Earlier in the year, commenter brosallman wondered, jokingly, how long it would take before new Cubs manager Lou Piniella unleashed one of his famous tirades thanks to the stresses of being associated with Cubdom. If you gussed nine games into the season,
you were, sadly, correct:
"I can start to see some of the ways this team has lost ballgames," said Piniella, who has, up until that moment Friday afternoon in the interview room, refused to address the failures of the past 98 years. "I can see it. We've got to correct it, obviously."
Pressed on exactly what was wrong with this team, Piniella exploded.
"What the hell do you think isn't working?" he screamed. "You see the damn game."
Piniella has a history of temper tantrums, but if any game was worthy of the blowup, today's was probably it. The Cubs surrendered a 5-0 lead when the Reds scored six runs in the fifth inning. Zambrano gave up four of those runs, and then reliever Will Ohman gave up the rest, and Piniella was not at all impressed with Big Z or Ohman:
"This guy is your ace," Piniella said, his voice growing louder by the word. "You've got a 5-0 lead with the [Reds'] eighth and ninth hitters coming up. You feel pretty good about that inning, then all of a sudden it turns into a six-run inning. Then I bring in the reliever who's throwing 30-, 40-foot curveballs."
And Ohman?
"I don't know," Piniella said, then paused for 11 seconds, shrugging his shoulders and flipping his hands up in the air. "I don't know. What do you want me to say? Lot of balls didn't reach home plate."
Eesh. It's been a frustrating beginning of the season for the Cubs, but still: nine games in. That sure didn't take long, huh? Anyway, welcome to the Cubs, Lou. See what you got yourself into?
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Can you blame him? That was sad. At least Lou was obviously pissed off at the performances (unlike a certain previous manager who will remain unnamed).
Zambrano should keep his mouth shut. Last year he said he would win the Cy Young award. He said the same thing this year. He didn't say he "WANTED TO WIN IT" he said he "WOULD WIN IT" this year. He may be good, very good but he is just like Sammy Sosa, he has a very high opinion of himself. Shut and throw the ball. You can brag after you win something you jerk!!!!!
the cubs will always be the cubs you can have an allstar team in chicago but with the cubbie blue on you will be a loser. hope all you cub fans enjoy
another losing season because thats all your offseason money bought you. signed on happy sox fan
hope all you cub fans are happy with all that offseason spending you did it seems that all it got you is another losing season in chicago hats of to lou even he cant help the cubs.and for mr zambrano all the talk he does he should just shut up and try to pitch good luck on his cy young award.
Cubs payed $136 million for a player to catch fly balls, maybe they should have tryed to get a couple of quality pitchers. They never have had a outstanding pitching staff. I believe that's where the game is won or lost. All bats and no staff leads to a long day.
Cubs payed $136 million for a player to catch fly balls, maybe they should have tryed to get a couple of quality pitchers. They never have had a outstanding pitching staff. I believe that's where the game is won or lost. All bats and no staff leads to a long day.
thats cubbie baseball ,lou.......WIN SOME,,LOSE MORE
Maybe we Cubs fans should look at the real problem and that's Larry Rothschild. He should go and go soon. Has he ever had a pitching staff with the Cubs that would respond to him? As far as Zambrano is concerned, he's a child in a multi million dollar get up. He should be sent down to the minors for a time for some "seasoning" in control techniques. The Cubs are nothing more than a .500 club right now and probably won't be anything more than that for the rest of the year. But if they got a real pitching coach and could trade at some point for some true starting pitchers, they might get above the 500 mark in a year or two.
why are coaches and managers such jerks? can you imagine if you or I acted that way in society? we would be locked up as crazies!!
Wellcome to the Cub's club Mr.Lou Piniella. All I can say are you suck. All you people who think Duster Baker is bad. This man sucks. Tirades do not win ball games; get-off that crap and win ball-games. Dont put the blames on the players. The blame is on your shoulder; you have never been a winning manager. Your ranting and raging will not produce runs. SO SHUT UP
Maybe Lou should have saved his rage for the idiot who decided to leave Zambrano in the game when it was clear that he had nothing left and was in the process of imploding again. That's the manager's job. Maybe the Cubs should consider getting one.
Awesome, I love it when Lou blows up. It's great entertainment. 9 games in and he finally addresses the problem. If anything else, his tyraid show that at least someone cares about winning.
THAT TEAM SUCKS. BIG TIME&LOU IS OVERATED
Larry Rothchild, Mark Prior, Kerry Wood and Jim Hendry. It's unbelievable they still have a job. All four should be bundled in a package and shipped to a gulag in Siberia. 2006 was not Dusty's fault and 2007 will not be Sweet Lou's fault. The real fault lies with Hendry and Rothchild.
this message is for all cubs fans....there is a real life jinx on the cubs!
Higher payroll, more advertising, fewer WGN telecast, (Which is why the Cubs have the coast to coast following they do.)new management and there still the same fumbling bumbling team as always. Good pitching, solid defense, timely hitting and good fortune win baseball championships. The 2007 edition is not built on these fundamentals. Cub fan sine 47
The CUBS hitting will come. SORIANO needs to get settled in yet.CARLOS ZAMBRANO is one of the top 5 pitchers in the game.He will win at least 18 games and hit 7-10 homers this year & get the Cy Young award.As for you sox fans,Ozzie will still get thrown out of a game before SWEET LOU!! OUR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WILL HAPPEN IN 2007!!
GO REDS
to comment #10 Lou was a winner when he was managing the greatest franchise in baseball history in the CINCINNATI REDS. Now Jarry Narron gets to lead them this year. GO REDS WORLD CHAMPIONS 2007
to comment #10 Lou was a winner with the greatest franchise in baseball history with the CINCINNATI RES in 1990. Now jarry Narron is going to take themm back this year and it will be 2007 WORLD CHAMPION CINCINNATI REDS. GO REDS