Lou, The Great one?

by wild bill on Feb 24, 2008 3:32 PM CST Comment 17 comments

On a day that finds us with not much to discuss. I have been thinking about our manager.

How is he as a game strategist? How does he rate with:

Utilization of pitching staff (starting & relieve)
Utilization of bench (Pinch hitting & late inning replacements etc)
Teaching
Instincts
Leadership

So what can some of you tell us? If I have omitted any area that a manager can be graded please fill in the blank(s).

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Good topic

rating from A to F

Game strategy - A
Utilization of staff - A
Teaching - Hard for a fan to evaluate
Instincts - A
Leadership - A

As you can tell, I have a very high opinion of Piniella and I think he is the best thing that has happened to the Cubs since Dallas Green. Without his insight last year, there is no question in my mind the club misses the playoffs and certain players would not have been discovered, while others that were moved would still be here.

IMO, his greatest strength is his ability to recognize a players capabilities and how they fit into what the team needs to win games. He also has a firm understanding of what is required to put together a winner, and he makes these judgments quickly.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Feb 24, 2008 3:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I would agree with your assessment

I'll admit, I wanted Girardi for the new Cubs manager last year, but I was mistaken. Lou was a great addition to this team and contributed to it on so many levels.

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Feb 24, 2008 3:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I wrote...

... this post last spring training, when Lou spent about 45 minutes with Matt Murton before a game, discussing various batting stances and other things related to hitting. We don't hear much about this side of Lou, but I'm guessing he does more of this than we might think.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Feb 24, 2008 4:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I remember that and

I was at that game. I found very interesting that Lou was quoted today as saying Murton had a nice compact swing and I had thought back to that day he worked with him before a game. We'll see if that translates into more playing time or a trade.

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Feb 24, 2008 4:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Miles per hour

I alone with you were a teacher of mine back in the day! Personally I think you grade a little to easy. But again, not sure I could argue with you.

Come on Lou, bring it home!

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Feb 24, 2008 6:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sweet Lou is an A all the way

I've been a diehard since 1977. Also played the game through college. In my estimation Piniella is one of the best in the business when your talking the whole package. The thing he gets the least big of credit for is his keen eye for talent.

by MDBNIU on Feb 24, 2008 5:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I would

not argue with your thoughts. But I ask what specifically is it that makes you such a fan?

I agree with your sentiments. But I am looking for things that I might have missed as to why we all are fans of Lou.

And by the way, my very first recommended diary.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Feb 24, 2008 6:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

1978 AL East Playoff

IIRC, Piniella made two critical plays in that game.

In the 9th inning with a man on first, and the Yankees up by a run, he lost sight of a ball hit to him when it went into the sun. Piniella, by acting like he knew where it was and then behaving as if he were about to make the catch, froze the Red Sox runner between 1st and 2nd, which meant that he was only able to advance one base when the ball fell in for a single.

Even more impressive than that, for me, was a play that I believe he made off of the bat of Fred Lynn. Guidry was the starting pitcher for New York, and Piniella noticed from right field that his fastball had a little something off of it that day, so Piniella moved closer to the right field line than he would normally when the left-handed Lynn was at the plate. Lynn got around on a Guidry offering and pulled it down the line. If Piniella had been playing in his normal spot, this would have fallen in for a double, with runners scoring from first and second (there were two outs). Instead, he was in the right place to make the catch.

Piniella's a sharp guy.

GOATBUSTERS! - I ain't afraid of no goat!

by gjdow on Feb 24, 2008 6:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Gavin

how the heck do you recall these plays? They are good examples of a player that was destined for more action in a MLB uniform.

Nicely done. I only wish my recall was as sharp.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Feb 24, 2008 6:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I am looking for

a manager that in a tight game will use his bench or his bullpen to the teams strengths. One that is a step ahead of the other teams manager.

I like the manager that in a 2-1 game is looking ahead two innings. Knowing he has whoever left to use to help win the game. I think Lou is the guy that will do this. I have to say I don't recall a Cub manager that I have this kind of faith in.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Feb 24, 2008 6:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Lou goes beyond the typical

go by the book play, because he possesses very good instincts and knowledge of his players abilities.

One play I rememember very well is one that did not work out. It was game one of the playoffs with Arizona. Zambrano was up with a runner on 2nd and no outs. They standard move is to bunt, but Lou let Zambrano swing away. If you recall, Zambrano hit a line shot that the SS caught on the tip of his glove. One inch higher and it is a double in the gap and you have the potential for a big inning vs settling for one run. I remember this because Zambrano happened to hit a double his first time up and clearly Piniella had a feeling the pitcher would give him another pitch he could drive, which he did.

Very few managers would have the stones to let even a good pitcher swing away in that circumstance. Lou was one inch away from looking like a genius and maybe a big inning that turns the tide of that series.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Feb 24, 2008 6:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The play

you refer to would fall under good instincts. I did a diary about a year ago, referencing my gut feelings. I got tourched by some, but really insincts are nothing more that one's gut feeling.

I applaud Lou for this. Again I have to say I have much faith in him as our manager.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Feb 24, 2008 11:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely

good instincts are really the culmination of all your experience and relating it to that exact moment in the game. Lou obviously saw something in how that pitcher was throwing Zambrano and had a reasonable feeling that Z could do some damage.

What seperates a lot of these managers are the ones who don't let the pressure of the situation get in the way of them acting on their instincts, and Piniella thrives in this area.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Feb 24, 2008 11:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed Sweet Lou

is great and really special. The only thing negative that I could say about him is...........jeez, I can't come up with anything.

I have to agree that I don't recall a Cub manager that I have had this kind of faith in......End of Story.

Hey Lou, we're long overdue.

by deadcatbounce on Feb 24, 2008 6:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Lou is hands down

my favorite player. I grew up a Yankees fan in the late 70s and 80s. I had literally a dozen stars to choose from. I remember when Bucky Dent came on late in one season as a pinch hitter and slammed a game-winning homerun. I watched Greg Nettles and Reggie Jackson, and Willie Randoph and Goose Gossage. I cried when Thurman Munson died. I cheered Dave Rigetti and Dave Mattingly.

But Lou Pinella was always my favorite. In fact, I'm buying a Cubs Pinella jersey this year. I loved him in Seattle, and everywhere else he went.

Sweet Lou is baseball smart, leadership smart, strategery smart, and life smart. If anyone can take the Cubs to the series, he can.

Worst to First in 2007, brought to you by Lou, Sori, A-Ram and D-Lee.

by drewishdrewid on Feb 24, 2008 7:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The word "trust"....

is not often used in baseball. As fans, especially rabid and passionate fans (and I think most of us here at BCB fall into that category) we all think we can manage the team once the game starts. With Lou, I take a much more hands-off approach as fan, because I trust his judgement. I haven't felt this strongly about a Cubs manager since Jim Lefebvre, who I thought was fantastic. Lou knows what he's doing, and it's a very intangible thing that I can't adequately put into words. But he's one of those guys that when you look into the dugout and see him wearing Cubbie blue, you're glad he's on our side. Last year made me a true believer. After where we were at the beginning of June, no other manager could have righted that ship and gotten to the playoffs, even in that division. Milwaukee wins the division last year if Lou Piniella is not our manager, it's that simple.

**DISCLAIMER: I was saying the same things about Dusty Baker in 2003. If we're honest with ourselves, I think most of us were. Yes, I had a T-shirt that said "In Dusty We Trusty". I'm confident that history will not repeat itself with Lou.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Feb 25, 2008 12:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs