Dale Sveum takes charge as Chicago Cubs’ manager – MLB News
Yesterday the reports were there that the Chicago Cubs had finalised their deal with Dale Sveum, a candidate, who was also the part of the shortlisted applicants for the Boston Red Sox as on November 18, the Cubs finally introduced a new member as manager.
On Thursday, the unconfirmed deal was reported by the major news media in Chicago, according to which Sveum agreed to join the Cubs as manager. Sveum, who is currently serving the Milwaukee Brewers as a third base coach, will be brought on to fix the various
issues with the team and bring some positive changes internally.
According to the sources, Sveum will have a three years contract. Sveum will now look forward to improve the quality of play of the club, who was fifth in the National League. He is under the burden to handle the big contracts of outfielder Alfonso Soriano
and pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Cubs have also signed some talented players like All-Star short-stop Starlin Castro.
Sveum was in a race along with Philadelphia Phillies’ bench coach Pete Mackanin, Texas Rangers’ pitching coach Mike Maddux and Cleveland Indians’ bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. All of these players were also interviewed by the Boston Red Sox, which are still
without a manager after Terry Francona left the club. Francona left the Red Sox after the biggest September-disaster in baseball as the team failed to reach the playoffs. Francona, at first announced to be a part of the Cubs as a manager, but later backed
off the position.
As the Cubs had come after playing another one of their worst seasons, it was an obvious question for Sveum, who has taken a big responsibility. Sveum escaped a hard question by discussing the various changes and the different areas that he is looking to
work on in the team.
"The past is the past no matter where you are," Sveum said during an introductory news conference at Wrigley Field. "You're only as good as you are right now. It doesn't really matter what happened in the past."
Sveum was not sure about his decision before this Thursday, as he had also met with the Red Sox front office, but he finally agreed to join the Cubs without giving any further information to the media.
"When it came down to it, this was a better fit and the arrow stopped on the Chicago Cubs," Sveum said Friday.
Dale, who has been a switch-hitter for 12 seasons with different clubs at big league level, now has to take a big challenge. His first and foremost goal will be to shatter the 103 season Championship drought.
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