Quade Out In Chicago

With Epstein and Jed Hoyer in, Quade is out
in the Windy City.

Just when the dust began to settle in Chicago, newly appointed team president of baseball operations, Theo Epstein, conducted his first order of business and it comes at the expense of second-year manager, Mike Quabe.

Quade was relieved of his managerial duties Wednesday before they really ever got started.

The 54-year-old now former manager replaced the always entertaining Lou Pinella at the end of the 2010 season and was given a 37-game audition to impress Cubs brass, which he did, going 24-13, good enough for a .649 winning percentage.

He would eventually have the"interm" label removed from his job title as he was hired by then general manager John Hendry. Quade was rewarded with a two-year contract with a club option for a third. But after the sudden resignation of Hendry in August and Chicago increasing their infamous Curse of the Billy Goat to 103 years with a fifth place finish in the National League Central, Quade's future was in doubt.

Overall, Quade finishes his stint in Chicago with a 95-104 record in 199 games.

Quade, who had been the third base coach in Chicago the past four seasons, was chosen over Hall of Famer and legendary Cubs player, Ryne Sandberg, for the job. Sandberg was thought to be the heir apparent to Pinella, but instead took a Triple-A managerial position with the Philadelphia Phillies following Quade's official hiring.

Sandberg has reportedly been ruled out by Epstein for the position, but names like Mike Maddux and Terry Francona, who knows Epstein all to well, have surfaced as possible candidates and front-runners for the position.

Whomever takes over in the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, one thing is clear, they are in for one hell of a ride as Epstein is a man on a mission.