Cubs owner Ricketts meets with Wedge

Sources confirmed Tuesday that Cubs owner Tom Ricketts has conducted interviews with managerial candidates Mike Quade, Ryne Sandberg and Eric Wedge.

The Cubs are maintaining a policy of having little to say publicly about their managerial search, which has been under way for almost two months since Lou Piniella resigned and Quade took over.

Sources said Wedge met Monday with Ricketts in Chicago and that second interviews already have taken place with Quade and Sandberg. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has interviewed former big-league manager Bob Melvin, and Melvin also may get a sit-down with Ricketts.

Quade managed the Cubs to a 24-13 record down the stretch, and he has strong backing from Cubs players.

Sandberg is a Cubs Hall of Famer who has managed in their minor-league system for four years.

Of Wedge, Buster Olney of ESPN tweeted: “A friend of Eric Wedge says this about his meeting with Cubs' owners: ‘He is a very convincing guy, so this can only help his chances.'

The other wild card still out there is former Cubs player Joe Girardi, who is managing the New York Yankees in the playoffs.

If the Cubs aren't waiting for Girardi, it's possible they could name a manager in the next 2-3 weeks.

Join the discussion about Cubs players Geovany Soto and Tyler Colvin on the Daily Herald's baseball blog, Chicago's Inside Pitch, at dailyherald.com.