Jon Morosi and a ton of other people too, the Cardinals have hired former big league backstop Mike Matheny.

But then, every situation is different, so the Cardinals couldn’t really know how any of their candidates would do in St. Louis. Matheny, obviously, has minimal experience, but it’s an open question as to how important experience really is. Matheny has the organization’s trust, and he’ll be supported by a veteran coaching staff that can have his back and help him out when necessary.

On Tuesday, though, the Red Sox announced three new names on their managerial wish list:

As always, we await further developments.

According to WEEI, Francona was actually set for a Tuesday interview with the Cardinals.

You have to pull for Francona or Sandberg, simply for the dramatic possibilities. Also, Joe McEwing. Because he was a scrappy gamer.

T.R. Sullivan reports that Maddux talked this matter over with his family Monday night, presumably before the Wednesday interview was finalized. That would imply that Maddux either has his family’s blessing, or he is very publicly defying its wishes.

mike maddux has withdrawn from consideration for red sox managers job. my impression is he may be favored for #cubs jobMakes sense, but Peter Gammons quickly tweeted that Maddux might not be interested in anything that isn’t in Texas:

The Red Sox will presumably turn to their long list of candidates and pick someone else. Terry Francona is still available if they’re looking for previous experience.

A third name, but not a fourth, was added to the Cardinals’ list of interviewees for their vacant manager’s job on Friday. Former Redbirds catcher Mike Matheny, who currently serves as a special assistant to general manager John Mozeliak, interviewed on Friday, a Cardinals source said.Matheny isn’t exactly a Hall-of-Famer like Sandberg, but he’s still popular in St. Louis, where the four-time Gold Glove winner played for five seasons. He retired suddenly at the age of 35 because of concussions he suffered on foul tips to his catcher’s mask, and he currently works in the Cardinals’ front office.

Kaplan’s on to something here. Though Epstein has “put the band back together” in Chicago, Francona isn’t necessarily part of that band.

Nobody knows a thing about most of the managerial candidates. Sure, there are exceptions. Guys like Terry Francona and Bob Brenly have an established history, and fans of their former teams can tell you all about their strengths and peccadilloes -- the things they loved, and the things that drove them crazy.

It isn’t just Maddux, though. Every manager without experience goes through the same non-vetting vetting by the interested fan. Ryne Sandberg is a favorite candidate among some Cubs partisans. He was a star, a Hall-of-Famer, so there’s a little bit more info on him. But not a lot. And what we do know is a little different:

And he’s got a kind of famous brother. Maybe you’ve heard of him.