As Cubs Manager, Michael Changes Direction

CHICAGO — Critics of Chicago Cubs Manager Gene Michael thought he was too laid back in 1986, unwilling to speak out and light a fire under his club.

Look out for Gene Michael, 1987 version.

While Michael is unlikely to turn into an Earl Weaver or Tom Lasorda overnight, he does figure to have a changed image among Cubs’ fans and players this year.

Michael was not a fire and brimstone type of leader in his days with the New York Yankees, but he wasn’t as quiet and docile as he appeared to be during his first few months with the Cubs in 1986.

“Well, you just don’t want to come in and sound like you know it all, either,” Michael said. “Near the end of the season I was more confident with the team and as a manager. I learned who could play and not play.”

Part of the change in Michael has come over a long haul in which he said he has matured and learned to handle people.

“I wish I had been more mature as a player. I really wasn’t until the last five or six years,” said the former major league infielder. “I’m not saying I’m smart now. I understand more. I’m more confident now and more alert.”

A more confident Michael wants to convey that feeling to his players.

“Well, I don’t know if this club had a personality that was identifiable last year. When you win, you know you’ve got a strong personality,” he says. “There was some self doubt on this club, particularly a Rick Sutcliffe. But it’s my job to get the confidence back here.”

There was some speculation at the end of the 1986 season that Cubs President Dallas Green was unhappy with Michael’s low profile approach to managing. Charges were made through the media that Green didn’t want Michael back.

Michael responded angrily, telling Green he didn’t want his status discussed in the newspapers. After a cooling-off period, Green said Michael would be back to finish out the final year of his contract this year.

“That’s behind us. I think it was miscommunication. We talked about it, and it was gone. I ran the spring training my way, and we had no trouble,” he says.

Michael said he isn’t worried about getting axed and has never worried about getting fired throughout his playing, coaching and managing career. Several preseason publications and polls suggested if the Cubs got off to a slow start in April, Michael could be the first manager fired in the majors.

“I’ve never lost any sleep over that. There’s not a lot I can do about it except try and win,” he said. “I worry about it when I read it discussed in the newspaper. No one wants to get fired. I want to manage. It’s a prestigious thing to manage in Chicago and Wrigley Field. I also know you have to win. If we win, I won’t get fired. If we’re a poor club, I’ll get fired.”

Just how good can the Cubs be under Michael? Will they be good enough to prevent him from having the same fate as the man he replaced, Jim Frey?

“Getting Andre Dawson helped us in the outfield. He’s a leader and with his bat No. 3, it takes some of the pressure off the other players,” Michael says. “We’ve got to get some answers on the pitching. We think we’ve got some good young arms and if Sutcliffe and (Steve) Trout pitch like they have in the past, we’re going to be OK.”