Piniella vows to turn around Cubs franchise

CHICAGO — Lou Piniella put the blue cap bearing a big C onto his head, pulled the jersey with No. 41 over his shoulders and then made sure his modeling was complete by turning around to give everyone a full look.

The big question: Can he turn around the Chicago Cubs?

Told that the team he now manages has gone nearly a century between World Series championships, dating back to 1908, Piniella said Tuesday he wasn't aware of that dubious record.

"I didn't know that. Has it been that long here?" he asked.

Piniella is the latest choice to end that almost unfathomable drought. A fiery manager, now 63 years old, who is demanding and can be combustible — especially in arguments with umpires — Piniella comes to town with a history of winning, including a World Series title in 1990 with the Reds.

"Urgency is important," Piniella said. "We're going to win here, and that's the end of the story."

Piniella brushed off a report that he wanted the Cubs to acquire embattled Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, saying there hadn't been "any discussions about A-Rod."

Piniella was Rodriguez's first manager, with the Seattle Mariners in the mid-1990s. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, saying he was not allowed to discuss other teams' players, also said he and Piniella had not discussed Rodriguez.

On Monday, Piniella agreed to a three-year contract worth nearly $10 million, with an option for a fourth year.

"I'm just a little piece of the puzzle. My job is to come in here and unite this team," he said at a news conference.

But what makes him think he will be any different from others who have come in with such enthusiasm?

"When a manager comes in, obviously, he's going to feel that way. Why is it going to be different? I have extreme confidence in my ability, and I know you've had some good managers here in the past," Piniella said.

"Sometimes, things don't go the way you expect."

That certainly happened with Piniella's most recent predecessor, Dusty Baker, whose contract was not renewed after four seasons, the final one which ended 66-96. Just three years earlier in Baker's first season, the Cubs were within five outs of the World Series.