Lou Retiring today

[98navigator]

Trammell's decision to stay on until the end of the season also suggests that he didn't feel slighted by Hendry. I don't think he really wants to manage again (and I guess I won't be convinced otherwise until I see him throw his name into a managerial opening)

[soapy]

Or maybe, instead of something trivial like a 5 game stretch of play, there's something about Trammel that we don't know that's removed him from contention.

 

One would hope

[dew1679666265]

It's strictly an issue of organizational control. Management has to have the prescience to see this coming.

 

His mother, apparently, took a turn for the worse recently and he chose to retire. There's no way Cubs management could have know that his mother's health wouldn't get better – especially if Lou felt it would at the time he returned.

[dew1679666265]

To see that his mother was going to be dying? That's...interesting.

 

When a competitive zealot like Piniella decides to step away from the team on multiple occasions, yeah, I think you can easily deduce that his heart is at home and that's where he needs to be.

 

It's a meaningless season at the point that he's taking time off. What good do the Cubs derive from firing Lou?

[Tracer Bullet]

Lou's heart hasn't been in it for a long, long time. I tend to agree with those (sulley, others) that think he saw this as a good excuse for stepping away early. I don't think Lou could bring himself to quit in June, even though he seemed to have pretty much informally quit by then.

[98navigator]

Speaking of the free fall. Does anybody else think Hendry decided Trammel shouldn't be a candidate based on the team's performance in that handful of games he managed for them?

 

I really hope not, but I wondered the same thing during yesterday's broadcast. When Len mentioned that Trammel won't be a candidate, he started talking about how poorly they played while he was managing during Lou's absence. He was doing it trying to defend Trammel, but I couldn't help but wonder if he heard from Hendry or someone else that it was a factor.

 

I think that was just Len's way of defending Trammell independent of anything he may or may not have heard. Len has said on more than one occasion that Trammell was his childhood idol.

[Tracer Bullet]

To see that his mother was going to be dying? That's...interesting.

 

I somewhat agree with JR here. Could the Cubs really not tell from his press conferences earlier this year that he'd lost it. He just didn't care that much - he'd given up. The fire was gone. He's been like a dead man walking for months. If his mother wasn't dying, he might sit through the last several weeks, but it is sorry that the Cubs didn't see that Lou had cashed in earlier or weren't strong enough to fire him/force him to retire then.

 

I mean, his mother in 90-something. Does it really surprise anyone that she's dying? I can understand wanting to spend her last few days with her, but you don't retire 6-weeks early b/c your very old mother is going to die in the next few days.

[jersey cubs fan]

To see that his mother was going to be dying? That's...interesting.

 

I somewhat agree with JR here. Could the Cubs really not tell from his press conferences earlier this year that he'd lost it. He just didn't care that much - he'd given up. The fire was gone. He's been like a dead man walking for months. If his mother wasn't dying, he might sit through the last several weeks, but it is sorry that the Cubs didn't see that Lou had cashed in earlier or weren't strong enough to fire him/force him to retire then.

 

I mean, his mother in 90-something. Does it really surprise anyone that she's dying? I can understand wanting to spend her last few days with her, but you don't retire 6-weeks early b/c your very old mother is going to die in the next few days.

 

So then your opinion is they should have fired him earlier in the year because he sounded disinterested in press conferences?

 

Jim Hendry put together another god awful baseball team. The problem with the organization is that Jim Hendry is GM. It has nothing to do with the way Lou went out.

[dew1679666265]

To see that his mother was going to be dying? That's...interesting.

 

I somewhat agree with JR here. Could the Cubs really not tell from his press conferences earlier this year that he'd lost it. He just didn't care that much - he'd given up. The fire was gone. He's been like a dead man walking for months. If his mother wasn't dying, he might sit through the last several weeks, but it is sorry that the Cubs didn't see that Lou had cashed in earlier or weren't strong enough to fire him/force him to retire then.

 

I mean, his mother in 90-something. Does it really surprise anyone that she's dying? I can understand wanting to spend her last few days with her, but you don't retire 6-weeks early b/c your very old mother is going to die in the next few days.

