Pinella likes the "challenge" of Cubs Job

[A New Era]

Piniella's not my choice. However I would root for him and give him a chance if he were brought here. He might be dusty like in thought. But his way of managing his players are the polar opposite. He is not a laid back dude. He will go out and chew out an umpire (alot) if he feels the call was not fair to his players. And he will not take slacking. If hiring Piniella means the trib wants to win and goes out and gets some good players Piniella needs. Then I think I could enjoy Piniella's antics on the feild. .

 

I wonder if the lot of you that are criticizing Piniella the same group who also says the manger really doesn't matter all that much, it's the players we get that matters. Or are you two different groups?

[Vinestal]

The same article in the Sun times said this:

 

Hendry and new Cubs interim president John McDonough met with Girardi in what sources say was a long and detailed discussion of the organization and personnel Monday.

 

That seems promising, Id rather have Bochy but Joe's a better choice than Lou.

[Wheelimus]

Perhaps that's why Lou is saying something, he might not feel he's getting the consideration he deserves, and probably wants to drive his price up elsewhere. :D

[frostwyrm]

I knew all along Hendry wanted Lou more than anyone else.

[Geech]

I wonder if the lot of you that are criticizing Piniella the same group who also says the manger really doesn't matter all that much, it's the players we get that matters. Or are you two different groups?

 

The two aren't mutually exclusive. I don't want a clueless manager on the team, even though I know it's unlikely to make a big impact on the team's final standings.

[CUBZ99]

Sign him up already. Hendry must be trying to get his price down.

[A New Era]

I wonder if the lot of you that are criticizing Piniella the same group who also says the manger really doesn't matter all that much, it's the players we get that matters. Or are you two different groups?

 

The two aren't mutually exclusive. I don't want a clueless manager on the team, even though I know it's unlikely to make a big impact on the team's final standings.

 

Yeah I figured that was the case. I don't want him either. But I wouldn't "stop being a cubs fan", if he was hired. .

[USSoccer]

 

I wonder if the lot of you that are criticizing Piniella the same group who also says the manger really doesn't matter all that much, it's the players we get that matters. Or are you two different groups?

 

Managers can't do a ton of good. They can do a ton of harm, though.

[soccer10k]

 

I wonder if the lot of you that are criticizing Piniella the same group who also says the manger really doesn't matter all that much, it's the players we get that matters. Or are you two different groups?

 

Managers can't do a ton of good. They can do a ton of harm, though.

 

Beat me to it.

[A New Era]

 

I wonder if the lot of you that are criticizing Piniella the same group who also says the manger really doesn't matter all that much, it's the players we get that matters. Or are you two different groups?

 

Managers can't do a ton of good. They can do a ton of harm, though.

 

What would Piniella harm? Or in better words, what or who has Piniella provingly harmed in the past?

[Careless]

 

I wonder if the lot of you that are criticizing Piniella the same group who also says the manger really doesn't matter all that much, it's the players we get that matters. Or are you two different groups?

 

Managers can't do a ton of good. They can do a ton of harm, though.

 

What would Piniella harm? Or in better words, what or who has Piniella provingly harmed in the past?

While I'm not up on tbe actions of AL managers several years in the past, check out the plate appearances of various TB players when he was managing. Specifically vets vs rooks.

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

 

I wonder if the lot of you that are criticizing Piniella the same group who also says the manger really doesn't matter all that much, it's the players we get that matters. Or are you two different groups?

 

Managers can't do a ton of good. They can do a ton of harm, though.

 

What would Piniella harm? Or in better words, what or who has Piniella provingly harmed in the past?

 

Running into needless outs. Bunting when the player is a good hitter who could drive a double into a gap. Riding a starter to long or certain pitchers in the pen when up or down big. Creating a lineup by where a player plays rather than skill sets.

 

You know all the things that Baker did while he was here.

[A New Era]

 

I wonder if the lot of you that are criticizing Piniella the same group who also says the manger really doesn't matter all that much, it's the players we get that matters. Or are you two different groups?

