Cubs' managerial search continues

MILWAUKEE — Semantics ruled the day Tuesday when it came to the Cubs' managerial search.

Either they were or they were not going to conduct “a second interview” with Dale Sveum the hitting coach of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Term it however you like, but the Cubs will talk (or may have talked Tuesday night) with Sveum.

“We're not going to do second interviews,” said Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer during a media session at the GM meetings.

“We've had a number of conversations on the phone with different candidates after we went through the first interviews in our heads, asking questions.

“With Dale, he's going to be in town anyway, so that's probably going to happen in person. It's really no different than having those discussions over the phone. He just happens to be in Milwaukee.”

Much of the conversation and speculation seems to have coalesced around Sveum, who will conduct a second interview with the Boston Red Sox.

Both the Cubs and the Red Sox think highly of Sveum, and in the end it may come down to his choice between the two teams.

Hoyer made it clear that no one has dropped out of the derby, which consists, loosely, of six candidates: Sveum, Mike Maddux, Pete Mackanin, Sandy Alomar Jr., DeMarlo Hale and Terry Francona.

Hale, the bench coach of the Red Sox, received a telephone interview from the Cubs. Team president Theo Epstein also remains in telephone contact with Francona, with whom he worked in Boston.

However, Francona's candidacy still is considered a longshot.

Maddux, the pitching coach of the Texas Rangers, wowed the media after his job interview, but family concerns may keep him in Texas.

“That was obviously something we talked about in the interview that we've followed up on,” Hoyer said. “It's still something he's weighing. Those considerations haven't gone away.

“We're not going to comment on where he is with that, but it certainly is a big factor. I think it's a big factor for everyone. I think, in this case, it probably weighs a little more.”

Alomar could be the sleeper of the bunch.

Hoyer continues to insist that the Cubs don't have a timetable for hiring a manager. The finalist must get the final blessing of chairman Tom Ricketts and his family.

“I wouldn't put any deadlines on it,” Hoyer said. “I think Theo's been really clear. We want to move this into decision-making mode. We want to do that when we have all the information at our disposal and we answer the questions we want to answer.”

Cubs, Red Sox talking Epstein compensation:The Cubs and Red Sox continue to talk compensation for the Cubs signing Theo Epstein away from Boston.Both sides remain optimistic that they can reach an accord without Major League Baseball settling the issue for them. Both teams also say the process has been done without rancor.Cubs have plenty on their plate:The Cubs have so many roster holes to fill, and Hoyer was asked how he'd attack a team with problems at pitching and holes at first base, third base and right field.#8220;You certainly can't do it piecemeal,#8221; he said. #8220;The off-season, unfortunately, doesn't work that way. I wish it did.#8220;It would make our lives easier, but it doesn't happen that way, so we have to do a manager search and figure out our roster situation and our front-office situation in some ways all at the same time.#8221;Cubs will try to bring Wood back:Jed Hoyer said he has begun talking with the agent for reliever Kerry Wood about bringing the Chicago favorite back.Wood signed an undervalued, $1.5 million contract last winter to come #8220;home.#8221; He said during the season he'd play for the Cubs next year or retire.#8220;Probably my biggest view, I don't know if toughness is the right word, but clearly he doesn't shy away from big moments and big games, and I think that's something that's really important,#8221; Hoyer said.#8220;Chicago is a big stage and he's proven he can do it, and it's a mistake to take that for granted.#8221;bmiles@dailyherald.com