I said it in the game thread. Major kudos to the Cubs management for having the faith to bring him back. That was a wildly "outside the box" thinking type of move and I don't think we win the World Series without him.
I think after being in baseball for 17 years, it can take its toll from a family perspective. Good for him for realizing what's most important in life.
For my mom. She was a bleacher bum from the 60's and caught Banks' 475th home run on opening day in 69. I bought her and my brother Cubs tickets last year in April for her birthday against the Pirates. Good seats because I didn't want her going into the Upper Deck and the ramps. She called me the next morning and was beside herself apologetic because she just felt really sick and couldn't get to the game. She assured me if she wasn't feeling better the next day, she'd go see the doctor. I got a call the next day from my brother that my mom had passed away. She was a hardcore Cub fan who is no doubt going crazy in heaven right now.