Cubs: Highlights, questions and Quade

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As the Cubs closed out a fifth-place season with all eyes on 2011, players lined up to endorse interim manager Mike Quade for the full-time job after Manager Q's 24-13 reign became the highlight of an otherwise tumultuous, circus-like, disappointing season. ''To say we want to build on this, absolutely,'' Quade said as the season closed Sunday. ''But talk doesn't get it done.''

QUESTIONS

1. Will Joe Girardi become available and be a candidate to manage the Cubs before the team makes its call- That might be the only thing left standing between Mike Quade and the full-time gig.

2. Is this a last-chance winter for GM Jim Hendry, who has two years left on his contract, to right two wrong-way seasons- Chairman Tom Ricketts has pledged his support, and Hendry said he's putting no more pressure on himself to win than he does any year.

3. How much did September mean- The Cubs might be forced to make several important personnel decisions based on the often deceptive results of September/October, when they went 19-10 with high levels of production from a lot of young players. ''Anybody who says it doesn't matter in September, they couldn't be more wrong,'' Hendry said.

4. Will Hendry have much money to work with in making significant acquisitions this winter- If not, can the Cubs cobble together a competitive team with mere tweaks to the roster- Ricketts says payroll will go down ''slightly'' from the Opening Day total of $146 million. How much is ''slightly''-

5. How will the Cubs replace Derrek Lee/Xavier Nady at first base, the only open starting job in the field- Don't count on pricey free agent Adam Dunn.

QUOTABLE

''The dietician doesn't get any base hits. The psychiatrist -- I haven't seen him hit a two-run homer yet. ... You've got to play on the field.''

* Manager Lou Piniella, April 11, on the Cubs adding those specialists to the organization this year

''He's a Masters player.''

* Piniella, April 10, on the traditionally hot April hitting of Kosuke Fukudome, who also hit well late this season to finish with several offensive career highs

''This makes all the sense in the world.''

* Piniella, April 21, after executing what GM Jim Hendry called an ''organizational decision'' to move Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen

''We're going to go to the playoffs. You can mark the day I said it, today.''

* Marlon Byrd, May 17

''This is all we need. We try to hide the crazy. Now it's a crazy team.''

* Alfonso Soriano, June 25, in the aftermath of Zambrano's dugout tirade caught on camera at U.S. Cellular Field

''It's a tired act.''

* Hendry, June 25, upon suspending Zambrano for the outburst

''I've seen more crazy sh-- since I've been here than I've seen anywhere else in my career.''

* Veteran Cubs player, June 25, after Zambrano tirade

''It's a good day to remember, and also it's a good day to forget.''

* An emotional Piniella, after his final game Aug. 22, a loss to the Braves by the same 16-5 score the Cubs lost by to the same team on Opening Day

''Outstanding.''

* Hendry, Sept. 23, on the job Mike Quade did managing in place of Piniella

''I'm not overly pessimistic or overly optimistic.''

* Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly, a former World Series-winning manager, Sept. 25, on the 2011 team as he announced he had pulled his name from consideration for the managing job

QUANTITY

The Cubs have about $102 million tied up in nine contracts for 2011, with seven more players eligible for arbitration this winter:

Player

2011 salary

Through

Alfonso Soriano

$18 million

2014

Carlos Zambrano

17.875 mill

2012*

Aramis Ramirez

14.6 million

2011*

Ryan Dempster

13.5 million

2011*

Kosuke Fukudome

13.5 million

2011

Carlos Silva

11.5 million

2011*

Marlon Byrd

5.5 million

2012

John Grabow

4.8 million

2011

Jeff Samardzija

2.8 million

2011*

**Note: Cubs to receive $5.5 million from Seattle Mariners in 2011 in second of two cash payments as part of last year's Milton Bradley-Silva trade.

QUALITY

The Cubs' best from a disappointing 2010 season:

* Team MVP: Sean Marshall, setup reliever (7-5, 2.65, 80 games). The lefty was the team's most consistent pitcher all season -- starting with outpitching the field in a spring rotation battle -- and eventually nailing down the eighth-inning role that bedeviled the bullpen early. Honorable mention: Carlos Marmol, Marlon Byrd.

* Team Cy Young: Ryan Dempster (15-12, 3.85, 215 1/3 innings). Marshall was invaluable for holding together the pen, but Dempster, whose 23 quality starts were two off the league lead, was one of only two Cubs with more than 23 starts (also Randy Wells), a huge factor in holding the rotation together for much of the season. Honorable mention: Marshall, Marmol.

* Rookie of the Year: Starlin Castro, shortstop (.300, 31 doubles, 27 errors). The 20-year-old with a stunning six-RBI debut May 7 became the first Cubs rookie to hit .300 since Bill Madlock in 1974. HM: Tyler Colvin, Andrew Cashner.

* Manager of the Year: Mike Quade. Lou Piniella's emergency replacement seemed to make all the right moves in a 24-13 finish that might have won him the full-time job. Honorable mention: Piniella, Alan Trammell.

(S)QUASHED

As fast as Carlos Zambrano finished the season -- going 8-0 with a 1.41 ERA in 11 post-anger-therapy starts -- he couldn't seem to exit the Wrigley Field parking lot fast enough Monday, the day after the season, reportedly running his car into a garbage truck and causing significant damage to the luxury ride. No injuries were reported.