Piniella enjoys new job in booth
Lou Piniella is having so much fun with his postseason TV gig that he’s considering spending the 2006 season in the booth.
“I might be doing this next year,” Piniella told the Associated Press on Saturday before working the Fox Sports broadcast for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. “It’s not for sure; nothing’s for sure. I like it. I’m enjoying this.”
Piniella parted ways with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays earlier this month after three difficult seasons as manager. He has hinted he might take a year off before returning to the dugout – although he certainly might change his mind once October is over and he has time to fully think things through.
There is speculation if New York manager Joe Torre doesn’t return that the Yankees might express interest in the 62-year-old Piniella, who spent the final 11 seasons of his 18-year playing career in pinstripes.
“It’s a totally different perspective,” Piniella said of the television job. “One thing, when the game’s over, you can go home and get a good night’s rest and not have to worry about wins and losses – a big change. I don’t even talk baseball. Isn’t that great?”
Fox has received feedback that Piniella’s work in the booth as an analyst alongside Joe Buck and Tim McCarver has been a success.
Piniella returned to his native Tampa after the 2002 season following 10 years in Seattle, where he led the Mariners to an A.L.-record 116 wins in 2001.
Guerrero’s bat has been quiet
Vladimir Guerrero dressed in silence at his corner locker in the Los Angeles clubhouse, trying to avoid the spotlight.
That’s nothing new for the soft-spoken Angels slugger. What’s different is that Guerrero’s bat has been just as quiet so far this postseason.
The reigning A.L. MVP has no extra-base hits and only one RBI in the Angels’ first nine postseason games, including one hit in 16 at-bats (.063) in four games of the A.L. Championship Series against the Chicago White Sox.
He struggled again in Game 4, going 0 for 4 with four groundouts after hitting .317 with 32 homers and 108 RBIs during the regular season – and suddenly the Angels are on the brink of elimination after falling behind in their best-of-7 series 3-1 with Saturday night’s 8-2 loss.
“I feel fine,” Guerrero said after Friday night’s 5-2 defeat at Angel Stadium. “I’m making contact straight, but I’ll keep swinging and one of these days it’s going to go out.”
ChiSox make Konerko top priority
Chicago White Sox general manager Ken Williams said he wants Paul Konerko back next season.
“Priority No. 1 when this is all said and done is to try and get him signed,” said Williams, noting he regrets that no deal could be worked out in spring training for the star first baseman, who can become a free agent.
Konerko hit a two-run homer in the first inning of Chicago’s 5-2 win in Game 3 of the ALCS on Friday night, then added a three-run shot in the first in Saturday’s Game 4.
Colon remains uncertain
Injured Angels ace Bartolo Colon is unsure of his status for the World Series if the Angels advance. He is nursing stiffness in his right shoulder.
The 21-game winner and A.L. Cy Young Award candidate is not on Los Angeles’ ALCS roster after he left his start Monday night against the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the division series after only 23 pitches with trouble in his throwing shoulder.
Colon said his shoulder feels OK.
“I don’t know now,” he said of when he might pitch again.
Byrd doesn’t cook under pressure
Paul Byrd, not considered one of the Angels’ top starters but effective in a six-inning stint in Game 1 of the ALCS, looks forward to getting the ball in Game 5 today.
“I enjoy pitching the big games; I enjoy the pressure,” said Byrd, a 34-year-old right-hander who went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA this season – his first with the Angels.
Byrd was the winner in Game 1, beating Jose Contreras 3-2.
Backe won’t be bowed
Brandon Backe isn’t worried about nerves getting to him when he takes the mound for the Astros today.
He got that out of the way last year while pitching eight innings of one-hit ball in a 3-0 win over the Cardinals in Game 5 of the NLCS that put the Astros up 3-2.
“The success that I had alone in the playoffs last year helps me relax,” Backe said. “Helps me just basically know that I’m not going to let the playoff atmosphere affect me in any way because I’ve been through it before and I’ve also succeeded.”