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Well, the Chicago Cubs have taken their first step toward 2012.
A new manager perhaps? A vacancy would seem looming, even if Mike Quade’s team doesn’t lose another game the rest of this season. Nope.
A new general manager perhaps? To replace the recently departed Jim Hendry so that someone is in place to deal with deals (especially one that will feature banished right0hander Carlos Zambrano) in a timely manner? Nope.
How about the vice president of player development? Yep. That’s the one.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts gave Oneri Fleita a four-year deal last week. Not that he doesn’t deserve it. And the Cubs do have some players who have developed. Even if Starlin Castro still need some polishing before he becomes sterling. Maybe someone can locate a bottle or two of Focus Factor for the talented shortstop.
“It’s something I believe in,” Fleita said of player development. “I’ve been given the support to sign players internationally this year that I’ve never had. … This is an opportunity now to work for a great family in the Ricketts family, and we’ve been given resources to compete. That makes it a lot of fun to everyone involved.”
Fun for all with the possible exception of the new general manager, who might have had other plans.
“To me, this is more about the staff that’s here and keeping some continuity,” Fleita said. “When the next general manager comes in, hopefully, we’ll be able to serve him well.”