Cubs hire Sveum as manager

Get ready to get used to pronouncing that last name.

Dale Sveum, whose name I've probobly misprounounced in every conversation I've had about him during the past few days, is your new Cubs manager, according to the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan and the Daily Herald's Bruce Miles, among others, on Twitter. Sullivan says Sveum, who is leaving his post as hitting coach for the Brewers, will receive a three-year deal with an option for 2015.

After the Cubs had completed their round of interviews, I'd have identified Mike Maddux as the favorite for the job, with Sveum probably second over Sandy Alomar Jr. and Pete Mackanin. Then I heard rumors early this week that Sveum was likely to land with the Red Sox. I should've known that meant he'd end up in Chicago, since the cool new thing for the Cubs to do is take guys away from Boston. Last night, news broke that the Cubs had offered the job to Sveum; he signed on today, and a news conference is planned for tomorrow morning to make it more than Twitterly official.

I'm not exactly bowled over by the hire, but I'm fine with it, though I'm not expecting any 2012 miracles. Sveum has paid his dues, having coached in the Pirates' minor-league system from 2001 to 2003, third base for the Red Sox in 2004 and 2005 and in multiple capacities for the Brewers the last several years. Among his roles in Milwaukee was interim manager late in 2008. He is also a former player.

It's a good direction to go for a team that's a year or two away. Sveum isn't the Lou Piniella or Dusty Baker type of big-name, experienced managerial hire, but he's not a Mike Quade-esque nobody, either. He might be the hottest name out there among guys that haven't managed before.

If you're expecting immediate results, of if you're expecting Sveum to use his hitting-coach expertise to turn Darwin Barney and Bryan LaHair into Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, you're going to be disappointed. If you're expecting a guy that brings a good track record to possibly grow into being an excellent manager for a Cubs team that will compete in 2013 and 2014, there is a good chance you will get what you want in Sveum. Here's hoping so.