Cubs Desperately Need Girardi

In terms of historic futility there is not a team in the world better than the Chicago Cubs. Frequently regarded as the "Lovable Losers," the Cubs aren't as cuddly as they once were. Over the last four years there have been three different managers and attendance has declined for the past five seasons. The front office continues their efforts to rebuild the franchise, but the results thus far have been horrid. As another managerial search begins, Chicago must do anything to make Joe Girardi their man.

The Cubs recently put a bow on their 66-96 season which was good for last place in the National League Central division. The team lost 50 games at the Friendly Confines and it all concluded with Dale Sveum being shown the door on Monday. Now, the Cubs look to be going after New York Yankees' manager Joe Girardi. Girardi is an Illinois native who graduated from Northwestern and played for the Cubs.

His contract with the Yankees doesn't end until October 31 and New York is hesitant to allow him to meet with the Cubs. Theo Epstein and the Chicago front office better have their best sales pitch ready if/when they do meet with Girardi because he's about the only respectable candidate out there for Chicago.

There are reports that if the Cubs don't land Girardi then they will go after A.J. Hinch. You might ask, "Who is A.J. Hinch?" Well, let me tell you. He played seven years in the league and has managed 212 for the Arizona Diamondbacks. During that short stint he went 89-123 and currently works in the San Diego Padres front office. That is not the kind of guy the Cubs need at this point.

If we're honest then even the most faithful of Cubs fans can admit that the manager doesn't matter much at this point. The Cubs stink. That's what it really comes down to. This is a young, inexperienced team with a star player that is all sorts of confused with his approach at the plate and forgot how to hit the ball. Whether the next manager is Girardi, Hinch or someone else they will all be given the same tools and let's just say the tool shed is pretty bare.

Yet the Cubs need Girardi because he is proven, he is a man of discipline and he knows winning. The former Cub was the Manager of the Year in 2006 while with the Marlins and then led the Yankees to their 27th World Series title in 2009. He's the only man with any credibility that is available and would be a great manager for the young Cub team.

Chicago will still be rebuilding and will probably still endure some rough seasons with Girardi, but they will make progress. Improvement is the key to rebuilding and the lack of improvement is why Sveum is gone. Girardi is the man for the job and the Cubs must do whatever it takes to lure him away from the Big Apple.

If they can't then don't expect the current situation to improve any time soon.