Quade comes home, gets another Cubs victory
Mike Quade knew the significance of Monday night, and the Cubs made it even more memorable.
Quade managed his hometown team for the first time at Wrigley Field, and his players went out and clubbed this year's nemesis, the Pittsburgh Pirates, 14-2.
Since taking over for Lou Piniella last week, Quade has managed the Cubs to a 5-2 record. And although it's not a particularly long drive from Quade's native Evanston or from Prospect High School, it has been a long journey to his current job.
But no matter whether he was coaching third base or managing, Quade said he always takes a moment to appreciate being at Wrigley.
"I guess it's an opening night," he said before the game. "Opening night is great wherever you're at. At least, emotionally, we've got to find a way to beat these guys. They've been tough on us.
"Yeah, you'll take a minute. I try to take a minute every day, believe it or not, even at third base, just to look around and go, 'My gosh. How lucky am I?'
"Whether it's rooftops or whatever brings stuff back to you. I want to keep some perspective. There will be a real nice glow until the first pitch is made, and then we've got to get after it."
Quade said his "moment" Monday came during the national anthem, and it wasn't long after that the Cubs got down to business.
They entered the game 3-9 against the Pirates this year but got 2 runs in the first inning against lefty Paul Maholm. They broke the game open with 7 runs in the fourth inning and 4 in the fifth.
Even starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano got into the offensive act, hitting his first home run of the year in the fifth.
Quade is auditioning to keep the managerial job beyond next season. He will be competing with, among others, Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg.
The season ends Oct. 3, so Quade has a short window to show what he can do. He says he's not rushing things.
"If you look at it in terms of somebody coming in and having a seven-week spring training and that's just not all the stuff that goes on during the course of the game or how you run a game or what you do," he said. "It's dealing with the personalities and the whole nine yards.
"To me, you come in like a bull in a china shop and you're asking for trouble. Do what you do in a more gradual way. I'm thinking of things each day. It's been four years (since he managed in the minor leagues), and I love it. But it takes a little bit of doing from their standpoint and mine. Little by little."
How the Cubs play the rest of the way no doubt will help determine Quade's fate. General manager Jim Hendry and the organization also will weigh any number of other factors.
"I hope that overall picture is taken into account," Quade said. "I'm not doing the evaluation. Some of that, I'm sure, will be in the mix. There are a lot of good baseball people out there.
"I get a chance to do this firsthand in front of people. We're going to try and win every ballgame obviously. I'm sure wins and losses will be a part of it. To what extent, that's for the people who are evaluating me to answer."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Bruce Miles' game tracker</p>
<p class="News">Cubs 14, Pirates 2</p>
<p class="News"><b>Double their pleasure: </b>The Cubs hit 9 doubles, the most since they hit 9 on July 20, 2003, at Florida. "Pick your guy, wow," manager Mike Quade said. "It was really important to get off to a good start here." In all, the Cubs had 18 hits.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Not 'quality,' but good:</b> Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano (6-6) didn't get credit for a quality start, but he did work 51/3 innings, giving up 4 hits and 1 unearned run. Zambrano said his critically ill nephew is doing better in Venezuela. "It's a miracle in our family," he said.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Rising Starlin:</b> Starlin Castro went 3-for-5 with 2 doubles and 3 runs. He's batting .313.</p>
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