Piniella to retire at the end of the season
Baseball Betting Lines
07/20/2010 -
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella has decided
to retire at the conclusion of the 2010 season.
Piniella is in his fourth season as Cubs manager. He guided the club to a
winning record in each of his first three years, but the team is just 42-52
entering Tuesday's game against Houston.
"Why make this announcement now?" Piniella said in a statement released by the
team. "[General manager] Jim Hendry asked me in recent weeks regarding my
future with the team and I told him I had made the decision to retire at the
end of the season. Since my decision has now been made, I don't want to
mislead anyone about my intentions when asked about the future."
Piniella is the first Cubs manager in more than 70 years to post a record of
.500 or better in each of his first three seasons with the team. He led the
Cubs to NL Central titles in 2007 and 2008, but the team was swept in the
Division Series both years.
"I couldn't be more appreciative of the Cubs organization for providing me the
opportunity to manage this ballclub," said Piniella. "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."
Piniella is one of only five managers to win at least three Manager of the
Year awards, including 2008 with the Cubs. He has 1,826 career wins as a
skipper entering Tuesday's contest.
Before the Cubs, Piniella also managed the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds,
Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay. He earned AL Manager of the Year honors with
Seattle in 1995 and 2001, and won a World Series title with the Reds in 1990.
"Announcing my decision now is what's best for this organization in the long
run," Piniella added. "It gives Jim Hendry ample time to find the next manager
and he doesn't need to do so in secrecy. The Cubs are one of the greatest
organizations in baseball. I care very deeply for this organization and want
nothing more than for it to experience present and long-term success. I'm
proud of our accomplishments during my time here and this will be a perfect
way for me to end my career.
"But let me make one thing perfectly clear: our work is far from over. I want
to keep the momentum going more than anything else and win as many games as we
can to get back in this pennant race. I'm going to give every effort I have to
help this team win and that will remain my sole focus through the rest of the
season."
The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908 and haven't reached the Fall
Classic since 1945.
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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