 

But why is it so important to fire Lou in a meaningless season that the Cubs' management now looks like it lacks "organizational control" because they didn't? Or that it was "hallmarks of a poorly-run organization?"

 

I don't believe it's all that odd for a team to give a long-time, veteran manager a sendoff around the league before he retires. You may disagree with them keeping him on, but firing him really would not have made the Cubs a better team (at least significantly so). What good would the Cubs have derived from firing Lou this year instead of letting him make his "farewell tour?"

[Sammy Sofa]

To see that his mother was going to be dying? That's...interesting.

 

When a competitive zealot like Piniella decides to step away from the team on multiple occasions, yeah, I think you can easily deduce that his heart is at home and that's where he needs to be.

 

So they fire him under the context of missing games due to family issues in a year that's clearly a bust to begin with? Why? How is that less "embarrassing" than how things have played out?

 

And honestly, I am baffled whenever people bring up how Lou seemed "different" this season. To me this is how he's seemed the entire time he's been with the Cubs, the only difference is that in 2007 they turned it around and in 2008 the team was actually good. What "fire" was there the first three years that wasn't there this year?

[Tracer Bullet]

To see that his mother was going to be dying? That's...interesting.

 

I somewhat agree with JR here. Could the Cubs really not tell from his press conferences earlier this year that he'd lost it. He just didn't care that much - he'd given up. The fire was gone. He's been like a dead man walking for months. If his mother wasn't dying, he might sit through the last several weeks, but it is sorry that the Cubs didn't see that Lou had cashed in earlier or weren't strong enough to fire him/force him to retire then.

 

I mean, his mother in 90-something. Does it really surprise anyone that she's dying? I can understand wanting to spend her last few days with her, but you don't retire 6-weeks early b/c your very old mother is going to die in the next few days.

 

So then your opinion is they should have fired him earlier in the year because he sounded disinterested in press conferences?

 

Jim Hendry put together another god awful baseball team. The problem with the organization is that Jim Hendry is GM. It has nothing to do with the way Lou went out.

 

it's no secret that I have wanted Hendry fired for a long time. But it seemed apparent that Lou just didn't give a crap about this team and I'm not sure this is the first year that's the case. You think Lou had great insight in his private meetings with Hendry and then just pulled the complete lack of interest during PCs? You really think I want him fired solely b/c he sounded disinterested in press conferences, goony? have you not read any posts in the thread dedicated to firing him? give me a break.

[Sammy Sofa]

To see that his mother was going to be dying? That's...interesting.

 

I somewhat agree with JR here. Could the Cubs really not tell from his press conferences earlier this year that he'd lost it. He just didn't care that much - he'd given up. The fire was gone. He's been like a dead man walking for months. If his mother wasn't dying, he might sit through the last several weeks, but it is sorry that the Cubs didn't see that Lou had cashed in earlier or weren't strong enough to fire him/force him to retire then.

 

I mean, his mother in 90-something. Does it really surprise anyone that she's dying? I can understand wanting to spend her last few days with her, but you don't retire 6-weeks early b/c your very old mother is going to die in the next few days.

 

Wait, what? How does anyone know when she's going to die? Isn't that kind of the point of this; that he wants to spend what time he last left with his family?

[Sammy Sofa]

What did it sound like when Lou "gave a crap" in the press conferences? Because he's been the same cranky bastard that everyone is too chicken [expletive] to question that he was the first three years.

[Tracer Bullet]

To see that his mother was going to be dying? That's...interesting.

 

When a competitive zealot like Piniella decides to step away from the team on multiple occasions, yeah, I think you can easily deduce that his heart is at home and that's where he needs to be.

 

So they fire him under the context of missing games due to family issues in a year that's clearly a bust to begin with? Why? How is that less "embarrassing" than how things have played out?

 

And honestly, I am baffled whenever people bring up how Lou seemed "different" this season. To me this is how he's seemed the entire time he's been with the Cubs, the only difference is that in 2007 they turned it around and in 2008 the team was actually good. What "fire" was there the first three years that wasn't there this year?

