Quade good for admitting Cubs bad

Mike Quade is off to a wobbly start as a big-league manager and has left Cubs fans wondering at times if he knows what he's doing.

But despite some head-scratching decisions, Quade is still an upgrade over the last two years when Lou Piniella did almost no managing of any kind.

And after Monday's beating in Cincinnati, Quade finally connected when he admitted his team was playing terrible baseball, something fans have known for weeks but Quade hadn't said publicly.

One can only assume Quade knew what everyone else did, but perhaps it's part of the learning curve that Quade thought putting a happy face on bad performances was the right move.

Quade grew up here at a time when Cubs fans were sold green ivy and sun-splashed bleachers and rarely heard much truth regarding the beloved, but times have changed in the last 30 years and fans don't want to be told something's good when it's not.

That no longer sells tickets on the North Side.

It doesn't mean Quade has to rip his players publicly every day. That also solves nothing.

And regardless of what he says about them, it's true that it doesn't change the fact that this isn't a very good Cubs team.

But when the media asks a specific question about a specific play — like Alfonso Soriano butchering that Scott Rolen double Monday — it's OK to say it was poorly played.

A simple “the ball should have been caught” would suffice.

But even on a night when Quade took his team to task, he said he'd have to watch video before determining whether Soriano should have made the play, when it took Bob Brenly all of three seconds in the booth to make that call.

Quade's a good baseball man with a lifetime's experience and a wealth of knowledge. He earned this chance.

But sometimes when he speaks he makes it sound like he doesn't know what he's watching, and it's hard to believe that's the case.

It would help if Quade did a better job of telling his fans and players what he really sees.

I'm certain a little reality wouldn't bother Tom Ricketts, Jim Hendry or any fan watching the games.

If it bothers players who can't handle the truth, if they're going to tank it because of that, they don't belong in the big leagues anyway.

For what they're being paid, they ought to be able to handle a tiny measure of truth.

Credit Big Z

If there were a moment when Carlos Zambrano had a right to blow a gasket, it was following some horrible defense in that 7-run sixth inning Monday.

But instead of flipping out, Zambrano took the blame after the game and put it on himself for blowing a 4-run lead.

It's an extremely grown-up approach, and it's the first genuine evidence that Zambrano may have changed.

Give the big man credit.

Arlington slots

It may end up being about a decade tardy, but it appears that the Arlington Heights village board will finally get out of the way if the state ever gets off its collective brains and votes to approve slots at Arlington Park.

Village President Arlene Mulder said Monday that the board will draft a letter to Illinois legislators as long as five of the eight trustees approve of the language.

Of course, Arlington Heights has puttered for years while the track has been reduced to a bit player in the horse racing industry — competing against tracks in other states with slots — and the local oval is on the doorstep of shutting down forever.

Maybe it's the sight of an empty hotel next door or the cries of local businesses that fear a permanent closing, but the village seems to finally get it after taking its ever-loving time recognizing that Arlington Park is in trouble.

Still, the local politicians hardly rush to completely throw their support behind slots, wondering what it means to have a land-based casino while Des Plaines hurries to open theirs and other cities and villages fight to get one.

They fiddle and diddle and discuss and debate and ponder and pander and every day the track takes a step closer to going out of business.

For the love of John Henry and all that's holy, take a firm stand already.

Heat advisory

From Luol Deng: “We did a good job of winning one game. But we have to let that go. They have guys who can take over games and could go off at any time. We have to realize that if they win the next game, it changes everything.”

Best quote

Dwyane Wade, on growing up in Chicago: “I was proud to say I was a Chicago Bulls fan and Michael Jordan fan. I felt like it was personal, like I knew the guy, although I didn't. I just felt that way. It made me proud.”

Denture daze

Miami Herald's Greg Cote: “Evander Holyfield won a boxing match last week at age 48 when his opponent failed to answer the bell after tripping over his oxygen tank and dislodging his hearing aids.”

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: “Mike Bibby makes All-NBA 33rd Team.”

And finally …

Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi, on Tiger Woods winning 19 majors: “Beat Jack Nicklaus? The way Tiger's body and golf game are breaking down, he'd have a hard time beating Jack Nicholson.”

brozner@dailyherald.com

ŸListen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score's “Hit and Run” show at WSCR 670-AM.