Mike Quade hasn't interviewed for the Cubs' managing position yet and doesn't know when that interview will take place.

Quade was given the interim position over bench coach Allan Trammell because he was considered a candidate for the full-time position and he's certainly done nothing to disappoint since.

General manager Jim Hendry is keeping his mouth shut about the selection process -- not just to the press apparently, but to Quade, as well.

"I really am in day-to-day mode," Quade told the Chicago Tribune 's Paul Sullivan . "I'll manage here these three days and finish up. I'm in no worry to leave Chicago. I do want to catch a fish, but I'll be there several days. I've talked so much about the process, that process will take care of itself, too. I'm flexible as can be.

"When that conversation happens, if anyone needs me, I'm always available, whether I'm in Florida or whether I'm in Chicago."

Quade was considered a longshot when he took over the club. After leading the team to a 22-12 recur since taking over, he's become a favorite, along with Cubs legend Ryne Sanberg.

The Cubs have said they'd like a manager in place before the organizational meetings begin the first week of November.

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

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If you want to manage the Cubs, you must understand that you're doomed to fail. Or at least that's what new owner Tom Ricketts said on Thursday.

At a lunch panel in Chicago, Ricketts said any manager would have to understand what makes being the Cubs manager different than any other job.

"We have to have a manager who really understands what it is to be the Cubs manager, the pressure, the scrutiny you get and be able to handle those periods in June when you lose three games in a row and people start talking about Year 103 of the curse," Ricketts said, according to the Chicago Tribune . "We have to have someone who understands what they're getting into."

That would seem to be a good sign for Ryne Sandberg -- or Sisyphus.

Ricketts also said he wanted a manager who is willing to coach the fundamentals and is committed to a long-term future in Chicago.

"I think that we're going to bring in someone who has in their mind that this is their job and their position forever," Ricketts said.

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

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Ryne Sandberg may want to send an updated resume to Jim Hendry.

Sandberg has been named the PCL Manager of the Year, quite an accomplishment for someone in his first season managing Triple-A.

The fan favorite to be Chicago's new skipper has an 80-60 record and has the Iowa Cubs tied for first place with four games to go. Sandberg did so by not only crafting strong seasons out of his players, but losing some to the majors such as Thomas Diamond and Darwin Barney.

Hendry has been speaking to Sandberg the last few days about organizational matters as well as the opening at Cubs manager, which Lou Piniella vacated in August, retiring early to tend to his ailing mother. Hendry has said there is currently no front-runner. Eric Wedge has already been interviewed for the posts and there are other candidates known, such as Fredi Gonzalez.

Sandberg has spent four seasons managing, and most recently took the Double-A squad to a second-half division title in 2009.

-- Evan Brunell

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Add Eric Wedge to the list of candidates for the open Chicago Cubs managerial position.

The Chicago Tribune reports Cubs general manager Jim Hendry had dinner with Wedge last night and spent all day with him today in a "thorough interview process."

Wedge becomes the second "known" candidate, along with interim manager Mike Quade. Ryne Sandberg, the Hall of Fame Cubs second baseman and current Triple-A manager, has thrown his name into the ring and it's assumed he'll be a candidate. Other names thought to be in contention are former Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez, Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly, Yankees manager Joe Girardi and Nationals coach Pat Listach. Listach interviewed for the job in 2006, as did Girardi.

It's not surprising the Cubs are moving this fast on their decision, but still don't expect any final choice anytime soon. If Girardi is a legitimate candidate and if they do have real interest, he's unlikely to have much time before late October to go through a similar "thorough interview process."

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter or subscribe to the RSS feed .

Apparently Alan Trammell failed his audition with the Cubs.

With Lou Piniella retiring after today's game, the team has announced Mike Quade as the team's interim manager.

Quade is the team's third base coach, while Trammell serves as the bench coach. Trammell had served as the team's manager during several absences by Pinella this season. So why is Quade taking over full-time on Monday?

Because he's a candidate for the full-time gig and Trammell's not, general manager Jim Hendry told reporters (via the Chicago Sun-Times ).

"Alan's terrific and an outstanding coach," Hendry said. "The last few weeks I've made the decision Alan won't be a candidate for the managerial job. He understood. The decision I made is if he wasn't going to be the manager, we'd be better served not having him be managing the rest of the year."

Quade joined Piniella's staff in 2007 after serving as the manager at Triple-A Iowa from 2003-06.

Trammell managed the Tigers from 2003-05 and went 186-300, including an American League-record 119-loss season in his first year with Detroit.

Trammell is similar to the person many think is the leader to take over the Cubs next season -- Ryne Sandberg.

