Way back in early August, I wrote a post entitled “Forget Bobby Valentine and Consider Ryne Sandberg“. I always loved Ryne  Sandberg as a player. He played the game right and wasn’t afraid to get his uniform dirty. He was a true student of the game and always a leader in the clubhouse. I always knew that one day he would become a great manager.

Sandberg was expected to be named the Cubs’ next manager, but for some reason it didn’t turn out that way. From the looks of it, Sandberg has no intention of going back for another season of managing in the Cubs minor league system. Ryno is pissed off, and rightfully so. He has paid his dues and deserved better from the team he’s been loyal to for 28 years both as a player and minor league manager. 

Sandberg told the Chicago Tribune he was “disappointed” and will continue to pursue other managing jobs. Asked if he would return to Iowa, he told the newspaper: “I don’t know. I’m hoping there’s something else out there. I’m hoping to manage or coach at the big-league level.”

Sandberg has spent the last four years managing in the Cubs minor league system. In the last two years, Ryno has taken his Double-A team to the league championship and then this season he led his Triple-A team, the Iowa Cubs, to another first place finish and a league best 80-60 record. For his efforts, last month he was named Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year.

I’m my original post I cited an AP article that read,

Ryne Sandberg’s goal is the same now as it was in 1978: Get to the majors. He was 18 then and trying to prove himself as a player. Now the Hall of Fame second baseman is back where he started, trying to prove himself as a manager.

“It all started with just watching the game from a different perspective than what I did since 1978 as a player playing the middle infield,” he said. “It’s completely different. It’s watching the whole field. It’s positioning the outfielders, working with the catcher to shut down the opposing running game. It’s working the lineup. All the things to run the game.”

Sandberg is a disciplinarian and demands that his players be on time and give a full effort whenever they are on the field. He always stands by his players and has been ejected a dozen times in the last two seasons.

As I said back in August, hiring Sandberg would be very similar to another time that the Mets hired a former second baseman from outside the organization; Davey Johnson, he of the 1986 World Champion Mets fame. 

Considering how well that worked out for us, why not give that route another go?

Like Sandberg, Johnson also paid his dues in the minors and led his Triple-A team to a first place finish before taking over the Mets. I look at Sandberg and I see a younger version of Davey Johnson; a great second baseman who played the game hard and with great fire and determination. A scrappy player turned manager awaiting the opportunity to guide a major league team to a World Series. 

Sandberg is as intense as Wally Backman and more experienced, but comes without any of the risk or baggage. He is intelligent, confident and understands the fundamentals of the game like Bobby Valentine, but doesn’t have the desire to be the main attraction and center of attention.

You want someone who can emphasize playing solid defense to Wright, Bay and Reyes? Sandberg has nine gold gloves to back him up…

You want someone who can teach this team the importance of fundamentals on the basepaths and the art of stealing bases? Sandberg has 344 career stolen bases to back him up…

You want someone who can get some of our players to elevate their game and performance level? Sandberg has 10 All Star selections to back him up…

Once Sandy Alderson is named GM, something that I expect to be announced in the next 10-14 days, his first order of business  will be to hire the next manager of the Mets.

I hope he has his eyes on Ryne Sandberg, a worthy candidate who will be out to prove the Cubs made the wrong choice… A Hall of Famer who will command immediate respect and bring an air of professionalism and class to an organization with a terrible image problem… A class act with no skeletons in the closet, no arrest record, and no exorbitant salary demands.

Ryne Sandberg has what the Mets need the most right now; a winning attitude backed up by a lifetime of overachieving, integrity and excellence.

One name that continues to popup is former Mets manager Bobby Valentine, who is suddenly very available. 

I know that there are still many Bobby Valentine fans out there, and that many of you would love to see him become manager of the Mets again if Jerry Manuel gets fired. However, I fail to see the wisdom in such a move.

First of all, I hope Jerry keeps his job because it would be so unfair to judge him based on this injury marred season. But secondly, as much as too love Bobby Valentine, I don’t think he would solve what currently ails this team. Sure, Bobby had a nice run when he was the helm, but that train left the station a long time ago.

One name that doesn’t get mentioned as much as it should is Hall of Famer, Ryne Sandberg. After two years of managing for Class-A Peoria, Sandberg was promoted to manager of the Class-AA Tennessee Smokies. He took over a flailing team that is now in a heated battle for first place.

I read a great piece by Beth Rucker of the Associated Press on Sandberg last week. Here is an excerpt from it:

Ryne Sandberg’s goal is the same now as it was in 1978: Get to the majors. He was 18 then and trying to prove himself as a player. Now the Hall of Fame second baseman is back where he started, trying to prove himself as a manager.

