Piniella done in Tampa

[BoSox84]

I think we new this was coming, but where will he end up?

 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Lou Piniella will not return as manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays next season, a decision that had long been expected after he questioned ownership's commitment to winning.

 

Piniella has one season remaining on a $13 million, four-year contract he signed in October 2002 but, according to the terms of a buyout announced Friday, will be free to pursue other jobs after the Devil Rays conclude the season Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles.

The buyout, one of the worst-kept secrets in baseball, was finalized two weeks ago and calls for Piniella to receive $2.2 million of the $4.4 million he was due next season, as well as $1.25 million in deferred salary from 2003.

 

If the 63-year-old manager accepts a job with another team, the Devil Rays could recoup some or all of the money owed for next season.

 

"Lou is a great baseball man and friend. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays thank him for his service to the team and wish him well in his future endeavors," managing general partner Vince Naimoli said in a team statement.

 

The Devil Rays offered no timetable for naming a replacement.

 

Piniella's agent, Alan Nero, began discussions on a possible buyout after the manager criticized the club's new ownership group led by New York investor Stuart Sternberg for being more concerned about the future than trying to win now.

 

He never backed off the statements, but said in June that he planned to honor the remainder of the contract he signed after a highly successful 10-year run as manager of the Seattle Mariners.

 

The Devil Rays went 63-99 in his first season, then won a franchise-best 70 games and finished out of last place for the first time in club history in 2004.

 

Tampa Bay began this season with the lowest payroll in baseball - just over $29 million on opening day - and Piniella's frustration mounted during a dismal first half that saw the Devil Rays stumble to a 28-61 record before the All-Star break.

 

The manager challenged his young players to continue playing hard and guided an impressive turnaround the second half, playing the role of spoilers down the stretch against the playoff-contending Yankees, Red Sox and Guardians.

 

Piniella was teary-eyed last week after the team clinched a winning record for the second half, however the encouraging finish wasn't enough to change his mind about wanting out.

 

"It is evident by the team's play in the second half of the season that this club is moving in the right direction," Piniella said through the club.

 

"Even though I will not be a part of it next year, Rays fans should look forward to the team's continued success. With this core group of young players and other promising talent coming up through the minors, the future is bright for the Devil Rays."

 

With three games remaining in his 19th season as a manager, Piniella has a career record of 1,519-1,417, including a 200-282 mark with the Devil Rays. Tampa Bay was 67-92 going into Friday night's game against the Orioles.

[Pinstripe_Pride]

Can't say I'm surprised.

[yankeessuck013]

This just wasn't the team for Lou. Lou is not a man made to teach young guys. Griffey, A-Rod, the Big Unit, etc, would have all been as great as they became without Lou as if they never encountered him. If you give Lou an undisciplined team of veterans (not "idiots" like us, I mean lazy, etc), he'll whip them into shape and make them play. That's what he can do. If you give him a veteran squad, he can make them work. If there is any man in the MLB who can take a big ego and annihilate it, but keep that guy productive, it's Lou Pinella.

 

So what I'm basically saying is that the Dodgers or Yankees will hire him....

[Ray10]

Im not surprised one bit by this I saw it coming.

[yankeessuck013]

after todays game, anyone want him with the sox?

[BoSox84]

Honeslty, NO. I think the guys a prick and wouldnt work for our team

[jimmycarter05]

truthfully i think he'd be a great manger for the sox...his kind of player is bill mueller; quiet and VERY productive...he wouldn't put up with the antics of players going out and blabbing their mouth to the press...and he can also develop young talent...he did it in seattle with a-rod, big unit, and griffey and definately did it in tampa with jorge cantu, carl crawford, johnny gomes, scott kazmar, aubery huff, i mean the list goes on and on....and since some people bash tito so much on here for being loyal and making crappy decisions and putting up with player's antics, i say let sweet lou be the 2006 manger of the boston red sox :thumbsup:

[BoSox84]

Isnt he the same guy who was almost goin to start relivers and finish the game with starters. I think he also sent ihs pitching coach out to make pitching changes a few times because the team wasnt doing well that game. I dont like him

[yankeessuck013]

more I think of it the more I like the move....

[stocker323]

I think something has to be said with the way Tito handles the clubhouse, something would tell me Piniella would not handle all the characters in that clubhouse as well as Tito would. Piniella is the type of person who wouldn't stand for that harmless stuff and it would rub the players in a bad way. Managing the actual game is a small part of what Tito has to do on a daily basis. The stuff we don't see is what I really think Tito is good at.

[jimmycarter05]

i think sweet lou, who played for boston in his career, would be a great manger, but if we did replace tito with him...thats kind of dirty, i mean he puts up with alot of crap and led the team to its first world series in 86 years and two 90+ winnning seasonings