Lou Piniella To Retire At Season's End

[JakeFlake]

"I couldn't be more appreciative of the Cubs organization for providing me the opportunity to manage this ballclub," Piniella said in a statement. "I've had four wonderful years here that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. I've grown to love the city and the fans but at my age (67 at the end of the season) it will be time to enter a new phase in my life. It will enable me to spend more valuable time with my family my wife, my kids and my grandchildren. God has blessed me to have been able to work this many years in the game that I love.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5395615

Epi, who do you want?

[BlackCatFan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5395615

Epi, who do you want?

Good luck to Lou on his retirement.

[Epistaxis]

Lou is talking right now.

I think I want Brenly for a couple years, and then Ryno.

If Ryno will wait that long remains to be seen.

[BF91]

Ryno seems to make the most sense. The Cubs have brought one of their legends up through the minors as a manager, and their current manager is stepping down at the end of the year.

There's a lot of this past generation's great managers stepping down. Bobby and Lou will be gone at the end of this year, Torre has announced next year will be his last, and LaRussa and Leyland can't be far from hanging them up either.

[Epistaxis]

I really want a complete housecleaning, including Hendry and Crane Kenney.

I'm not sure Ryno is ready. I'd like a bit more seasoning given what comes with this job.

It turned a crusty ole bastard like Lou in to a stammering sleepy drunk in 4 years.

[BF91]

Eh, I think the Cubs are in a decent spot to let Ryno learn on the job. Clean house, blow the team up, commit to Sandberg as the new manager. Things might be rough for the first few years, but if its done right then there's nothing things better at turning a franchise around than blowing the whole fuggin' thing apart.

[Jangler]

Thank God!

[C-A-T-S]

Sweet Lou may change his mind before the end of the season, other managers have said that.

[Epistaxis]

Nah.

Management just said he is gone. So whatever he thinks is irrelevant now.

[JakeFlake]

Ryno says he "is ready"

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5398569