I recognize that you don't throw questions like this one around just because of a half season of mediocre baseball. Still, I want to know what the Cubs Community thinks: has Lou lost the fire in his belly?
Again, this is not an overreaction to what has occurred this season, though that is certainly part of it. The concern is based on the following:
- His age: Look, I have nothing against older guys, as I'm getting there myself (unfortunately). But let's face it, Lou is no spring chicken. We all know that he came in here for his last managing gig, and did so to win a championship, which would secure his place in the Hall of Fame.
Those close to Piniella say the HOF is something he desperately desires.
Two years of making the playoffs without winning a single playoff game would make anyone feel frustrated. At 65, you have to wonder if Lou still has enough energy or if he ever says to himself, "I don't need this headache."
- The team's struggles: This has been a frustrating half season for Lou and the Cubs. It has resulted in Lou having to watch a good friend of his lose his job.
The question that must be going through Lou's mind is "will this get any better?". He has to realize that Jim Hendry likely won't have the money to make improvements unless he is able to dump salary.
Also, he has to deal with his player's frustrations, resulting in Milton Bradley and Carlos Zambrano's occasional meltdowns. I'm sure that isn't any fun for Lou at this point.
- The lure of retirement: This is different than the first bullet because Lou already has a job waiting for him when he decides to hang up his managerial spikes for good.
If Lou wasn't sure what to do following his managerial career, then he might be more willing to remain on the job longer. But that uncertainty doesn't exist for Lou, who has been promised a job by his good friend George Steinbrenner.
It is no secret that The Boss has told Lou he can scout for the club in Tampa Bay, Florida once he's done managing. And that just happens to be Lou's home. That has to sound pretty damn good after a tough loss.
- Dealing with the media: It's also no secret that Lou doesn't like the Chicago media.
In Seattle and Tamps, the media often lobbed softball questions at him. But the Chicago media, while not nearly as tough as New York or Philadelphia, for instance, has been more willing to ask the tough questions.
And continue to ask those same questions over and over again.
If you listen closely you can almost hear Lou responding "What the hell do you think isn't working?! You saw the damn game."
In truth, Lou is not totally blameless in the lack of success for the Cubs. In 2007, he decided to pull Carlos Zambrano early in order to save him for a game four that never happened.
In 2008, he prioritized physical preparation, over being sharp, as he rested his regulars down the stretch.
We all know how listless and unprepared the team looked in last year's playoffs. And Lou continued to play Kosuke Fukudome even though he was obviously so messed up that he had a better chance of screwing himself into the ground than he did of getting a hit.
Then, this offseason, he and Jim Hendry came to the ridiculous conclusion that the team's lack of playoff success was because the team was too right-handed.
Lou can't be totally blameless in all of this.
But no one is perfect, so as long as he still has the fire, I can live with his faults, especially since I don't see anyone better waiting to take his place.
But does he still have that fire?
This has been a much more mellow Lou since joining the Cubs. He only had that one meltdown, just over two years ago, and even that appeared to be somewhat staged.
But I don't think that Lou not being a raving lunatic is any reason to think that he is burned out.
So what do you think, does Louis Victor "Lou" Piniella still have the desire and motivation to lead this club?
Sweet Lou, indeed, come to think of it.
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