Tue. July 20, 2010
Chicago, IL -
lclub," Piniella said in a statement. "I've had four wonderful years here that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. I've grown to love the city and the fans but at my age (67 at the end of the season) it will be time to enter a new phase in my life. It will enable me to spend more valuable time with my family -- my wife, my kids and my grandchildren. God has blessed me to have been able to work this many years in the game that I love.
"Why make this announcement now? Jim Hendry asked me in recent weeks regarding my future with the team and I told him I had made the decision to retire at the end of the season. Since my decision has now been made, I don't want to mislead anyone about my intentions when asked in the future.
"But more importantly, announcing my decision now is what's best for this organization in the long run. It gives Jim Hendry ample time to find the next manager and he doesn't need to do so in secrecy. The Cubs are one of the greatest organizations in baseball. I care very deeply for this organization and want nothing more than for it to experience present and long-term success. I'm proud of our accomplishments during my time here and this will be a perfect way for me to end my career.
"But let me make one thing perfectly clear: our work is far from over. I want to keep the momentum going more than anything else and win as many games as we can to get back in this pennant race. I'm going to give every effort I have to help this team win and that will remain my sole focus through the rest of the season."
The New York Daily News first reported Piniella's decision.
While Piniella gave hints that this would be his final year in an interview with two Cubs beat reporters two weeks ago in Phoenix, he maintained at that time that no final decision had been made, but that Chicago would be his final stop.
"I'm not going anymore," he said. "When I'm done here, I'm going home. I'm going to enjoy my family, enjoy my friends and do things I haven't been able to do for the past 50 years of my life. Im going to enjoy myself a little bit. I bought myself a boat last year. It's sitting over there at the marina. My kids use it, which is good. But yeah, I'm not going anywhere. When I'm finished here, Im going home and that's it."
Piniella's run in Chicago is unlikely to end on a good note, with his team out of contention and his goal of winning a championship unfulfilled. He's been criticized this year for lacking intensity and seeming remote on the bench.
"You know what, truthfully, the media's been very fair to me," he said in Phoenix. "I get some pot shots from time to time. But that's to be expected. But I've enjoyed this whole experience. I really have. And it's been a challenge. It hasn't been easy. This hasn't been easy. I was told coming in by some good friends that this would be an experience of a great magnitude. And they basically were right."
Written by: Paul Sullivan
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