Fans want meat when Cubs toss them a bone

Wow, I’m hearing some remarkable things coming out of the vines at Wrigley Field.

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer say newly hired Cubs manager Rick Renteria was their guy from the beginning.

Are Cubs fans expected to believe he was their choice over Joe Girardi or anyone else?

Are we supposed to believe that this guy is a step up from Dale Sveum? I say Renteria will do what he’s told and like it.

Here’s my opinion: this is a bad hire for a bad team with a bad organization.

Could this have been Tom Ricketts’ plan when the sun used to hit his forehead as he would sit in the bleachers at Wrigley?

Dale Sveum moved shortstop Starlin Castro lower in the lineup last season because he wasn’t focused and needed a dose of reality, but the next day Castro was elevated up.

Do you think that was Sveum’s decision? I think not.

Now, in fairness, Mr. Renteria may be the right guy, but the real problems are that the centerpieces of the franchise — Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo — are not centerpiece material. They are sides you would order with a porterhouse or rib-eye steak.

Cubs fans need the meat now, and they have enough sides.

Seriously what is the point of hiring a new manager if they don’t give him the right talent? The Cubs are like a circus or carnival act — and it’s insulting to baseball fans in this town to call them anything else.

The arrogance is amazing; Epstein must think the fans of this town are saps.

Now between the White Sox and the Cubs, there just doesn’t seem to be much to look forward to next spring.

Bears camp starts in July, and both baseball teams could be eliminated by then.

Is Wood next?Keith Moreland is leaving the Cubs booth. That should open the door for Cubs#146; underachiever Kerry Wood to be in the booth.He would be a good hire. Wood is popular and a good guy. Moreland still had a year to go, but there really wasn#146;t much buzz, and it wasn#146;t easy to follow Ron Santo. If Wood isn#146;t his successor, there will be no shortage of candidates. Just don#146;t let Theo Epstein make the selection.Program notesListen to The Mike North Show 6-9 p.m. Saturdays and 9 p.m. to midnight Sundays on iHeart radio or Fox Sports radio. Follow Mike on Twitter @northtonorth.Listen to The Mike North Pregame Show from 10 a.m. to noon Sundays on WIND 560-AM The Answer.Ÿ Mike North#146;s column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.