When it's all said and done, former Cubs' manager Rick Renteria got a raw deal from the Cubs and by any sense of fairness should be into his second season as Cub's skipper.
Renteria did a superb job in 2014 and did absolutely nothing to warrant his termination after just one season. Let's take a look at what Renteria accomplished in his lone season in Chicago.
Renteria inherited a woeful team in 2014 and actually improved the Cubs' record by 7 games from 2013.
Under Renteria's watch, both Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo had bounce back All Star seasons.
Renteria pulled the plug on closer Jose Veras early and developed effective closer Hector Rondon.
Renteria developed solid starting pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta.
Low key free agent signing Jason Hammel had a brilliant season under Renteria.
Renteria installed outfielder Chris Coghlan in left field and Coghlan responded by becoming a hitting machine in the second half of the season.
Renteria developed bullpen arms Pedro Strop, Neil Ramirez and Justin Grimm among others.
The Cubs actually played better after the Jeff Samardzija, Jason Hammel trade (that gutted the Cubs' starting staff.) The Cubs also lost valuable lefty James Russell at the trade deadline.
Even third baseman Luis Valbuena had a career year under Renteria and became a valuable trade chip in the Cubs acquiring OF Dexter Fowler.
If media darling Joe Maddon even accomplished half of these things he would be praised to the high heavens but instead Rick Renteria was shown the door.
I have been a Cubs' fan since 1968 and the firing of Rick Renteria was one of the most distasteful episodes in my time as a fan. He deserved much better.
The handling of Rick Renteria was similar to a guy bringing a girl to a dance and then ditching her because he found a prettier girl to dance with. It was totally without ethics. Furthermore, Joe Maddon should have not taken the job if he had any real integrity. It simply wasn't right and this type of thing could come back to haunt him sometime down the road.
To his credit, Rick Renteria refused to take the Cubs reassignment offer and left town with his pride and reputation intact. I'm sure Renteria will manage again in the big leagues because he showed he can do it and do it well.
As for Joe Maddon, he'd better win soon or all his Harry High School rah rah antics will wear thin awful fast!
If media darling Joe Maddon even accomplished half of these things he would be praised to the high heavens but instead Rick Renteria was shown the door.
I have been a Cubs' fan since 1968 and the firing of Rick Renteria was one of the most distasteful episodes in my time as a fan. He deserved much better.
The handling of Rick Renteria was similar to a guy bringing a girl to a dance and then ditching her because he found a prettier girl to dance with. It was totally without ethics. Furthermore, Joe Maddon should have not taken the job if he had any real integrity. It simply wasn't right and this type of thing could come back to haunt him sometime down the road.
To his credit, Rick Renteria refused to take the Cubs reassignment offer and left town with his pride and reputation intact. I'm sure Renteria will manage again in the big leagues because he showed he can do it and do it well.
As for Joe Maddon, he'd better win soon or all his Harry High School rah rah antics will wear thin awful fast!
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