Quade, Cubs coaches plant organizational approach
It would be difficult to picture many major-league managers getting infield dirt under their fingernails.
But watch any Cubs spring-training drill, and Mike Quade is leading off second base during bunt plays or stopping the proceedings to make a point at first base.
It appears Quade will be a hands-on manager, both literally and figuratively, in his first full year at the helm of a big-league club.
That’s quite the contrast from the hands-off approach taken by his predecessor, Lou Piniella, in his first four springs with the Cubs.
There’s also something else, and perhaps more important, at work with the manager and his coaching staff. That is, there is more of an “organizational” feel to the staff.
Quade was a longtime manager in the minor leagues, including four years as skipper of the Cubs’ Class AAA Iowa farm club.
Bench coach Pat Listach came back to the Cubs after serving as the third-base coach of the Washington Nationals for two years. Before that, Listach managed all or parts of four seasons in the Cubs’ minor-league system.
New pitching coach Mark Riggins spent the last three years as the Cubs’ minor-league pitching coordinator.
First-base coach Bob Dernier spent seven years as a coach/instructor in the Cubs organization. Special assistant Dave Keller was the organization’s minor-league hitting coordinator from 2004-10. He’ll work closely with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo.
Bullpen coach Lester Strode enters his 23rd season with the organization, and third-base coach Ivan DeJesus has been with the big club since 2007.
The Cubs are banking on this organizational approach not only helping the big club, but also having extensive knowledge about some of the young players coming up.
Here is a look at the 2011 braintrust.
Does Quade act like a “rookie” manager?Not at all. From the day he took over for Piniella last August, Quade has sounded like he has been a big-league manager for 25 years. During the winter meetings, he handled questions from the national media flawlessly, and during spring training he quickly defused the Carlos Silva dugout dust-up. From the get-go last year, Quade got the respect from veterans and young players. He#146;s a commanding presence.What are his strengths? Quade says he#146;s a #147;teacher#148; at heart. That#146;s evident in his daily approach and his dealings with players. Another observer pointed out that Quade is #147;organized and smart.#148; Those qualities can take a person a long way.The rest of it, of course, will depend on the talent he#146;s given by the front office. Who is Mark Riggins?Riggins, 54, has 26 years of coaching experience. Before joining the Cubs, he spent 29 years with the Cardinals organization as a player and coach, including big-league pitching coach in 1995. From 1996-2007, he was the Cards#146; minor-league pitching coordinator.He replaces Larry Rothschild, who left the Cubs last fall to become the pitching coach of the Yankees. What is his approach?Like Quade, Riggins looks to be hands-on. During early pitching drills, Riggins had only four pitchers throwing at one time, as opposed to eight or 10. He often took up a position next to the catcher to get a better look at a pitcher#146;s delivery. Riggins also had the mound sessions filmed. Can Jaramillo get the offense going?He certainly works hard enough. Jaramillo can be a tough guy for media members to find, simply because he#146;s always working with his hitters, either in the batting cages or in the film room. And there#146;s work to be done.Cubs fans remember nostalgically the 2008 season when the team led the NL in walks, on-base percentage, runs scored and wins. The offense fell off in 2009, and general manager Jim Hendry brought in Jaramillo that fall after Jaramillo had success with the Texas Rangers. Last season, the Cubs were 10th in runs scored, ninth in home runs, 14th in walks, 11th in on-base percentage (. 320) and ninth in slugging percentage (. 401).A full year of familiarity with Jaramillo could help those numbers starting heading northward again. 34312526Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo provides some instruction to nonroster third baseman Scott Moore during the first days of spring training in Mesa, Ariz.BRUCE MILES/bmiles@dailyherald.com