Dale Sveum’s the name for Cubs

Dale Sveum’s the name for Cubs

MILWAUKEE — He likes his motorcycle, has big tattoos on his arms and once got ejected from the dugout — as a hitting coach — after a game in 2009. And, according to the Milwaukee Brewers media guide, he goes by the nickname of ‘‘Nuts.’’

And if you knew even that much about Dale Sveum, you’re way ahead of the guy who was his boss the last six years.

‘‘His nickname is ‘Nuts’?’’ Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. ‘‘I’m not touching that one.’’

As for what kind of manager he might be in Chicago — and what kind of chance he has of managing all three years of his new Cubs contract, much less the 2015 option year — good luck figuring that out based on the scant track record and underdeveloped reputation.

Which, of course, was a major part of the point when new team president Theo Epstein and new general manager Jed Hoyer took on their first major hiring process a few weeks ago.

Not counting Mike Quade’s one-year tenure, the new manager the Cubs will unveil at a news conference Friday marks a significant and intentional break from more than a decade of strong-voiced, experienced, big-name managers on the North Side (from Don Baylor to Dusty Baker and Lou Piniella).

Sveum, the Brewers’ hitting coach who spent 2004 and 2005 with Epstein and Hoyer in Boston as the Red Sox’ third-base coach, has exactly 12 games of regular-season, big-league managing experience (plus four games in a first-round playoff loss) in 2008.

And that’s more than most of the candidates who were interviewed. Which fits a new organizational philosophy under Epstein that requires the manager to be part of the existing vision instead of being handed the keys to drive a new direction.

Dale Sveum’s the name for Cubs