“It all started with just watching the game from a different perspective than what I did since 1978 as a player playing the middle infield,” he said. “It’s completely different. It’s watching the whole field. It’s positioning the outfielders, working with the catcher to shut down the opposing running game. It’s working the lineup. All the things to run the game.”

Sandberg is 49 and reserved by nature. But as he grew more comfortable in the dugout, he became more vocal. He was thrown out of only one game as a player but was tossed from 13 in two seasons with Peoria. He’s been booted from six games with the Smokies and suspended once for “accidentally bumping an umpire.”

He demands his players be on time and give full effort. He’s led the Smokies from the middle of their division during the first half of the season to the top of the standings. Hendry calls that the sign of a good manager.

The players like Sandberg because he knows the game and keeps things relaxed on the field.

“When you have a coach that’s played as long as he has, he doesn’t forget what it’s like to be a player,” said Doug Deeds, a 28-year-old outfielder. “It’s pretty easy to play for a guy like that, and I think sometimes you can get the best out of your players when you’re like that.”

I always loved Ryne  Sandberg as a player. He played the game right and wasn’t afraid to get his uniform dirty. He was a true student of the game and always a leader in the clubhouse. We could use some of those qualities on this team right now.

As I stated previously, I think it would be very unfair to fire Jerry Manuel given the way this season has unfolded. I don’t think Manuel is the perfect manager, but who is?

All I’m saying is that if we’re going to make a change and try to finally fix this team, then let’s stop looking backward and start looking forward. Let’s stop drawing on the past every time we make a change to effect the future. Let’s broaden our view and tap into some of those great potential managers that are waiting in the wings out there. Let’s stop limiting ourselves to people who have ties to the organization. We hired Omar because he worked under Steve Phillips, we hired Willie because he played for us, we hired Manuel because he was already our bench coach, you get the picture.  

Hiring Sandberg would be very similar to another time that the Mets hired a former second baseman from outside the organization; Davey Johnson, he of the 1986 World Champion Mets fame. Considering how well that worked out for us, why not give that route another go?

Former Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg, levied some harsh criticism on Sammy Sosa and his Hall of Fame chances.

According to Sandberg, a Hall of Famer himself, Sammy Sosa does not belong in the Hall because of integrity issues associated with the steroids era.

While a guest on ESPN 1000 radio today, Sandberg said:

“They use the word ‘integrity’ in describing a Hall of Famer in the logo of the Hall of Fame, and I think there are gonna be quite a few players that are not going to get in. It’s been evident with the sportswriters who vote them in, with what they’ve done with Mark McGwire getting in the 20 percent range. We have some other players coming up like Rafael Palmeiro, and it’ll be up to the sportswriters to speak loud and clear about that. I don’t see any of those guys getting in.”

Ryne Sandberg and Sammy Sosa were Cubs teammates from 1992 to 1997. When you read the entire story and examine Sandberg’s comments, you get the sense he felt betrayed by Sosa.

“I was around Sammy for about five years before I retired, and there wasn’t anything going on then. I did admire the hard work he put in. He was one of the first guys down to the batting cage, hitting extra. I figured he was working out hard in the offseason to get bigger. It was just happening throughout the game, that even myself was blinded by what was really happening, maybe starting in the ’98 season.”

 I’ve heard many a fan, analyst and sportscaster say that all the players knew that it was going on even those who were clean, but I never really subscribed to that unsubstantiated charge. I do believe there were plenty of players like Sandberg that were fooled just like most the fans were.

Sandberg expressed regret for all the good players who never cheated because they have been thrown into the mix with all the tainted players. 

“I think it’s very unfortunate. I think suspicions were there as they are with some other players. Those players are now put in a category of being tainted players with tainted stats. I think it’s obviously something that was going on in the game. Players participated in it and as the names have come out I think that they will be punished for that.”

Sandberg said that punishment should include being banned from Cooperstown. 

“It’s something that’s against the law and against society. It was cheating in the sport. I think it has to be spoken very loud and clear on the stance. I don’t think those guys should be recognized at all.”

I liked Sosa and thought he was one of the more colorful and entertaining players out there, but that said Sandberg is right and there should be a ”NO HOF” policy for any player who used banned substances or performance enhancing drugs.

I don’t say that all of these players should have their records purged… that would be ridiculous at this point. I don’t advocate asterisks either…

But I do say lets not roll out the red carpet for these guys and honor them with enshrinement.