Both were beloved players and arguably had Hall of Fame careers (Sandberg is in, Trammell is not, and there are good arguments on either side).

Sandberg is currently the manager in Iowa and leading the team to the playoffs. He's paid his dues managing, working his way up in the Cubs system from Class A Peoria in 2007, to Double-A Tennessee in 2009 and Iowa this season.

Trammell had served as a major league coach before taking over the Tigers, but hadn't managed before taking over the Tigers.

Would Cubs fans be quick to turn on one of their legends? Or would they give him the benefit of the doubt before turning on him? In the end, would it hurt his legacy as one of the team's all-time greats? If he doesn't get the job, Cubs fans may be equally upset.

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.

If the Chicago Cubs want to take some advice from a St. Louis Cardinal on who should succeed Lou Piniella, shortstop Ozzie Smith has the name: Ryne Sandberg.

"He has paid his dues. He has been a standup citizen. He is a Hall of Famer," Smith told the Quad-City Times . "I don't know exactly what it is they are looking for, but I think it should be a no-brainer."

Sandberg managed Class A Peoria for two seasons starting in 2007 then was elevated to Double-A for 2009 and is now helming Triple-A Iowa.

"Wouldn't it be great if he were to come back and get that franchise into prominence and, who knows, win a world championship?" Smith said. "Wouldn't that be a great story?"

Sure, but it'll be great no matter who's in the dugout.

Sandberg is fast becoming the popular choice to take over the team, although GM Jim Hendry plans to interview a bevy of candidates who will provide stiff competition. ESPNChicago.com noted that Hendry will interview over 15 candidates.

Some names include former Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez, Nationals third-base coach Pat Listach  and Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who is slated to have his contract expire after the year. Girardi's predecessor in New York, Joe Torre, has also been linked heavily to the Cubs gig along with Cubs announcer and ex-Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly, Padres bench coach Ted Simmons (who is drawing the eye of the Marlins) and constant candidate Bobby Valentine.

-- Evan Brunell

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.

Ryne Sandberg is apparently not going to play coy. He wants to be the next manager of the Cubs.

Appearing on a radio show in Chicago, Sandberg did not mince words when asked whether he is prepared to take over when Lou Piniella retires at the end of the year. The Hall of Fame second baseman is managing the Cubs' Triple-A team.

"I am ready. I sure am. [After] four years of managing at the minor league level, I'm ready for a major league job, and I'm ready to win," Sandberg said. "The reason I went this route was to manage, not to coach.

"There is a lot to managing, and with almost four years under my belt, I believe I'm ready. I'm not interested in on-the-job learning or on-the-job training. At this point, I'm interested in winning ballgames at the major league level."

Given the disappointment surrounding the Cubs, and his legendary status among Cubs fans, Sandberg has to be considered the front-runner for the job. But general manager Jim Hendry told reporters Wednesday that he's not rushing into anything.

"One of the advantages of the way we're doing it, and with Lou announcing that he was going to retire, is that we're going to take our time," Hendry said. "This process is going to take a couple of months. ... It will be a long and very intense search. A lot of people will be considered."

A source told ESPNChicago.com that the Cubs will interview former Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez, who has a history with Hendry. Gonzalez has been rumored to be the favorite to replace the retiring Bobby Cox in Atlanta.

-- David Andriesen

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.

Now that Lou Piniella has announced he will retire at season's end, who is next to manage the Cubs?

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune has a quick list of candidates : Ryne Sanberg, Joe Girardi, Bob Brenly, Joe Torre and Alan Trammell.

Girardi is the longest of shots, there is little reason for the former Cubs catcher to leave the Yankees for Chicago's North Side. The Cubs can't offer him more money or a better chance to win. Girardi will likely manage the Cubs at some point down the line, but it won't be in 2011.

Torre, Sullivan writes, is a real possibility. His contract with the Dodgers runs out after the season.

Brenly is in the Cubs' broadcast booth, and that job is less stressful and has a better prognosis for long-term employment. Brenly managed the Diamondbacks to the 2001 World Series title and was 303-262 in parts of four seasons. He was let go after a 29-50 start in 2004.

Trammell is the current Cubs bench coach and has managed the Tigers and is liked by Jim Hendry, Sullivan reports. Trammell was 186-300 in three seasons with the Tigers from 2003-05.

Sandberg is the likely choice. He would create excitement among an aggravated fanbase, is a Cubs legend, understands what he's getting into and has also paid his dues in the minor leagues in a way many Hall of Famers would see as beneath them.

Sandberg is currently managing Triple-A Iowa and has also managed Class A Peoria and Double-A Tennessee.

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.