While the Cubs have another 37 games in the season Lou Pinella packed up office and calling it career. The 66 year old announced last month that he would be retiring at the end of the season however it appears that he could not wait that long. The Cubs were quick to announce that third base coach and Chicago native Mike Quade will be stepping in for the rest of the season. Quade has been coaching with the Cubs organization for years and coached the Triple A affiliate team in Iowa from 2003-06. His managing debut will come against the Nationals on Monday.
While the Cubs lost yesterday 16-5 however that is not what the post game discussion was about. Pinella expressed his gratitude for the city and the organization. Pinella became very emotional in which tears started to stream down his face. He has word a uniform for the last 50 years and realized that this would be his last time.
“I cried a little bit after the game. You get emotional. I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be..This will be the last time I put on my uniform.”
General manager Jim Hendry anounced earlier in the month that they hoped to find a new manager for their 2011 campaign by the end of the season. Much of the rumors have circled around Ryne Sandberg who has been managing the triple A team. The Cubs should think long and hard about this and should not rule out Cubs announcer Bob Brenly who won a World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 in his first season managing.
While Pinella had high expectations for the Cubs, hoping to cure 102 year World Series drought, the manager had litte to smile about in his time with the Cubs. The Cubs have lost 7 of their last 10 and are 21.5 games back of the division leading Cincinnati Reds. Pinella started managed in 1986 for the Yankees where he stayed for 11 years. He managed the Reds from 1990-92, where the team went to the World Series in his first year. Pinella left for Seattle where the team won 90 games in four different seasons. Pinella has expressed interest in staying involved with baseball but has mentioned that he could not handle the daily grind of the season. Its been a long but successful run for the the manager however he didn’t have the patients for finish his final season with the Cubs.