Down on the Farm: Pat Listach, Manager of the Iowa Cubs

Throughout the season, Vine Line Online will speak with players, managers and front-office personnel in the minor-league system. Today, "Down on the Farm" checks in with Pat Listach, manager of the Iowa Cubs, about the challenges of managing a Triple-A team. Keep coming to the blog for reports, player profiles, interviews and stories during the week.

Listach_Pat.jpgSince Opening Day, Chicago has made 11 transactions with its Triple-A affiliate, the Iowa Cubs. That is the equivalent of roughly one transaction every four games. The Cubs have had to deal with inconsistent play and injuries, and they have used the I-Cubs as their very own Hans Brinker, the legend who plugged leaks with his thumbs as they appeared. For Iowa manager Listach, the amount of moves can be daunting, but he does everything he can to get his players ready for their chances at the big leagues.

"We have a lot of player movement already, and I think for the most part [our] players are major-league ready. It's our job as a staff down here to make sure they are ready when they go to Chicago," Listach said. "We are not too concerned about winning in Iowa but making sure they get their repetitions in and get their work in so that they are ready when Lou Piniella and his staff up there call for them."

Listach managed at Double-A Tennessee last year and has changed his philosophy a little to better coincide with more experienced players, but he maintains the basics are the same.

"We are still teaching fundamentals and teaching them how to play the game and how to prepare for the game." Listach said. "[But] when you look around and you have a team with Sean Marshall, Rich Hill, Sean Gallagher and Kevin Hart, you approach things a little differently because they've been in the major leagues and they know what they need to do to get back there. [My role is] just being available for them to get their work in."

Even so, long bus rides and years of minor-league play can wear down any seasoned ballplayer, especially at the Triple-A level, where most of the players are in their fourth or fifth seasons. But Listach sees the ivy, red brick and green scoreboard as enough incentive for his players to continue to work hard.

"We've got some three and four o'clock in the morning wakeup calls, and we have to do some things different as far as getting work done on those travel days because everybody's exhausted." Listach said. "[But] at one point we counted that 17 players out of the 24 had been in the major leagues. ... It's pretty easy to motivate when they can see the light at the end of the tunnel."

-- Zach Martin