 

none. Lou may have been the best manager the Cubs have had in decades and might be better than Ryno will be, but he hasn't been great for this team. Who was it here that said the last two hires have been "big names" and both have been flops? sounds about right.

[Tracer Bullet]

To see that his mother was going to be dying? That's...interesting.

 

I somewhat agree with JR here. Could the Cubs really not tell from his press conferences earlier this year that he'd lost it. He just didn't care that much - he'd given up. The fire was gone. He's been like a dead man walking for months. If his mother wasn't dying, he might sit through the last several weeks, but it is sorry that the Cubs didn't see that Lou had cashed in earlier or weren't strong enough to fire him/force him to retire then.

 

I mean, his mother in 90-something. Does it really surprise anyone that she's dying? I can understand wanting to spend her last few days with her, but you don't retire 6-weeks early b/c your very old mother is going to die in the next few days.

 

Wait, what? How does anyone know when she's going to die? Isn't that kind of the point of this; that he wants to spend what time he last left with his family?

 

no one knows when she's going to die. but that's not what I said. does it surprise you that a 90-year-old is dying? Lou completely didn't see that coming when he signed a 4-year-contract?

[jersey cubs fan]

it's no secret that I have wanted Hendry fired for a long time. But it seemed apparent that Lou just didn't give a crap about this team and I'm not sure this is the first year that's the case. You think Lou had great insight in his private meetings with Hendry and then just pulled the complete lack of interest during PCs? You really think I want him fired solely b/c he sounded disinterested in press conferences, goony? have you not read any posts in the thread dedicated to firing him? give me a break.

 

What? What are you even trying to say here? You make no sense.

[Tracer Bullet]

To see that his mother was going to be dying? That's...interesting.

 

I somewhat agree with JR here. Could the Cubs really not tell from his press conferences earlier this year that he'd lost it. He just didn't care that much - he'd given up. The fire was gone. He's been like a dead man walking for months. If his mother wasn't dying, he might sit through the last several weeks, but it is sorry that the Cubs didn't see that Lou had cashed in earlier or weren't strong enough to fire him/force him to retire then.

 

I mean, his mother in 90-something. Does it really surprise anyone that she's dying? I can understand wanting to spend her last few days with her, but you don't retire 6-weeks early b/c your very old mother is going to die in the next few days.

 

But why is it so important to fire Lou in a meaningless season that the Cubs' management now looks like it lacks "organizational control" because they didn't? Or that it was "hallmarks of a poorly-run organization?"

 

I don't believe it's all that odd for a team to give a long-time, veteran manager a sendoff around the league before he retires. You may disagree with them keeping him on, but firing him really would not have made the Cubs a better team (at least significantly so). What good would the Cubs have derived from firing Lou this year instead of letting him make his "farewell tour?"

 

I said "somewhat agree with JR" - I don't want his quotes attributed to me. but this season wasn't meaningless when it started. It was certainly an uphill battle, but keeping on a manger who doesn't care before his last season isn't the sign of a well-run organization. I'm not positive that Hendry couldn't have gone to Lou in February and said "it's obvious to both of us that you don't give a crap anymore. how about we buy out this last year for $1 and you can go spend time with your family?"

[jersey cubs fan]

no one knows when she's going to die. but that's not what I said. does it surprise you that a 90-year-old is dying? Lou completely didn't see that coming when he signed a 4-year-contract?

 

So he should have signed day to day because he knew eventually his mother would die in the middle of a baseball season thus forcing his hand to retire?

[Sammy Sofa]

no one knows when she's going to die. but that's not what I said. does it surprise you that a 90-year-old is dying? Lou completely didn't see that coming when he signed a 4-year-contract?

 

This is a bizarre tangent. Yes, I'm sure Lou Piniella was ware of the fact that his very old mother would someday die. Now it's come to the point that his mother likely is dying and he'd rather spend his time with her as opposed to sitting through the last 6 weeks of his contract managing a truly wretched baseball team. I'm not sure why anyone would fault him for that.

