The Chicago Cubs officially introduced Ryne Sandberg as the new Manager of the Triple A Iowa Cubs on Monday.  Sandberg has worked his way up through the Cubs minor league system (2 seasons at Class A Peoria and 1 season at Double-A Tennessee) and appears primed to take over the Cubs major league job in the near future.  Sandberg seems very content with his role within the Cubs organization: “I think the best way to become a manager is to actually manage.  I think this is the necessary route for what I want to do… It’s a step in the right direction for what I’m doing.  This is something I have really taken to, I really enjoy.  My goal is to do this at the Major League level, so this is obviously a real nice stepping stone.”  While he currently has a losing record as a minor league manager (202-215 in 3 seasons), he did mange Tennessee to the Southern League playoffs in 2009 with a 71-69 record.

Sandberg also had the highest compliments for Andre Dawson who was recently voted into the Hall of Fame: “I just hope he gets to wear the Cubs hat when he goes in.  I think that’s the only thing that’s left to be determined…  The ’87 season that Andre had was phenomenal to watch.  He’s a Hall of Famer from the get go.  He’s a class guy on and off the field, and he’ll be a great addition to the group of Hall of Famers.”

Maybe we’ll see Ryno managing with newly-hired assistant Greg Maddux serving as his pitching coach or as the Cubs GM.  Could we see the changing of the guard soon – GM Jim Hendry and Manager Lou Pinella leaving- with younger Cubs greats taking over the reins for the Ricketts Family?  Should be fun to watch.

Congrats Ryno and good luck in the future…