Piniella To "Retire" At Season's End

By Jake Guidry in News on Jul 20, 2010 7:45PM

While many speculated the move, it's finally been confirmed this afternoon that Lou Piniella, the oft-criticized manager (this year, anyway) of your Chicago Cubs, will retire at the end of the season. As the team continues to struggle, and with Piniella in the final year of his contract, the announcement comes at little to no surprise. This is essentially the nail in the coffin for an aging team that was a juggernaut in the National League just two years ago but missed its window of opportunities. The next logical step for the organization is to blow it all up, sell off the overpaid, underachieving "stars," and start from scratch. [Ed's note: And fire Hendry. But, oh God, if he stays, keep Colvin and Castro, for the love of God. - M.G.]

Piniella, 67, despite his recent lack of success, will end his career as one of the most successful managers in baseball history. After starting his managerial career in the Yankees organization under the late George Steinbrenner, Piniella joined the Cincinnati Reds in 1989 and led them to a world championship in 1990. He later managed the Seattle Mariners, where he produced three division titles and a monstrous 116-win season. He is currently 14th on the all-time win list. In his fourth year on the North Side, he's 307-271 with the Cubs.