Chicago Cubs hire Dale Sveum as new manager

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The Chicago Cubs hired Dale Sveum as their manager Thursday. Sveum replaces Mike Quade, who was fired by Theo Epstein, the team’s new president of baseball operations. The Cubs finished 71-91 after a disappointing season that extended their infamous championship drought to 103 seasons.

Sveum has little experience as a manager, other than an interim stint for the Brewers late in 2008 after Ned Yost’s firing. He also served as Boston’s third-base coach when Epstein was the general manager.

Sveum also interviewed for the Red Sox manager’s vacancy and met a second time this week with officials from the Cubs and Boston.

‘I do my due diligence and video work and prepare as much as anybody,’ Sveum said. ‘As far as the stats, those are what they are, and we can use them to our advantage. It’s a big part of the game now.’

Sveum, who played 12 seasons with the Brewers and six other teams, did well in his limited run as Milwaukee’s manager in 2008. After Ned Yost was fired in September, Sveum led the Brewers to their first playoff appearance in 26 years, winning six of seven down the stretch.

Milwaukee then decided to hire a more experienced manager in the off-season and went with Ken Macha, who lasted two seasons. Sveum stayed on as the hitting coach.

The Cubs will have a news conference Friday to formally introduce Sveum.

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-- Houston Mitchell

The Associated Press contributed to this report.