The Columnists: Isaacs: JUST A FEW WORDS WITH LOU PINIELLA

It’s not always about patient-stupid dead-ass ball players! It just seems that way.

He said the Cubs wre struggling (6-5 record at the time) “but we’ll be okay, it’s early….The game is speed and power. Speed always shows up, power doesn’t… We need a left-handed power hitter…People don’t like dead-ass ball players.”

When he noted that the Cubs’ defense had been spotty, I said, “Well, I guess a manager can’t do much about that.”

“Yes I can, I can pull guys out of there,.” he said with a sly smile. “You can be patient-smart letting a guy come around, and you can be patient-stupid, sticking with a player too long. I think everybody knows I lean against being patient-stupid.”

...If it happened, the whole country would be delighted to celebrate the first Cubs World Series since 1908. “There’s more attention to it now,” Piniella said, “because of the 100-year thing. The Cub fans are terrific. But I get the feeling that half the crowds come for the baseball and half to party.“