 

Managers can't do a ton of good. They can do a ton of harm, though.

 

What would Piniella harm? Or in better words, what or who has Piniella provingly harmed in the past?

 

Running into needless outs. Bunting when the player is a good hitter who could drive a double into a gap. Riding a starter to long or certain pitchers in the pen when up or down big. Creating a lineup by where a player plays rather than skill sets.

 

You know all the things that Baker did while he was here.

 

And some of the things he didn't do. But I see your point.

[chuckywang]

Can someone explain to me why Uncle Lou would be so horrible. Looking at stats from the 2000 to 2002 seasons, it seems he had lots of high OBP boys in his lineup: Arod, Edgar Martinez (a fine hitter in his day), Ichiro, Mark McClemore, Mike Cameron...

 

Those are some fine hitters. I'm just asking, not trying to start an argument here. I would however, make the argument, that a little fire in the clubhouse and in the public (aka Leyland) would somehow benefit this team.

 

I don't care who manages them, if they don't get the players, it won't matter

From what I've heard, he was lucky to have so many good players on his team, and regularly mocks the use of statistics in baseball.

 

Just listen to him provide color commentary during the Oakland series. RISP, hit and runs, stolen bases-these are the things he favors. He mocked OBP and had no idea what WHIP was.

 

Sounds like Dusty all over again. I'd rather have a manager than knows about the numbers.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bruce seems to think Piniella is the choice as well.

 

Link.

 

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry spent much of Wednesday traveling to Arizona, where he will interview Pat Listach and Bob Brenly about the Cubs’ vacant managerial job.

 

Both men are considered longshots for the job, a position that looks more and more like it has Lou Piniella’s name written all over it.

 

[Pinktermite]

I guess in the end I fail to see why Uncle Lou would be a poor choice to manage this rag tag pack of losers. He has a good track record and while you could beat me over the head with all these fancy statistics most of you guys like to use, I nevertheless feel we could do way worse than hire this guy...

[biittner77]

The Case for Piniella:

 

He's a proven winner that will be a strict disciplinarian to light a fire under the team when necessary.

 

During the playoff telecasts he's said some very mixed things. He doesn't pay attention to stats but seems to have an understanding of some important concepts:

 

-He likes it when guys get on base

 

"Sooner or later these baserunners (for Oakland are going to score)

 

- I was also struck by this comment

 

"You have to manage the team that you have. Ken Macha doesn't have guys that can bunt or steal bases so they don't do much of that"

 

The Case against Piniella:

 

He has shown an almost criminal preference for veteran players. At his age he would prefer a veteran team yet the Cubs look to be very young even if they bring in 2 veteran bats. He doesn't pay much attention to stats which means he'd be a lot like the last 2 Cubs' managers.

 

On a team that going into the season is expected to finish last, how can you possibly justify playing mediocre- terrible vets over raw but talented rookies?

 

Piniella's not my first choice but I don't believe he'll be the disaster that everyone fears- unless of course Hendry goes Ed Lynch on us and strip mines the farm system to save his job. Hendry may or may not do that anyway regardless of who's managing the Cubs.

[E.J.]

In typical Cubs' fashion, it looks like they are going to do the exact opposite thing I want them to do and hire Piniella. I just wish the Cubs would start realizing that stats are important. :x

[CUBZ99]

The Case for Piniella:

 

He's a proven winner that will be a strict disciplinarian to light a fire under the team when necessary.

 

During the playoff telecasts he's said some very mixed things. He doesn't pay attention to stats but seems to have an understanding of some important concepts:

 

-He likes it when guys get on base

 

"Sooner or later these baserunners (for Oakland are going to score)

 

- I was also struck by this comment

 

"You have to manage the team that you have. Ken Macha doesn't have guys that can bunt or steal bases so they don't do much of that"

 

The Case against Piniella:

 

He has shown an almost criminal preference for veteran players. At his age he would prefer a veteran team yet the Cubs look to be very young even if they bring in 2 veteran bats. He doesn't pay much attention to stats which means he'd be a lot like the last 2 Cubs' managers.

