Lou Piniella

The series finale game against the Atlanta Braves will be "Sweet" Lou's last game as a manager. 

Earlier this year, he did announce he intended to retire after this season, but plans do change.

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella has seen enough of this season apparently and has decided to retire from it and his career after Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves. 

In mid-July, Piniella had announced that this would be his final season in the big leagues, after 18 seasons as a player and 22 as a manager.

Third base coach Mike Quade will serve manager the rest of the Cubs' season.

I love the game of baseball. In fact, I'd call myself a baseball enthusiast.

That being said, there's a topic that seems to stick in my craw more often than not. While I have my own opinion on players' salaries and how most aren't worth half of what they're getting, that's not one of the biggest issues in the game today.

What is? Controversial managers.

Not long after Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced his plans to retire at the end of the season, former Cub, and current Hall of Famer, Ryne Sandberg decided to throw his name in the list of potential candidates to replace Piniella next season.

But does Sandberg really know what he’s getting himself into?

The pressure of the Cubs winning a World Series has built up like a nasty rumor at the workplace, and Sandberg hopes he can be the man to clean it all up.

With the announcement coming last week that Lou Piniella would be retiring from baseball at the end of the season, the line of suitors for the opening will likely be a long one, and the rumors will continue to fly until a replacement is named.

This decision is made especially interesting by the fact that a handful of high profile managers have expiring contract at the end of this season.

And we’re back. Hopefully the short week didn’t treat you too badly. Good to see the NL finally win an All-Star game, couldn’t believe it has been 14 years since their last win.

But now we get move to one of the most fun parts of the baseball season: the trade deadline.

The waiver wire suddenly gets a big boost in activity as people jump on players who suddenly have value due to the transactions of playoff hopefuls and surrender monkeys.

With Lou Piniella retiring at the end of the season, many Cubs fans might be saying good riddance due to Chicago's disappointment recently. 

The next question is obviously, "Who's next?"

Well, Ryne Sandberg has already thrown his hat into the ring. Sandberg, a Hall of Fame inductee and Cubs legend, would certainly bring big name quality to the dugout and his experience might go over well with the players.

I guess yesterday's news involving Lou Piniella ending all doubt and saying he will not be back next year is good news for me. I won't have to write anymore "fire Lou Piniella" columns.

But why is he still in Chicago? What is to be gained by that?

The team he has managed is going nowhere. They have been lifeless all year, and now they are playing for a lame-duck manager.

What is there to inspire them to play hard the rest of the way?

For those who remember the old Lou Piniella, Tuesday's new conference was a sure sign that the one-time volatile skipper had mellowed.

Today, Lou Piniella, after 46 years on the baseball field as a player and manager, quietly decided to retire at the conclusion of this season.

Let the speculation begin.

Lou Piniella will retire at season's end, meaning there will be no shortage of rumors swirling around Wrigley Field in regards to their new manager.

It won't be LeBron James-caliber of rumors, but you'll expect to hear the names Ryne Sandberg, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Bob Brenly, and, for that matter, Phil Jackson, over the next three months.

Piniella seemed defeated long ago, even before the 2010 season began.

His Cubs' career began with such promise, but, like all things Cubs-related, it will end on a sour note.