Piniella Finally Pops…You Knew It Had To Happen
For those of you who had Friday, June 11th in the “Day Lou Piniella finally snaps and has one of his signature meltdowns,” please step forward to collect your money. Frankly, given the escalating level of Lou’s blood pressure during those every-day press conferences, you had to see this one coming.
Piniella and Stone: "Can't we all just get along?"
As usual, it is June and the Cubs are underachieving. Cubs’ manager Lou Piniella has been taking sniper fire from the media for weeks now, particularly about why rookie Tyler Colvin isn’t playing every day when the anemic Cubbie offense could use his .290 average with six homers and 16 RBIs he’s posted despite limited playing time. Well, when White Sox broadcaster Steve Stone said to Comcast SportsNet that Colvin should be playing regularly (a subject he has been rather outspoken on, by the way), Lou hit the International Enough Line, and “pop went the weasel.”
“We’ve got a lot of people here that haven’t managed and won any games in the big leagues that know everything. I think they should try to put the uniform on and try this job, and see how they like it when they get criticized unjustly. That’s all I’ve got to say about that issue.”
But, as is Lou’s proclivity, that wasn’t all he had to say.
“And another thing I’m going to say—I won over 1,800 games as a manager, and I’m not a damn dummy. That, I can tell you. OK? There are only 13 others that have won more games than me, so I guess I think I know what the hell I’m doing. All right? Steve Stone, he’s got enough problems doing what he does with the White Sox. What job has he had in baseball besides talking on television or radio?” Piniella asked. “What has he done? Why isn’t he a farm director and bring some kids around? Why isn’t he a general manager? Why hasn’t he ever put the uniform on and been a pitching coach? Why hasn’t he been a field manager? There’s 30 teams out there that could use a guy’s expertise like that, you know? I’m tired of some of these guys, I really am.”
Naturally, Stone had a response to Piniella’s rant.
“It was an observance and when you need to have a front-office job to make an observance about baseball, there’s going to be nobody working in baseball. None of you media guys are going to be working in baseball because then you can’t say anything because you’ve never been in the front office. That might be one of the dumber things he’s said.”
If you are having a “Deja Vu” moment here, you are having it honestly. Stone is a great TV guy because he is willing to speak his mind. Stone was once the Cubs’ color analyst until 2004 when he left after publicly sparring with then-manager Dusty Baker as the team pulled their usual late-season collapse.
Granted, this evolved into a whole “back-and-forth” bit; the Chicago Tribune offers more detail on this pissing contest. However, if there were ever an award for saying “Fuck You” without actually speaking the words, it ought to go to Steve Stone.
“I think Lou conveniently forgets that I was one of the champions for him to get the job when a lot of people wanted Joe Girardi at that time.”
Suck on that, Louie.
About J-Dub
One comment on “Piniella Finally Pops…You Knew It Had To Happen”
Drop Your Comments Here
The Man Behind Dubsism
Dubsism on Pinterest
Click On JoePa-Kenobi To Feel The Power Of The Jedi Photoshop Trick. Besides, you can get the best sports-related recipes ever. This is the sports-related content you are looking for.
Blog Directories
Dubsism 
Pingback: Cue Chicago Cubs Implosion in 3…2…1… « Dubsism