Old Fire Returns: Piniella’s Feeling Better

All through spring training, as players worked themselves toward a regular season, manager Lou Piniella was stuck on an island of weariness that seemed surrounded by pain.

Nearly two weeks after a second surgery to correct a delicate internal condition that had spiraled into an infection that sapped his energy, the Seattle Mariners manager said Saturday he knew he was close to being back to his old self.

“And that might not be good news for everybody on this team,” he said. “To get what I need to get from this team, I can’t always be a nice guy.”

The team’s second loss Friday was a poor start from right-hander Bob Wolcott, and afterward Piniella realized he must be feeling better. How could he tell?

“Because I was madder than hell,” he said.

“He’s not drinking as much water as he’s supposed to, and he won’t eat his bran muffins,” son Derek said. “He said he doesn’t like ‘em.”

“If I did everything I’m supposed to, I wouldn’t have time to do anything else,” he said. “I’m feeling a lot better. In another week, I should be just fine.”