Sandberg not focused on Cubs

After his unceremonious departure a year ago, many want to know what Ryne Sandberg thinks of the Cubs today, now that major changes have taken place and more are on the way.

So here it is.

“I haven't thought about the Cubs at all,'' Sandberg said. “We're about to start a playoff series here and that's my focus.''

In his fifth year as a minor-league manager, Sandberg has followed up his PCL Manager of the Year season at Iowa (AAA) in 2010 with a playoff season in Lehigh Valley (AAA), where the team hadn't had a day with a winning record the three previous seasons.

“It's been a great experience,'' Sandberg said. “The Phillies communicate with everyone, from top to bottom, and they treat everyone as part of the process, which is to get players ready for the big leagues.

“They ask your opinion on players. They ask about call-ups. Management spends a lot of time visiting the minor leagues. It's consistent all season. It's great to experience that. It's very professional. I'm really fortunate to be a part of something like this and grateful to (GM) Ruben Amaro Jr. and to the Phillies.''

There's been speculation out East about Sandberg's future and a possible promotion to a major-league coaching staff in Philly or elsewhere, which is the next logical step.

“Everyone in the minors wants to get to the majors. I'm no different,'' Sandberg said. “But we start a playoff series (Wednesday night). That's the focus.''

GM search

Tom Ricketts said he wanted someone with experience, and Chuck LaMar certainly has it, so it set Twitter ablaze with rumors Tuesday night.

The Philly assistant GM (scouting/player development) abruptly resigned just as two of his minor-league teams were about to start the playoffs, and only a couple of weeks before the big-league club attempts to win a World Series.

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. didn't sound happy about the timing but said there was no disagreement between the two and that LaMar was pursuing other opportunities.

You have to think — and hope — he's not a fit for the Cubs, but that won't stop the speculation. LaMar's record as Tampa GM was awful (518-775) and the team finished last seven out of eight years.

Those who experienced that era don't think much of LaMar as a GM, and those who have spent time in front offices with him find him to be a bit odd.

As for connections, LaMar just worked with Sandberg in Philadelphia, was assistant GM to John Schuerholz in Atlanta when the Braves won the World Series with current Cubs assistant Greg Maddux, and Cubs scouting Director Tim Wilken was a special assistant to LaMar for three years in Tampa.

If you like conspiracies, the timing of extensions for Oneri Fleita and (probably) Wilken just as LaMar resigns is interesting.

The future

There's little doubt that Ricketts sees Fleita as a future GM, and it's quite possible that he'll be next in line after the next in line becomes the latest in a long line on the GM time line.

Fleita's contract extension would put him in an ideal spot to take over from the next lucky person to get the job.

Lance Briggs

Lance Briggs is getting all kinds of bad advice these days, and nearly everything he says publicly not only makes him look silly but also does nothing to further his case in the court of public opinion.

The fact is GM Jerry Angelo and the Bears owe Briggs precisely nothing. He signed a contract he loved at the time, knowing the deal could be obsolete in a couple of years.

The Bears shouldn't have done it for Brian Urlacher and they have no reason to renegotiate with Briggs.

Matt Forte

Angelo is also right in waiting on Matt Forte. Cruel as this is, running backs are easy to find and often crumble after four years in the NFL, which is precisely where Forte is now.

He has had two good years and one bad, and the Bears would be smart to wait as long as possible to re-sign Forte.

If he has a great year and it costs the Bears more money later, they'll be happy to pay it. If they lose him in the process, they'll replace him with someone younger.

Trivia time

Per requests for the answer to a question on the final Hit&Run of the season Sunday, name the 10 players with 500 homers and 500 doubles.

Answer below.

The line

Odds to win the NFC: Packers (3-1), Eagles (3-1), Saints (7-1), Falcons (8-1), Cowboys (10-1), Giants (12-1), Bears (14-1), Lions (14-1), Vikings (18-1), Bucs (18-1) and Rams (20-1).

Yes, you read correctly. Vegas has the Bears and Lions all square to start the season.

Just asking

E-mailer Chris Tabbert: “Why would a new GM or manager have to be steeped in Cubs knowledge and all the rest of the ‘tradition,' when, according to Tom Ricketts, we are only in Year Two?''

The answer

Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Junior Griffey, Frank Robinson, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, Ted Williams and Eddie Murray.

Alex Rodriguez has 493 doubles, Frank Thomas had 495 doubles and Lou Gehrig had 493 homers.

And finally …

Omaha World-Herald's Brad Dickson: “Hurricane Irene battered the Little League World Series. Players on the team from Taiwan were huddled in the dugout calling the team's hotel to make sure their wives and children were OK.''

brozner@dailyherald.com

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