Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Source: Chicago Cubs interviewed Ryne Sandberg on Tuesday

CHICAGO -- Cubs general manager Jim Hendry met with Ryne Sandberg on Tuesday in Arizona to formally interview the Triple-A Iowa manager for the Cubs managerial job, according to a major league source.

Hendry and Sandberg most likely will continue their conversation on Wednesday, according to the same source.

Hendry had some conversations with Sandberg at the end of August when he visited the Iowa Cubs on the road in Albuquerque, N.M.

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Chicago Cubs interviewed Ryne Sandberg on Tuesday

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According to sources, Hendry is still planning conversations with Washington coach Pat Listach, former Arizona manager Bob Melvin and Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly. The only confirmed expanded interview that Hendry has completed so far is with former Cleveland manager Eric Wedge.

Sandberg was the manager of the year in the Pacific Coast League in 2010. He's managed in the Cubs organization the past four seasons.

Former double-play partner Shawon Dunston, in town as part of the Giants' coaching staff, was a little surprised by Sandberg's post-playing coaching experience.

"When we sat around when we were young, we all knew Joe Girardi would be a manager, we knew Ryno would be a Hall of Famer and we knew Andre [Dawson] and Greg [Maddux] would be Hall of Famers. But no, I never envisioned Ryno being a manager."

Dunston, who played next to Sandberg for portions of 10 years, hasn't been in touch with him since spring training.

"I hear he gets thrown out of games," Dunston said. "He never got thrown out when I played with him. That's kind of funny, right there, because he'd only say three or four words a day when we played together."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000.

No pressure to sell MaschSource: Chicago Cubs to interview Ryne Sandberg within 10 days