Archive for the ‘Lou Piniella’ Category

Ricketts should keep eye on the ball

Tom Ricketts is a smart, likeable guy. He talks a good game for the most part, but most of what I hear lately has very little to do with winning baseball in 2010. 
I heard a Lou soundbite from the Cubs Convention: ‘We have a good team up here in Chicago’ he said. And Lou is [...]

January 20, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, Lou Piniella, Ricketts family, Team Ownership, lineup, observations, players, playoffs  No Comments

Ryne Sandberg is being groomed

Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg is certainly being groomed for the big chair. Question is, whether he will get a shot to manage in the major leagues in a Cubs uniform. At first glance timing may appear ideal with Lou Piniella in his final year as manager and Ryno now being assigned [...]

December 8, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Lou Piniella, Minor League Baseball, Team Ownership, biz of baseball, game of baseball, observations  No Comments

Kevin Gregg versus Kerry Wood

In April I tried to give now former Cubs closer Kevin Gregg a chance to prove himself. But instead by June he validated all of my original concerns – the guy just isn’t a “winning” closer. He has given up 12 home runs in the closer role, for an average of a hefty 1.9 per 9 [...]

August 18, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Lou Piniella, game strategy, lineup, observations, players, stats  No Comments

Sam Fuld makes it easy on Lou

Yet another Cubs farm hand has been promoted to the big club, and making an impact.  When Lou Piniella finally sat star outfielder Alfonso Soriano yesterday, it was rookie Sam Fuld that call the call to play left field. He made things easy on Lou by going 2 for 4 with a double and a [...]

July 2, 2009  Tags: , , , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Lou Piniella, game day, game recap, lineup, players, stats  No Comments

Lou has had enough with the tantrums

In the second installment of this season’s Cubs vs White Sox Crosstown Classic, tempers boiled within the Cubs family once again. Lou Piniella has apparently had enough of that, and frankly I think it is about time he took more control of this club.
After two strikeouts and a routine fly out, Milton Bradley threw his [...]

June 27, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Jim Hendry, Lou Piniella, game recap, observations, oldschool, players  No Comments

Did Lou concede yesterday’s game?

Cubs manager Lou Piniella filled out a most unusual lineup card yesterday. He started just two regulars (Derrek Lee & Kosuke Fukudome), one rookie’s first every MLB game (Bobby Scales), and his #5 starter (Sean Marshall) to face reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.
“We’re in a stretch of 20 straight games without [...]

May 6, 2009  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Lou Piniella, game recap, game strategy, lineup, observations  No Comments

Not a good look for Cubs skipper Lou Piniella

Memo to Cubs manager Lou Piniella:
Keep your hands out of your back pocket – not a good look for you. These photos were taken on the same day last week - you judge for yourself:

 

 

May 1, 2009  Tags: ,   Posted in: Lou Piniella, observations, oddities, photo of the day  No Comments

It is still early for Kevin Gregg

It is early. Very early. Just a reminder: 158 games remain in the regular season.
Now, I’m not a necessarily a big Kevin Gregg fan. I only know him by his numbers from last year and looking at those, I’m not impressed. He would be fine as closer for a lesser team. But for a major market, fat [...]

April 10, 2009  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Lou Piniella, game day, game strategy, lineup, observations, players  No Comments

Cubs Dealings and Rumors

This off season, through the organizational meetings in November and the MLB Winter Meetings in December in beloved Las Vegas, has been heavy on rumor and light on action. To be honest, I have not really fallen in love with any of the player packages the media and fans have been chewing on since October. As [...]

December 30, 2008   Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, Lou Piniella, players, roster  One Comment

Hot Stove not so hot yet

With Ryan Dempster signed, sealed and delivered back to Wrigley Field for the next four years, it now appears the Cubs are not so eager to back up the truck for the services of Jake Peavy. Manager Lou Piniella made comments over the weekend that starting pitching is all set, but they will look for a veteran arm [...]

November 26, 2008   Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, Lou Piniella, observations, players, roster  No Comments