Cubs Preparing For When Ryne Sandberg Becomes Their Manager

When the day finally comes that Lou Piniella explodes like Port Chicago — oh, and he will — who will step in for the Cubs? How about Ryne Sandberg? The Hall of Famer, now manager of the Class A Peoria Chiefs, will try out the manager's chair when he returns to Wrigley Field on July 29; his team taking on the Kane County Cougars in a Midwest League game. It's believed to be the first minor league game ever to be played at Wrigley.

''I think it will be very cool,'' Sandberg said. ''It's probably a chance of a lifetime for some of these players to come to here and actually play a game at Wrigley Field. I can't imagine what that will be like for them. I'm excited about it and I know the fans will have some fun with the game. It's bringing minor-league baseball to Wrigley for one night.''

So this is kind of a big deal; like when the Bad News Bears played in the Astrodome. I'll be interested to see what kind of attendance this draws. I had jokes all ready to go about how playing a minor league game at Wrigley would be redundant, but the Cubs are in first place, so I threw them out. Dammit. Instead, once again enjoy this fat guy stuck in the outfield screen.

Sandberg's Chiefs To Host Cougars At Wrigley [Chicago Sun-Times]