Lou Piniella

During the off-season the Cubs parted ways with the formerly beloved skipper Dusty Baker and began a search for a new manager. The administration wanted someone who could lead this new, expensive, version of the Cubs to the post-season.

Many fans wanted the newly available, former Cubs catcher, Joe Girardi, but the officials at Cub headquarters did not think he had the experience necessary to guide this team to victory. They wanted experience. They wanted someone who had already earned a ring as a player and a manager.

They went for Lou Piniella.

The Lou Piniella who guided the Cincinnati Reds to victory after George Steinbrenner tossed him from the beloved New York Yankees. The Lou Piniella who could not quite take a Seattle team all the way with players like Ken Griffey, Jr., Alex Rodriguez and Randy Johnson. The Lou Piniella who went to Tampa Bay to “finish off his managing career” near his home.

We thought the Tampa Bay experience did finish off his managing career. Apparently not.

Lou Piniella decided he needed one more shot with a real team. The Cubs showed him they were serious. The brought in a multi-million dollar outfielder and a couple of decent starting pitchers. They let him hand-pick his coaches, including allowing him to retain Larry Rothschild. You remember Larry Rothschild? The pitching coach who went through pitchers like water last year. That’s the guy.

During the offseason, General Manager Jim Hendry made it clear he wanted a winner in Chicago now. He spent the money because he wanted results.

Soooo, now what? The Cubs are just a couple games below .500. It is still May. There is no reason to panic.

So why is Piniella acting like he’s tossing in the towel? He does not have the injury problems that Baker had. Prior, Wood and Miller. So what?

Why is he talking about Dempster being a starter again? Why is he talking about Angel Guzman being a closer? Why is he saying that Angel Pagan could be the starting center fielder? Why did he keep Ronnie Cedeno in Chicago for so long?

While we are asking questions, why is Jacque Jones still in Chicago?

It feels like Piniella is experimenting. Maybe that’s okay. I would rather experiment in May than in August.

It is getting late for coy talk and goofy staff changes. He better find a winning formula and find it quick. If not, he may find his way back to Tampa before his contract runs out.