Williams Enshrined, Castro Benched, Cubs Lose
Sweet Swingin' Billy Williams was enshrined on Addison and Sheffield Tuesday. A bronze statue of his likeness was unveiled in front of his fans, his teamates and Cubs' ownership. The crowd heard a who's-who list of Cubs legends--including Ron Santo, Ernie Banks and Fergie Jenkins-- recount their experiences with the Hall-of-Fame outfielder.
Williams had his day in the sun but a current Cub spent his day in the shade--or at least the game. Starlin Castro sat a second consecutive game as his benching by Cubs manager Mike Quade continues. Monday Quade told reporters that Castro would sit a few days to "reflect" on his play; this stemming from a pair of mental mistakes in the Cubs loss to the Mets on Sunday.
Quade, asked whether he'd deal with a veteran in the same manner, said, "Everything is different. ... You may challenge a veteran more. There's no question that you handle veterans versus young players in different ways. Arguably, some of the lapses in concentration that [Castro] has had... it's just got 'youth' written all over it"
Being an interim manager Quade was also asked whether his decision to bench Castro was done independent of management. "Anytime you do something like this," Quade said, "or ... make a serious lineup change that has somebody not playing for reasons just performance-wise... it's just not in my nature just to do it and not talk to Jim [Hendry] or Randy [Bush] or my staff and say 'Look, this is what I'm thinking.'"
Quade did go on to say that Hendry backed his decision all the way. Should Quade have his interim tag removed when Hendry makes his decision about the next manager of the Cubs, it seems the "Castro Benching" may have quite a bit of influence. Make no mistake. Quade is killing two birds with one stone. He is able to make a swift and decisive correction in a young, exceptionally gifted, player at a meaningful time and assert his managerial ethics and mindset.
Quade is clearing showing Cubs brass, and fans, what life with him as a manager would be like--take it or leave it.
