Mike Quade Has Lost The Cubs Clubhouse

The one word that commonly describes Mike Quade’s first full season as Cubs’ manager is overmatched. There have been countless situations where Quade has looked overmatched by opposing managers as well as his own players. There is no secret that the Cubs have had their fair share of injuries, but that does not make up for the lack of fundamentals that are displayed by this team. As the season goes on, it becomes increasingly likely that Quade will not return next season as Cubs’ manager. It was the players supporting Quade at the end of last season to earn the baseball-lifer his first full-time major league managerial position, and it may be the players that end the short-lived life of Quade as the Cubs manager.

Tom Loxas of Cubs Insider reports that the clubhouse has been lost by Mike Quade. Citing an Agent of a current Cubs player, Loxas mentions that the veterans of the team feel that Quade is overmatched and there is a lack of respect for Quade. This should come as no surprise. Whether it was the decision to pitch to Albert Pujols in back-to-back games and consequently lose, or Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano taking separate shots at Quade during the season, the writing is on the wall that Quade does not have control over the Cubs clubhouse.

The thing that I take issue with the most was the propaganda we heard from Hendry that Quade was the perfect fit for what the Cubs are trying to do over the next two seasons. I understand that Hendry is supposed to say that, but, he could not be more wrong. Quade’s handling of the young players this season has been mediocre at best. For one reason or another, Quade has made Starlin Castro his whipping boy and seems to be eager to point out when the young shortstop does not hustle or makes a gaffe in the field. But never has Quade ever publicly criticized Alfonso Soriano or Aramis Ramirez for any kind of lack of hustle. Not to mention the plethora of defensive miscues there are with Soriano in left field. I fear that Quade’s handling of young players will only get worse once more and more prospects make their way to the major leagues from the Cubs’ farm system. Another reason why hiring Ryne Sandberg would have made more sense than hiring Quade as manager.

The decision should already be made that Quade should not return next season as the Cubs’ manager. Chairman Tom Ricketts will likely make some front office changes after the season or at the very least, replace Crane Kenney as the team’s president. If that is the case, then I can’t imagine that the Quade would remain in place.