Ron Santo to replace Bob Brenly?

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: Santo's act made for TV move : : : The guessing game over Bob Brenly's possible replacement in the Cubs' TV booth quickly has eclipsed the second-guessing game over who was most responsible for the team's second straight October collapse. : Imagine what it will be like if Brenly beats out Ken Macha and Willie Randolph for the Brewers' managerial job and the Cubs officially begin a search for his replacement. : The possibilities are almost as endless as the number of candidates currently mentioned for the potential opening of a job held by only four men�Steve Stone, Joe Carter, Dave Otto and Brenly�for the last 26 seasons. : Among the names already surfacing in the media are former Cubs Mark Grace, Rick Sutcliffe, Dan Plesac and Darrin Jackson, all of whom have a broadcasting background and, of more importance, the credibility to succeed in a difficult job. : Yet one former Cub whose name hasn't been mentioned not only has vast broadcasting experience, but an insider's perspective that no one can match on the team, the manager, the players and the fans. : Ron Santo, who has spent the last 19 years as the Cubs' radio analyst, would be an obvious choice to swing over to the TV side if Brenly departs for Milwaukee. : You can almost hear the critics howling: "Santo? Oh, nooooo." : Is Santo a self-professed homer? Of course he is. No one lives and dies with the fortunes of the Cubs like Santo. : Does he mangle the English language? Quite frequently, and sometimes quite hilariously. : Is Santo a made-for-TV personality? Did Harry Caray enjoy a cold beer? : Like Caray, a former radio partner, Santo is not adored by one and all, despite attaining iconic status in Chicago. He's not your classic color guy, and it's sometimes hard to tell what he's groaning about while plays are happening, at least until Pat Hughes fills in the blanks with his steady and reassuring play-by-play. : But if Santo became the TV color man, the reasons for his groaning (and cheering) would be more apparent because you actually could see what he was getting so excited about. : Santo, obviously, is not Stone or Brenly, the two men who redefined the role of Cubs TV analyst with honest and often blunt criticism of the players, the managerial strategy and the team itself. Fans who grew up watching Cubs games during the "happy totals" era of Jack Brickhouse valued Stone's pull-no-punches commentary in two stints covering 20 seasons between 1983-2004, and Brenly stepped in to offer a similarly candid approach after replacing Stone in 2005. : Though Santo is considered a homer's homer, there's no doubt he wouldn't hesitate to criticize Alfonso Soriano for a defensive lapse, Kosuke Fukudome for one of his spin-o-rama strikeouts or any middle reliever who walks the first man he faces. While it's true he's over-the-top happy when the Cubs are playing well, Santo's disgust with the team is palpable when they're not. : Manager Lou Piniella often reminds us that baseball is entertainment. If so, the most entertaining choice for Brenly's replacement would be "This Old Cub" himself. : Then the guessing game over Santo's radio replacement could begin in earnest. : : (Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune)

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