 

On a team that going into the season is expected to finish last, how can you possibly justify playing mediocre- terrible vets over raw but talented rookies?

 

Piniella's not my first choice but I don't believe he'll be the disaster that everyone fears- unless of course Hendry goes Ed Lynch on us and strip mines the farm system to save his job. Hendry may or may not do that anyway regardless of who's managing the Cubs.

 

I was also impressed on his insights to the pitchers. He was pretty upset when Verlander was trying to be too perfect with a lead.

 

"Just through strikes and let the defense behind you do their job."

[Soul]

I knew all along Hendry wanted Lou more than anyone else.

 

It certainly looks like you were right.

 

Could this be another piece of the Hendry M.O.? Hire a high-profile, well-known manager to take all the heat away from the poor personnel decisions.

[soapy]

regardless of who he hires, i'm not sure Hendry can escape the scrutiny much longer. there are already people saying it's not Dusty's fault b/c the gm didn't bring in the right players. now everyone in this chain of command (manager, gm, pres) is new except hendry. if things continue the way they have, he will certainly been seen as a problem.

[frostwyrm]

I knew all along Hendry wanted Lou more than anyone else.

 

It certainly looks like you were right.

 

Could this be another piece of the Hendry M.O.? Hire a high-profile, well-known manager to take all the heat away from the poor personnel decisions.

I think it's more a case of risk avoidance. Since Jim is on the hot seat he doesn't want his bosses to see him take a chance on anyone who's not a big name and "proven". If the team disappoints again Jim can say he got the most provenest manager on the market, so the choice of manager was not to blame. Also I just think Jim is a sucker for big names and big reputations.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I knew all along Hendry wanted Lou more than anyone else.

 

It certainly looks like you were right.

 

Could this be another piece of the Hendry M.O.? Hire a high-profile, well-known manager to take all the heat away from the poor personnel decisions.

I think it's more a case of risk avoidance. Since Jim is on the hot seat he doesn't want his bosses to see him take a chance on anyone who's not a big name and "proven". If the team disappoints again Jim can say he got the most provenest manager on the market, so the choice of manager was not to blame. Also I just think Jim is a sucker for big names and big reputations.

 

I think the last statement there sums everything up.

[Scott G. F.]

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT MANAGER....YOU'LL LOOK A LONG TIME!!!

 

Lou has his faults as does Girardi. I'd be happy with either.

 

What I see Lou brings in over Girardi is that fact of his past. He has won the big one. He isn't caught up in the Cubs curse crap. Girardi grew up here and is a Cubs fan, which to me is a bad thing.

 

The agruements on this thread are kind of nit-picky.

 

If Lou is the choice then that to me is a good sign. It means that Hendry will not wilt to public perseption of whom they want on the job. Hendry has to make the hard decisions this being the very most critical.

 

Lou has a following. A-Rod, Ichiro, to name two. 2 men I'd love to see wearing Cubbie blue.

 

Quite Frankly they could hire Sammy Sosa to manage, Grace as first base coach, Sandberg at thrid and Steve Stone as pitching coach as long as they win the WS then who gives a crap!!!

[JWCUB]

I knew all along Hendry wanted Lou more than anyone else.

 

It certainly looks like you were right.

 

Could this be another piece of the Hendry M.O.? Hire a high-profile, well-known manager to take all the heat away from the poor personnel decisions.

I think it's more a case of risk avoidance. Since Jim is on the hot seat he doesn't want his bosses to see him take a chance on anyone who's not a big name and "proven". If the team disappoints again Jim can say he got the most provenest manager on the market, so the choice of manager was not to blame. Also I just think Jim is a sucker for big names and big reputations.

 

I think the last statement there sums everything up.

 

Too bad that doesn't ring true for players as well. :evil: