Piniella doesn't like giving up outs...

[C.C.]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070318cubs,1,6312260.story?page=1&coll=chi-sportstop-hed

 

"No, no, no," Piniella said when asked about sacrificing in the first inning on a cold day. "I like to bunt more, believe it or not, when we have a lead so we can add on. I like those situations better than any other time.

 

"I've never really bunted early. I'm going to run, hit-and-run, steal, double steal, but I don't like the idea of bunting early in a game. Late in the game with a 3-2 lead, 4-2 lead, you get the first couple of runners on, you're looking to tack on, I like the bunt then."

 

Sounds good to me!

[Banedon]

Not so big on the stealing part of that, but hey...baby steps.

[CubColtPacer]

Not so big on the stealing part of that, but hey...baby steps.

 

I like that it is Piniella who is advocating stealing though-he is one of the best at getting a good stolen base percentage out of his team. He is one of the managers who can make the stolen base have value to a ballclub by keeping the percentage high.

[BigSlick]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070318cubs,1,6312260.story?page=1&coll=chi-sportstop-hed

 

"No, no, no," Piniella said when asked about sacrificing in the first inning on a cold day. "I like to bunt more, believe it or not, when we have a lead so we can add on. I like those situations better than any other time.

 

"I've never really bunted early. I'm going to run, hit-and-run, steal, double steal, but I don't like the idea of bunting early in a game. Late in the game with a 3-2 lead, 4-2 lead, you get the first couple of runners on, you're looking to tack on, I like the bunt then."

 

Sounds good to me!

 

According to my BP book "Baseball Between the Numbers" bunting for one run is actually more valuable when you have a lead, so, not really a bad decision there.

 

The idea that he's going to be aggressive on the basepaths worries me though. Stealing in general isn't really a positive play to make.

[RynoRules]

I am starting to feel better about some of my earlier reservations where Lou is concerned. I especially like his comment about Cotts in today's paper.

[10man]

Piniella sure does talk a good game and i'm hoping that how he talks now will be a reflection on how well the team ends up performing.

[Mizzou]

I like that approach.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Sounds good to me...except I hate the Hit and Run :evil:

[Mizzou]

Sounds good to me...except I hate the Hit and Run :evil:

I love the hit and run. When it's executed properly, it's one of my favorite things to see. I love seeing a grounder that gets through because the second baseman is running to cover second.

[Ivy Walls]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070318cubs,1,6312260.story?page=1&coll=chi-sportstop-hed

 

"No, no, no," Piniella said when asked about sacrificing in the first inning on a cold day. "I like to bunt more, believe it or not, when we have a lead so we can add on. I like those situations better than any other time.

 

"I've never really bunted early. I'm going to run, hit-and-run, steal, double steal, but I don't like the idea of bunting early in a game. Late in the game with a 3-2 lead, 4-2 lead, you get the first couple of runners on, you're looking to tack on, I like the bunt then."

 

 

Baseball played over 160+ games is all about playing the percentages against your core competency. Double stealing tells me that today's lineup of Theriot batting 2nd will be seen often. Now with DeRosa or Murton batting second with Soriano you can see hit and run or run and hit.

 

But good to screw the bunt for a single run early

[rocket]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070318cubs,1,6312260.story?page=1&coll=chi-sportstop-hed

 

"No, no, no," Piniella said when asked about sacrificing in the first inning on a cold day. "I like to bunt more, believe it or not, when we have a lead so we can add on. I like those situations better than any other time.

 

"I've never really bunted early. I'm going to run, hit-and-run, steal, double steal, but I don't like the idea of bunting early in a game. Late in the game with a 3-2 lead, 4-2 lead, you get the first couple of runners on, you're looking to tack on, I like the bunt then."

 

Sounds good to me!

 

According to my BP book "Baseball Between the Numbers" bunting for one run is actually more valuable when you have a lead, so, not really a bad decision there.

 

The idea that he's going to be aggressive on the basepaths worries me though. Stealing in general isn't really a positive play to make.

 

If I remember correctly, in that book they had a list of how efficient a manager is, and Lou was close to the top of the list.

[BigSlick]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070318cubs,1,6312260.story?page=1&coll=chi-sportstop-hed

 

"No, no, no," Piniella said when asked about sacrificing in the first inning on a cold day. "I like to bunt more, believe it or not, when we have a lead so we can add on. I like those situations better than any other time.

 

"I've never really bunted early. I'm going to run, hit-and-run, steal, double steal, but I don't like the idea of bunting early in a game. Late in the game with a 3-2 lead, 4-2 lead, you get the first couple of runners on, you're looking to tack on, I like the bunt then."

 

Sounds good to me!

 

According to my BP book "Baseball Between the Numbers" bunting for one run is actually more valuable when you have a lead, so, not really a bad decision there.

 

The idea that he's going to be aggressive on the basepaths worries me though. Stealing in general isn't really a positive play to make.

 

If I remember correctly, in that book they had a list of how efficient a manager is, and Lou was close to the top of the list.

 

He had seasons near the top of the efficiency and seasons near the bottom, he didn't average out as the best or the worst.

 

In the end I'll just consider it a wash. Remember, the stats they used to judge how good he was was confined completely to Bunting, Hitting and Running, Steal Attempts and a few other things. There a couple more things that are important in the managers job, notably, use of the relievers and the decision on who gets what starting job.

 

And yeah, as has been said before, the lineup really doesn't matter as long as you aren't leading off with your pitcher or something silly like that.

[Rob]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070318cubs,1,6312260.story?page=1&coll=chi-sportstop-hed

 

"No, no, no," Piniella said when asked about sacrificing in the first inning on a cold day. "I like to bunt more, believe it or not, when we have a lead so we can add on. I like those situations better than any other time.

 

"I've never really bunted early. I'm going to run, hit-and-run, steal, double steal, but I don't like the idea of bunting early in a game. Late in the game with a 3-2 lead, 4-2 lead, you get the first couple of runners on, you're looking to tack on, I like the bunt then."

 

Sounds good to me!

 

According to my BP book "Baseball Between the Numbers" bunting for one run is actually more valuable when you have a lead, so, not really a bad decision there.

 

The idea that he's going to be aggressive on the basepaths worries me though. Stealing in general isn't really a positive play to make.

 

If I remember correctly, in that book they had a list of how efficient a manager is, and Lou was close to the top of the list.

 

I think that was in "The Book on The Book." And yeah, he was pretty successful on his stuff except for sac bunts.

[Omar]

Man. Piniella cant be more perfect. I'm simply amazed..

[wade]

Man. Piniella cant be more perfect. I'm simply amazed..

 

Yeah, I like a lot of the quotes so far. We'll see when the season gets here (which I wish would hurry up and happen).