04/24/24
September 21, 2005
Pinella Out in Tampa: Lou Pinella will not return to coach the Tampa Bay Devil Rays next season, thanks to a $2.2-million buyout. "I got a great deal," Pinella said. "I thought I'd have to pay them a lot more than that."
Way to leave with class, Lou. Remember when he was a genius and Joe Torre was an idiot?
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:31 PM on September 21, 2005
He is a genius. He has Tampa paying him big bucks to manage a lousy team. Now he has them paying him to leave. Pretty damn smart as far as I'm concerned.
posted by dbt302 at 08:59 PM on September 21, 2005
I'd take $2.2M not to manage the Devil Rays.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:07 PM on September 21, 2005
I will never forget watching Lou kick his hat from second base all the way into the dugout at Jacobs field. I think he kicked it about 25 times to get it there, Griffey jr. was on the bench laughing so hard he was covering his face. Nobody could throw a fit quite like Lou. He could be funny sometimes!
posted by jojomfd1 at 10:20 PM on September 21, 2005
Great, now we'll here nothing but "Lou to the Yankees" stories. Man its going to be a long off season at this rate!
posted by daddisamm at 10:58 PM on September 21, 2005
Yeah...Lou's definitely not stupid! I just remember when he was managing my Reds in '91... a sweep of the mighty A's! Ironically enough, I now live in the Bay Area, pull for the Giants, and admire what the A's have become under the expert management of Billy Beane. What has become of my Reds? Well, let's just say that certain owners need to learn the skill of "budding out". Cheers, - slackerman
posted by slackerman at 12:08 AM on September 22, 2005
slackerman, as if on cue, the Reds were officially eliminated from playoff contention tonight. (Please give the 15-years-ago version of you my condolences.) And yeah, Lou to the Yankees. That's already started. Something tells me that would be a bad move too.
posted by chicobangs at 01:59 AM on September 22, 2005
I was at the reds game when he picked up first base abd through t, not once, but twice. Poor Reds. Damn you Uncle Carl, spend some of that bananna money.
posted by mick at 06:02 AM on September 22, 2005
One of my favorite Piniella moments is from an ESPN telecast a few years back when Lou was managing the M's and they had a camera in the dugout behind him. Late in the game, a call went against him and he went ballistic, jumping up and making a move toward the field, only he caught his toe on the top step and fell on his face...
posted by ajaffe at 07:27 AM on September 22, 2005
I loved the base throwing incidents the best. He did the same trick with the D-Rays not too long ago. Picked up first base, threw it into right field. Seemed to pause for a second - decided that it didn't travel far enough and threw it again. Just fantastic stuff. I don't think Lou should manage the Yankees. These days that's likely to end up in a embolism for a guy like Lou.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 07:46 AM on September 22, 2005
Who cares about him leavin tampa bay. He did what he could with no success.
posted by Yankees still rule!! at 07:55 AM on September 22, 2005
lou once said that he would hate to be the guy that has to follow joe torre. it's better to be the guy that follows the guy that follows torre.
posted by goddam at 08:43 AM on September 22, 2005
Hell I'll not manage the Rays for 1/2 mil if they need need to pay somebody not to manage them the rest of the season.
posted by scottypup at 09:44 AM on September 22, 2005
Whoa! He's going? This simply stuns me. Why would a guys leave any team that has done so well for so long? Wait a minute, he coaches who??? I knew he was going to wise up sooner or later. Now maybe he can use his true managing talents to manage a real team like the Royals for instance. Hopefully he can let the next poor sap in on what to expect from this under-achieving band of misfits and the cheap owner who has no clue about baseball or sports in general. I think it's time to fold this team and get the two baseball team situation out of Florida anyway. Maybe they can just play a schedule that only includes the New York Yankees.
posted by melcarek69 at 11:52 AM on September 22, 2005
Pinella will manage again. Thats right- hes gonna coach the Yanks! Torre will probaly only last another year before he hangs it up, and Pinella will be the new manager. Who knows, maybe the magic of the pinstripes and new stadium will bring out the good side in Pinella. MAYBE........
posted by redsoxrgay at 01:38 PM on September 22, 2005
You think he's done with managing? This was, after all, supposed to be his "last job." If memory serves, he just wanted to move home and do family stuff.