Cubs to interview Eric Wedge for manager's job

It's been awhile since we've heard from Cubs president Theo Epstein and even longer since we've heard from general manager Jed Hoyer.

When Epstein began his search for a new field manager at the end of last month, he said it would be “more private” than it was two years ago, when he paraded candidates before the media as part of their overall job-interviewing experience.

Epstein has made good on his vow of privacy this time around, operating under the cone of silence.

What's known thus far is that the Cubs have interviewed four candidates to replace the fired Dale Sveum, and they'll meet sometime next week with former big-league skipper Eric Wedge.

Once the World Series is finished, Epstein and Co. likely will meet with Boston Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo.

Wedge, 45, resigned as manager of the Seattle Mariners, who went 71-91 this season. He has managed both the Mariners and the Cleveland Indians, putting up a record of 774-846 (. 478).

Joe Girardi seemed the favorite, at least of many fans and media members, to return “home” to the Cubs, but he decided to stay in New York and continue managing the Yankees.

So far, the Cubs have interviewed San Diego Padres bench coach Rick Renteria, Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Dave Martinez and former big-league managers Manny Acta and A.J. Hinch.

Renteria had another “first interview” this week in California, with other members of the baseball-operations staff sitting in. Sources say neither team owner Tom Ricketts nor anyone from the business side of the Cubs operations was involved in the second chat with Renteria, who is highly regarded in San Diego.

The last time Epstein talked with the media, on Sept. 30, he said he hoped to have a manager in place by the beginning of the general managers meetings, Nov. 11.

Gold Glove finalists:Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney is a finalist to win his second consecutive Gold Glove, presented by Rawlings. Another Cubs finalist is first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who is up for his first Gold Glove. Barney is going against Mark Ellis of the Dodgers and former Gold Glove winner Brandon Phillips of the Reds. Rizzo's competition is Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks and Adrian Gonzalez of the Dodgers. Coaches and managers vote on the Gold Gloves in each league, and there now is a sabermetrics component to determining who wins the Gold Glove at each position.In recent years, measuring defense has gone well beyond errors and fielding percentage. Stats such as #8220;ultimate zone rating#8221; (UZR) and others, imperfect as they are, represent at least a start in quantifying a player's value on defense.