Lou Piniella Doesn't Plan on Being a Yankees Consultant

In a recent article with the New York Daily News' Bill Madden, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner began talking about Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella. In the article, Steinbrenner said that once Piniella's time in Chicago is over and he's finished managing, "[Lou]'ll be back with [the Yankees] as a consultant."

All of which was news to Piniella because according to Lou, even though he knows Hal from his time with the Yankees, he never even discussed a job, let alone agreed to become a Yankees consultant in the future.

"I was there a long time," he said. "Right now, like I told [Madden], my only concern is the Chicago Cubs. I've never talked to Hal about it. I'm friends with Hal. When I was managing there, he basically was around learning the ropes in baseball a little bit. But outside of that, I haven't talked to him about any position at all.

"I'm going to do the best job I can here, and whatever happens after my managing career is over happens."

Now it's entirely possible that while the Cubs were in New York last weekend to help open the new Yankee Stadium, Piniella and Steinbrenner had a conversation about a possible post with the Yankees after Lou is done managing, and Lou is just denying it for fear the Chicago media may take it and run with it. It's also entirely possible Steinbrenner is talking out of his rear end.

Either way, the last thing Piniella wants while he's managing a team trying to wipe out a 101-year title drought is any possible distraction regarding him leaving Chicago.