Pat Listach Waving To The Unemployment Line

The Chicago Cubs season has reached a conclusion. Starting on Thursday, the Cubs close the book on the 2012 season and begin penning a new novel for the 2013 season. Nearly minutes after the Cubs won their final game of the regular season, the team made their first official off-season move.

After the celebration in the Cubs’ clubhouse ceased, Cubs’ manager Dale Sveum called third base coach/infield coach Pat Listach into his office. The meeting between Sveum and Listach was not a part of the celebration. Rather, Sveum informed Listach that he will not be retained next season as the Cubs’ third base and infield coach. Even though this may come as a surprise to some, Listach handled the situation with complete class.

September 5, 2012; Washington, D.C., USA; Chicago Cubs third base coach Pat Listach (4) before a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

Listach had this to say after being informed of his firing.

“I believe in the direction the organization is going, I’m just not going to be a part of it, but I will be fine,” a shaken Listach said after the Cubs’ 5-4 win against the Houston Astros. ESPN Chicago

The more I think about the decision the Cubs made to not bring back Listach, the more the move falls in line with the direction of the organization. The first clue would be the idea that Listach was brought in by former manager Mike Quade and former general manager Jim Hendry. The same could have been said about former hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, who the Cubs fired earlier in the season. The next clue could be the fact that Sveum  wants to bring in his own personnel for his coaching staff. That was on display last off-season when Sveum added Dave McKay and Jamie Quirk. For Listach, he was simply on the outside looking in.

The Cubs will host interviews with candidates that Sveum had in mind for his coaching staff last off-season. One would have to wonder if Tim Bogar could leave his coaching position with the Boston Red Sox, and join the Chicago Cubs. It seems inevitable that Bobby Valentine will be fired as the Red Sox manager, if Bogar is not considered for the position, he may be the victim of the managerial change.

Sveum plans to meet with president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer as the Cubs’ brass discusses the the upcoming off-season.