I have failed as a journalist. I have succeeded as a fan.

Yesterday, I tweeted about something I heard and had confirmed by a very solid source, stating that Mike Quade would become the manager of the Cubs on a two-year deal, with Ryne Sandberg as his bench coach. On the surface, I’m not sure this works. First, Sandberg’s said “he’s ready” and doesn’t want to go the bench coach route. I’m sure he thinks so (and may well be) on the former and would rather not on the latter. No question about that. 

That said, if the bench coach job is offered, will Sandberg turn it down and if so, would the Triple-A job remain his? Would he be willing to stay at Iowa for a few more years, hoping Quade fails? That’s not a good plan and would assume that Sandberg doesn’t wish the best for the organization he’s been part of most of his life. Someone I trust to the utmost told me I was wrong about both the timing (which I agree with) and the substance (which I don’t). I respect that person enough to tweet out that they said so, however.

I discussed it on The Score 670 and then again on a streaming Chicago sports show today. After that, another person contacted me, saying that I was essentially right, but that Sandberg didn’t want the bench coach job. He said “you should call him.”

And here’s where I failed.

I grew up with a poster of Ryne Sandberg on my wall.

I’ve “met” Sandberg three times. The first was at Wrigley Field, prior to Game 6 of the NLCS. I was standing in a group with Jon Sciambi, Len Kasper, and Al Leiter. We were talking pitching and at some point, someone joined our group, just to my left. You know how you get that sense that someone’s there, see them out of the corner of your eye, but you wait to see who it is until Al Leiter finishes his point? Yeah, that’s what I did and pow, Sandberg. Sciambi said I went ghost white and I know I didn’t get out another word.

Second time, much the same thing. Sandberg was at Wrigley at the same time I was. I couldn’t approach.

Third time, I was at lunch at Harry Caray’s. Steve Stone waves to someone behind me, they walk around to shake his hand, yep, it’s Sandberg. I nod politely, but again, can’t get out a word.

So today when my contact says “you should call him”, he was right. I should. He even offered to give me the number. Guess what? I still can’t. 

Call me a failure if you want, but I’ll stay a fan on this one.