Cubs manager Lou Piniella has announced that he will step down after today's game, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter). Piniella cited his mother's continued failing health as the reason for his decision, Wittenmyer tweets.
Third base coach Mike Quade will take over as interim manager, tweets Wittenmyer. Cubs GM Jim Hendry told Wittenmyer (via Twitter) that Quade will be a candidate to fill the position permanently but Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell has been told that he won't be considered for the job.
Good. That team needs a major overhaul. Including management.
I think Lou has nothing to do with the struggles of the Cubs this season, in fact, he’s been one of the really positive things when you talk about the Cubs. There are a ton of reasons the Cubs have struggled, but for one, the fact that their bullpen consists of Casey Coleman, Justin Berg, Marcos Mateo, Andrew Cashner, and James Russell leading to Marshall and Marmol, has something or two to do with it.
Definitely man, Lou is a terrific manager through and through and you’re not going to stick around for 23 years managing, winning 1,836 games without being great. This season hasn’t been good for the Cubbies, but it’s not fair to put the blame on Sweet Lou.
Cheers to a great career Lou. Thanks for everything you’ve done for the game. Sorry that this season wasn’t the way you would have wanted it to go but hope your mother is okay.
It is a crying shame to see such an incredible manager and player leave the game in this manner. That team truly is in help if someone of Lou’s profile can’t turn them around. God Bless Sweet Lou!
What a debacle. Good for Quade. He’s a guy that no one has really talked about in this town, yet who certainly deserves a shot. Too bad it’s with this mess of an organization.
Whoa! It sounds like Lou has had enough.
Now I can go back to hating the Cubs.
Why is it Quade and not Trammell?
Trammell already has 1 100 loss team on his record.
Go check out that team on B-R. There isn’t a manager in the history of the game who could have lead that roster to more than 50 wins. The only troubling aspect of his managerial career is the collapse of the 2005 team in the second half- but when Brandon Inge has the highest WAR on your team & all 4 starters have below league average ERA+ they were probably playing over their heads anyways.
Maybe he just wanted one more series with Bobby
Wow, how unexpected. It’s pretty awesome he will manage his last game against Bobby Cox.
I could have sworn that Lou stepped down in early April.
of 2009.
Very unexpected. What a shame to see a manager and player like this go out this way. He’s had enough, just like everyone else. Why can’t anybody just come out and say that everything about the Cubs front office is a disaster. The Cubs are giving the Mets a run for their money in the embarrassment category. Hendry should be the one to go first…
Quade is a good candidate, but it’s got to be a complete slap in the face to Trammel that he won’t even be considered.
Im really gonna miss lou, he was a great manager for us
Hats off to you Lou, congrats on such an illustrious carreer. Good luck to you, and your family, and hey what a coincidence you manage your last game against Bobby Cox
Sweet Lou Pinella. Thanks for the more than 3 year roller coaster trip. You will always be remembered as one of the best managers. LOU LOU LOU
I don’t think this is a slap in the face to Trammel. The Interim coach is just that, he’s not going to be back next year. Trammel I believe will be in consideration for next year when the time comes. He also may not have wanted it being that if the team continues to struggle, there was no way he was coming back next season.
They probably want Trammell to work more with Castro to prepare him for next season. Bring on Ryne Sandberg!
I’d like to see Brenly get another shot at managing in the big leagues, personally… I think it would really be a boost to the organization as well, since he is such a familiar personality to Cubs players, staff, fans…
I don’t think for a hot minute that they are just going to give over a franchise of that stature to Ryne Sandberg without even being a hitting instructor in the big leagues. I would think he would have to be at the very least a bench coach before he got that opportunity. Nothing but love for Ryno but managing in the minors and going straight into the National League Central is whole different pack of cookies. Im gonna just throw a name out there… Bob Brenly.
I think the opposite. Sandberg has managed a number of the Cubs’ top prospects (Cashner, Colvin, Castro, Jay Jackson) and I think that familiarity with the teams’ system gives him the edge, especially as that team transitions towards its youth.
