| Standing around Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, | | | | you wear and team play." |
| looking into those cool, green eyes, one is | | | | Admittedly, it's unusual for a "Hall of Fame-type |
| reminded of the term that describes our military's | | | | player" to be a good teacher. But Sandberg |
| Special Forces: Quiet Professionals. Sandberg is | | | | remembers how hard it was to play at a high |
| certainly one and could probably hang with those | | | | level, which makes him a special instructor. "I |
| guys in another lifetime. | | | | struggled every single year I played, one time or |
| Sandberg and his Iowa Cubs were in Sacramento | | | | another," he remembers. "I always had to find |
| recently for a four game series against the | | | | ways to get out of (the slump) and battle. It |
| RiverCats. | | | | wasn't easy. I always remember this is not an |
| His lifetime has been a career in baseball and it | | | | easy game. But I also know with a game plan and |
| appears he has a long future ahead of him. The | | | | practice routine, this game can become easier." |
| skipper of the Iowa Cubs is a top candidate | | | | Sandberg says when he was a young player he |
| (some say "the" top) for the Chicago Cubs | | | | emulated and learned from the best-Nolan Ryan, |
| managerial position, which will open when Lou | | | | Steve Carlton, Doc Gooden, and Pete Rose-and |
| Piniella steps down at the end of the 2010 season. | | | | those players in turn helped him take his game to |
| Sandberg, however, is not a lock for the job. | | | | the top echelon. He now preaches that same |
| Several top baseball men, including Cubs color | | | | thing, telling the Cubs' Triple-A players to 'Watch |
| analyst Bob Brenly, have indicated a desire to | | | | who's hot, who's playing well, whether it's your |
| resurrect the once proud franchise that was a | | | | team or the opposition. See what they do, and |
| Bartman away from going to the World Series in | | | | maybe that will fit in with their game," he advises. |
| 2003. | | | | It's clearly working. Two of Chicago's top young |
| But Sandberg is aware of the competition. Just as | | | | talents-Starlin Castro and Tyler Colvin- are having |
| he did during a 16-year career in the major | | | | terrific rookie seasons in the major leagues after |
| leagues, he continues to work hard at attaining his | | | | working under Sandberg last year at Double-A |
| goal of one day becoming a major league | | | | Tennessee Smokies. More importantly, the Iowa |
| manager; if not in Chicago, then some other club. | | | | Cubs presently hold the best record in the Pacific |
| At present, that means instructing the Iowa | | | | Coast League, a fact surely not lost on the Cubs |
| players and teaching them the right way to play | | | | new ownership, the Ricketts family. |
| the game. Something Sandberg excelled at while | | | | Asked what he'll do if he isn't selected as the |
| earning 10 All-Star selections, nine Gold Glove, | | | | Cubs' next manager and another team comes |
| seven Silver Slugger Awards, and the Most | | | | calling, Sandberg doesn't flinch. "I don't think you |
| Valuable Player award in 1984, making him one of | | | | turn down a job at the major league level... I'm |
| the top performing-and highest paid-players of his | | | | concentrating on what I'm doing in Iowa with this |
| generation. | | | | team and these players, trying to the best job I |
| "From what I see baseball is back to what it | | | | can, gaining experience along the way. If |
| should be. It's the game that I know," he replies | | | | somebody in baseball thinks I'm ready to manage |
| to a question alluding to baseball's recently stained | | | | their team, and wants to call" Sandberg says he |
| steroid era. "It's about asking the players to do all | | | | will be ready to listen. |
| the little things to win baseball games. It's not | | | | The mark of a Quiet Professional. |
| about self promotion. It's more about the uniform | | | | |
