Ryne Sandberg has done it again.
Cast aside by the Cubs a year ago, he has turned in another highly successful season as a minor league manager. Sandberg guided the Lehigh Valley IronPigsto the Governor's Cup championship series in the International League, completely turning around the culture of a losing situation.
One of the minor leagues' worst teams the last three years, the Phillies' Triple-A team won 22 more games in 2011 than '10 and then beat the Pawtucket Red Sox in the first round of the playoffs before the Columbus Clippers eliminated Lehigh Valley Friday night.
Sandberg, whom Hall of Fame executive Pat Gillick vetted for the job, drew effusive praise from Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. for his work.
Sandberg has managed five minor league seasons, and delivered only one losing record in his four with the Cubs. He took Double-A Tennessee to the Southern League championship series in 2009 and went 82-62 with Triple-A Iowa in 2010.
Some in Philadelphia believe he's a likely successor to Charlie Manuel as the Phillies' manager — just as many in Chicago thought he would get the job that went to Mike Quade last fall. But Manuel plans to manage at least another two years, and Amaro expects a major league team to nab Sandberg before then.
"Ryne has been outstanding,'' he said. "It's hard for me to find enough superlatives when I talk about what he has done there. … He's a Hall of Famer who doesn't act like a Hall of Famer.
"I think he understands the importance of what he has done in the game. I also think he's very humble about it. The players really liked and enjoyed playing for him. They were motivated to play for him.''
Sandberg was mentioned in several managerial searches last winter, including ones for the Brewers, Pirates and Mariners, but Jim Hendry was the only GM to grant him an interview. He was open to coaching positions in the big leagues but took the job at Lehigh Valley after receiving no such offers.
Amaro gives Sandberg credit for paying his dues in learning how to manage.
We'll know in a couple of weeks how many managerial openings are available for Sandberg and other candidates. The Marlins are in the market, but a lot of other teams could be, including the White Sox and Cubs.
Don't rule out Sandberg returning to the Cubs. His issues over the process a year ago lie with Hendry, not Chairman Tom Ricketts.
"Hey, whatever would be best for Ryne. I have a great deal of respect for him.'' Amaro said. "