Brenly not interested in Cubs' managerial job

Bob Brenly gave the Cubs a respectful "No, thank you" to a chance to interview for their managerial job.

Brenly talked with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry on Friday. On Saturday, he made his decision public.

"I had a conversation with Jim yesterday and officially withdrew my name from consideration for this job," said Brenly, the Cubs' TV analyst. "It was with all due respect to the organization, to the Ricketts family, to Jim. I just didn't feel at this particular time that this was a good fit for me.

"I've said all along I'd love to get back on the field if I felt the situation was right. For personal and professional reasons, I just think this is not the right time for me."

Brenly would not go beyond "personal and professional reasons" when pressed. However, he would not rule out taking another managerial job.

"We won't really know much more until the season's over, but I have been in contact with some other teams," he said.

Brenly was sporting his World Series ring, won as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001.

When asked about the future of the Cubs, he did not exactly give a ringing endorsement.

"I've been around the game long enough to know that as dire as things can look sometimes ... but on the other side, I find that as good as they can look sometimes, that's no guarantee of what's going to happen on the field next year," he said. "I'm not overly pessimistic about this team for next year, but I'm not overly optimistic either."

Hendry, who would not shed any light on the managerial search, said he respected Brenly's decision.

"Bob and I have a good relationship," Hendry said. "We had made some plans about getting together on the road in San Diego. He told me yesterday he had spent quite a bit of time talking to his wife and felt like he was not going to be continuing to pursue it further.

"That's his opinion. That's his life. He's a good man. We've always had a good relationship. He's a terrific announcer, good baseball guy, gets along good with everybody here. I appreciate him being as honest as he was before we even started to get going down the path."