Piniella done at season’s end
Baseball: After all those dirt-kicking, base-tossing tantrums, Lou Piniella is going out with more of a whimper.
This isn’t the way he envisioned his final days as the Chicago Cubs’ manager.
The team had bigger plans, too.
Piniella said Tuesday he will retire at the end of the season, complet- ing a storied career that included 18 years in the majors as a player and another 22 as a manager.
The 66-year-old Piniella, who made five trips to the World Series in his career and has three championship rings, said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family. He didn’t rule out consulting for the Cubs or another team, but made it clear he was getting out of the daily grind.
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” he said. “There’s no way that I won’t cherish the memories here.”
But, he added: “I’ve been away from home since 1962. That’s about 50 years.”
General manager Jim Hendry said Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, now managing the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Des Moines, will be a candidate for the job.
Piniella’s overall record was 1,826-1,691 (.519). He trails only Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre in victories among active managers.
Associated Press