I see your point and it is an interesting idea. However I still believe that a manager needs to at the very least be some kind of major league instructor before he takes over as skipper. It seems like its a stepping stone process. I heard that Sandberg said he would not be a bench coach either. That is unfortunate because I think Ricketts is the type of owner thats not gonna buck the system and go the unconventional route. I think he tells Sandberg the job is his BUT he has to put in a tour of duty as a bench coach. Just my opinion.
Congrats on a great career Lou, you will most definitely go down as one of the legends. And congrats to your mother for living this long, she’s gotta be in her late 80’s at least!!!! You don’t see that too often.
That’s what I’m talking about! Blow it up! Trammell will not be considered for the manager’s position? And Quade is? Maybe Trammell will be considered for the next GM? We still have Ryno, Brenley, and Rothschild too! Ryno or Brenley or Trammell for GM, Ryno, Brenley, Trammell for manager (when Hendry leaves), and J.P. Ricciardi or John Hart for GM!
Thank you Sweet Lou. It’s been a blast watching you throughout the years. The hard-nosed Player and the no BS Manager. Sorry it worked out this way. I hope the best for your Mother.
And finally… HENDRY MUST GO! HENDRY MUST GO! HENDRY MUST GO! HENDRY MUST GO!
There are sure a lot of options for Manager and GM, and more outside of the organization (Valentine, Wakamatsu, Buddy Bell, A.J. Hinch), and loads of former players that are now analysts. Until the current GM leaves, fired, etc., this will be a very difficult team to cheer for (like it isn’t already). This is a top-down problem, and Hendry is a very LARGE part of the problem, and needs to be solved ASAP!
Give it to Brenley, Sandberg bench coach, and Maddux pitching coach
Brenley has burned some bridges with vets. Don’t see him being skipper. I would like to see that lineup of coaches but it is unlikely.
It’s not your fault Lou! That clown you have posing as a GM didn’t give you a chance to compete.
Baseball will miss you, and I will miss you. You are a legend. End of discussion!
Lou seemed to be burnt out last year. He came back this year because of the Pro that he’s always been, hoping to get this team to play up to their abilities. Alas, they’re too many jokers in this organization, from the GM to the over-priced players that know they have iron clad contracts, and no one can hold them responsible. The Zambrano flare-up as an example, two years ago Lou would have been in Z’s face when it happened, this year he looked as if his heart was’nt in it to confront Z. I love Lou and hope all goes well with his mother and wish him only the best.
His team sucks, and I get the feeling he is very fed up with the way some of the players act and go about in the clubhouse. It looked like he didn’t give a F after the braves started pummeling them. I mean I respect him but next time pick a better team to coach. Also, I hope his mom is okay.
Man, with about a month left in the season Lou steps down? Not too classy.
Either his doctor has told him to get his affairs in order because he has some terminal ilness or he is trying to “dump” on management as he exits the clubhouse door for the last time. Both of the aforementioned, if either is the case, deserve some clarification by Pinella. IMHO he owes Cub fans and MLB an explanation for his rather unusual decision to leave, in a huff, while the season is still on-going. Come on, Lou…. fill us in!
Didn’t you read the article? His mother is basically dying!
Everyone’s mother dies sooner or later. The male siblings don’t usually quit their jobs because this happens….. it is part of life…he is what 67? His mom must be in her mid 80’s…or older.
Talk about not too classy… your comments come off somewhat callous , don’t you think?
Not really. I have been through the loss of an elderly parent twice…when a person gets into their middle 80’s they usually want to die as their quality of life has diminshed significantly. To leave his job, and his 25 players, without finishing the season (at least officially), and using his mother as his excuse, doesn”t do much for me…He is trying to have the final say in his relationship with the Cubs front office, and using his mother’s failing health as a cover. Lou always likes to have it both ways…