Edited August 24, 2010 by Sammy Sofa

[Tracer Bullet]

it's no secret that I have wanted Hendry fired for a long time. But it seemed apparent that Lou just didn't give a crap about this team and I'm not sure this is the first year that's the case. You think Lou had great insight in his private meetings with Hendry and then just pulled the complete lack of interest during PCs? You really think I want him fired solely b/c he sounded disinterested in press conferences, goony? have you not read any posts in the thread dedicated to firing him? give me a break.

 

What? What are you even trying to say here? You make no sense.

 

did you intentionally cut out the part of your post in which you suggested I wanted lou fired b/c of a lack of interest during press conferences?

[Sammy Sofa]

I said "somewhat agree with JR" - I don't want his quotes attributed to me. but this season wasn't meaningless when it started. It was certainly an uphill battle, but keeping on a manger who doesn't care before his last season isn't the sign of a well-run organization. I'm not positive that Hendry couldn't have gone to Lou in February and said "it's obvious to both of us that you don't give a crap anymore. how about we buy out this last year for $1 and you can go spend time with your family?"

 

Wait, what? How were they supposed to know he "didn't care" even before the season started?

[jersey cubs fan]

it's no secret that I have wanted Hendry fired for a long time. But it seemed apparent that Lou just didn't give a crap about this team and I'm not sure this is the first year that's the case. You think Lou had great insight in his private meetings with Hendry and then just pulled the complete lack of interest during PCs? You really think I want him fired solely b/c he sounded disinterested in press conferences, goony? have you not read any posts in the thread dedicated to firing him? give me a break.

 

What? What are you even trying to say here? You make no sense.

 

did you intentionally cut out the part of your post in which you suggested I wanted lou fired b/c of a lack of interest during press conferences?

 

Cut out the part of my post? You haven't made a lick of sense here. You're rambling about the guy's passion in press conferences and how obvious it was that he mailed in this entire season and should have been sent home in February. You are making a bunch of really stupid comments. And I'm questioning them.

[dew1679666265]

I said "somewhat agree with JR" - I don't want his quotes attributed to me. but this season wasn't meaningless when it started. It was certainly an uphill battle, but keeping on a manger who doesn't care before his last season isn't the sign of a well-run organization. I'm not positive that Hendry couldn't have gone to Lou in February and said "it's obvious to both of us that you don't give a crap anymore. how about we buy out this last year for $1 and you can go spend time with your family?"

 

And what tells you that Lou doesn't give a crap anymore? I'd think the fact that his mother was sick and he still chose to stick around with the team because he thought there was a slim chance to compete is a sign that he cares and still wants to win.

 

If you wanted Lou fired before the season or sometime previously, that's fine. But JR's main point was that Lou retiring now and not having been forced out a month ago is a sign that the Cubs are a terribly run organization and that they lack organizational control. If you didn't agree with that part, then what did you agree with?

[J.R.]

What good would the Cubs have derived from firing Lou this year instead of letting him make his "farewell tour?"

 

You sit Hill. You let the organization begin to move on. You demonstrate to everyone from Roast on up that you are in charge instead of constantly being in a reactionary state.

 

Hendry is supposedly very close to Lou. Besides that, he is supposed to know the mental disposition of his men. He looks like he got caught with his pants down - again.

[Tracer Bullet]

no one knows when she's going to die. but that's not what I said. does it surprise you that a 90-year-old is dying? Lou completely didn't see that coming when he signed a 4-year-contract?

 

This is a bizarre tangent. Yes, I'm sure Lou Piniella was ware of the fact that his very old mother would someday die. Now it's come to the point that his mother likely is dying and he'd rather spend his time with her ass opposed to sitting through the last 6 weeks of his contract managing a truly wretched baseball team. I'm not sure why anyone would fault him for that.

 

it's not a tangent. it's just a question of whether you think Lou didn't have his heart in managing this team long before now. it's dumb to have a manager who doesn't care about his job out there playing a bunch of kids that you're trying to develop or evaluate for the next season. but if his mother wasn't about to die, that's exactly what would happen and I personally think it's been going on for months.