Let's meet Pete Mackanin

With the manager search in full swing, I thought it would be a good time to learn a little more about what seems like the first cadidate to be interviewed for the freshly vacated managerial position, Pete Mackanin.

After extensive research on wikipedia, I found out that Pete was born in Chicago in 1951. He was drafted in 1969 by the perennial powerhouse Washington Senators, and debuted in 1973 at second base. He boasts gaudy career stats of a .226 BA, 30 HRs, and 141 RBIs in almost 600 games played. 

As for his coaching career, that's when things started looking a little better for him. After a couple minor league stints, he became bench coach for the Pirates in 2003, learning all he could from legendary manager Lloyd McClendon. More specifically, Lloyd passed on fundamental base stealing strategy to Pete that we hope he can instill in the Cubs should he be chosen for the job.

Pete then moved on to the Reds system, where was hired as a scout and eventually interim manager when Jerry Narron was fired. He was not hired for the permanent gig, and was instead passed over for what is a very familiar face, Dusty Baker. 

Now I know what you're all thinking. You must not be a very good coach if you get passed over for Dusty. You're probably right. What we know so far about Pete is that he coached under a guy who ripped a base out of the dirt and took off with it after getting ejected, and was passed over for a manager job for the guy who ran Mark Prior's and Kerry Wood's arms into the ground. Pete may in fact be the manager of the team after Mike Maddux inevitably signs with Boston when John Henry offers him double what Theo offers as a final "fuck you." From what it sounds like he could just fit right in. Not really sure how his hiring would coincide with the whole "changing the mentality of the club to a winner" idea but I guess that's why Epstein is making the big decisions and I write snide blogs about them.