I am very happy with the signing of Lou Piniella. It is about time we get a manager that can speak up. If he does not get satisfaction from Hendry, I am sure he will speak up. I see this as putting pressure on the general manager and owners of the team to make this team as good as it can be. I hear that they already have upped the salary limit by $20 million to $115 million.

I think Jason Schmidt should be our #1 priority after signing both Pierre and Ramirez. I think the #2 priority should be another starting pitcher. As far as the starting lineup goes, I am happy with everybody we have now. We have to stay healthy and play smart baseball. I also hope Theriot and Murton are in the lineup every day next year. Everybody rags about J. Jones, but we almost have to keep him because he is a left handed bat in the lineup. We are very right-handed and that can make the opposing manager's job a lot easier. Jones had a good year offensively, and if we have to give up a little on the defensive side, so be it.

The main thing is Dusty and his hitting coaches are gone. This has to be a plus for us. If Piniella is happy with Rothschild, then I can be happy. Let's remember that Piniella won't put up with any of his coaches or players that do not produce. The pitchers all say that Rothschild is good and Maddux made it a point when he left that Rothschild is one of the best pitching coaches around. I trust Maddux on this point.

Wow, I can't wait to see what they do in the next couple of months to make this team better. But I know they are already better with a new manager and I hope, a new outlook on getting a winner for us. God knows it is about time!!!!!!!!

Go Cubs!

Sounds like Lou is all but official, with a press conference tomorrow. I am content with the signing, but I think I am happiest about the fact that the "search" was fairly quick.

Now Hendry has nothing to focus on but cleaning up this mess of a roster...

Sign Pierre and Ramirez.

Extend Zambrano

Resign Wood for bullpen

Hire new trainers and doctors (see: Wood, Kerry and Prior, Mark)

Sign Carlos Lee

Trade Jacque Jones and Ronny Cedeno for a 4th-5th starter.

Sign Schmidt or Zito.

There...all done...wasn't that easy?

Jason,

Though I really wanted Girardi, I completely agree with your thoughts on Lou. Hey, he won a World Series, and though he has had some post season struggles, his Mariners were pretty darn good. He will hold players accountable, but I just hope he gives Murton and Theriot the time they deserve.

To everyone,

What exactly happened to Steve Lyons?

Just Like Barrett Lou can speak spanish as well as english. In todays game that is a advantage. Being able to talk to all of your players is impportant. I'm not sure if Joe is but oh well.

Please do not bring Larry Rothchild back. He is the one that I wanted gone. Why do the cubs feel the need to hold onto this guy. Dusty was forced to have him, Baylor brought him in. What has he done??? Who has he developed??

A few thoughts.....

* Was Jeff Pentland a coach under Lou?

* I wonder if Girardi will be asked to be a bench coach.

* I was glad that Lyons got whacked by fox. The guy

always makes a crack about the cubs. (Maybe because they cut him in the Spring some years ago, thus ending his career.

* I hope Towel boy isn't coming back this guy is weak as they come.

I kind of wanted Girardi...that would have been a long-term fix, I think.

However, we live in a instant-gratification society, and we all want to win asap, so Lou makes more sense here.

Why? Not because he is necessarily a better manager, but because he has the kind of national clout, and loud mouth, that he wouldn't quietly sit by if the Cubs didn't spend appropriately in the manner that it will take to win right away.

Think about it for a minute: Girardi made his name on a $15 million payroll. Tribsters could have easily hired him and then used that fact as a reason they don't need to spend more than they already are.

With Piniella: he left his last job in Tampa upset because management wouldn't spend money. Hendry/Tribsters know this...and I think they also know Lou is more likely the type of guy that could get frustrated by July if the Cubs have 3-4 2nd year pitchers in the rotation behind Zambrano, and they are in 4th place. He will likely explode one day and complain that other clubs "tried harder" to get the Zito's and Schmidt's of the world.

Both Girardi and Lou bring fire, and public accountability to the players, which is sorely needed. I can only hope they both understand the value of OBP as well!

So I think Lou is a good choice...having an outspoken veteran manager (who has plenty of money and job security with tv) will be a good counterpoint to Hendry/Tribsters. Piniella can help keep them honest about "doing what it takes to win and reward the greatest fans in the world".

Now let's start signing some players!!!

So it looks like Piniella is a shoo-in and now the search narrows to a coaching staff to support him. The Cubs have some real talent in the minors to bolster their major league coaching, namely Von Joshua, Mike Quade, and most of all, Alan Dunn, so I hope Hendry insists on some promotion from within when dealing with Piniella.

Frankly, Piniella doesn't seem to be a "let me hire all my buddies" type of manager. He hasn't been followed by a coterie of hangers-on as he has changed managerial jobs. I'm hoping Lou is too much in love with winning to stick with incompetent friends.

That brings me to the biggest worry about hiring coaches: please, no Larry Rothschild. Pardon the vulgarity, but LR couldn't find his a** with both hands. Maybe if he used the towel...