When Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced he would retire at the end of this season, speculation began on who might replace him.
One of the names that were mentioned among the potential candidates was St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.
La Russa’s name was included because some of the geniuses at “The Worldwide Leader” apparently had nothing better to do than offer unrealistic opinions on the subject.
Despite the speculation that La Russa could be a possible replacement for Piniella, the fact is he will not take the Cubs job.
While the Cubs are in a position to throw a lot of money at La Russa, Chicago has never been a place where managers flourish.
Piniella and former manager Dusty Baker each had initial success in Chicago, with Baker leading the Cubs to the 2003 NL Central division title and was one win away from going to the World Series.
But the Curse of the Billy Goat got the best of Chicago in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, also known as the Steve Bartman game. The Cubs blew a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning and eventually lost the series to the Florida Marlins.
Baker lead the Cubs to an 89-73 record the following season but finished third in the division. The next two seasons saw Chicago finish below .500 and Baker was fired at the end of 2006.
Piniella had similar results in his first two seasons as the Cubs manager, winning consecutive NL Central division titles in 2007 and 2008.
But Chicago lost to Arizona in the 2007 NLDS and the Dodgers in the 2008 NLDS, getting swept in both series.
The Cubs finished second in the NL Central in 2009, but so far this season they’re 43-53 and 11 games behind St. Louis.
The Cubs would possibly have to undertake another reclamation project that seems to happen in Chicago once every five years, and La Russa isn’t the type of person that will endure several mediocre seasons for the sake of turning the team around.
And more importantly, although he has an option on his contract for 2011, La Russa is getting along in years and wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to manage Albert Pujols for what could be his last season in a Cardinals uniform.
The Cubs will surely capture the attention of several big name managers and former player Ryne Sandberg who is currently managing Chicago’s Triple A team in Iowa.
Of all the names that might be mentioned between now and the day Chicago introduces a new manager, Tony La Russa is one name that can be taken off the list effective immediately.
