INDIANAPOLIS -- If Cubs manager Lou Piniella is interested in extending his contract past 2010, it's news to Jim Hendry.
"We haven't talked about any of it," Hendry said today as he walked through the lobby of the Indianapolis Marriott on the eve of the winter meetings. "I'm not worried about it at all.
"Lou and I have been good together. We've never talked about him retiring or continuing or whatever. It's not an issue for me. Go out and play 2010, and worry about it after that then."
Piniella didn't say he would return in 2011, the final year of his contract, but left the door open to his return in a story in the Sun-Times.
Photo: Cubs manager Lou Piniella (Phil Velasquez/Tribune)
"I enjoy what I do, and as long as the organization is pleased -- but let's see," he said. "I'm 66 years old. I'm no spring chicken."
That's in contrast to what he said after the Cubs picked up his $4 million option for 2010, just before the 2008 playoff series against Los Angeles.
Asked then if 2010 would be his final year of managing, Piniella replied: "I've said basically that I'm not going to be a lifer. I've said that before. I want to do things in my life. I've been blessed. God's given me health, and my wife's been patient with me. We haven't taken too many summer vacations over the last 41 years that we've been married."
Of course, that was before the Cubs tanked in the '08 playoffs and in the '09 season, and before the economy tanked as well. Piniella may have changed his mind, as he often does, but hasn't informed the Cubs yet.
Hendry hasn't spoken to chairman Tom Ricketts about a possible contract extension for Piniella. Hendry has three years remaining on his own contract, but whether he'll be the GM the last two years may depend on the 2010 season. It's unlikely the Cubs would extend Piniella's deal before the season even begins.
Asked if he'd like Piniella to return, Hendry said: "Yeah, he's got a good relationship with me. Whatever feelings he wants to talk about... I think we're both focused on just trying to get back on track and be a contender again. I'm not worried about it and he's not worried about it."
Piniella's status could be a distraction in spring training if he says he wants an extension and the Cubs aren't interested in offering one. But Hendry appears content to play out the 2010 season without having the issue being resolved one way or another.
At least it took the focus off the Milton Bradley story for a minute, though after discussing Piniella, Hendry also denied rumors that a trade of Bradley was "imminent."
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I actually started calling him dumpster in may 2007 when he blew that 5 run lead against the mets as a closer.He's actually never been good to me and has done nothing to change that.That being said he Never started or played in a playoff game before, yet piniella decides to start him in game 1 at home which is enough pressure to break marginal average players and that's exactly what it did, 7 walks and a Grand slam later cubs lost and cubs got swept.Especially after how good zambrano pitched on the road in game 1 of 2007 why not start the better more dominant experienced pitcher in game 1 and let the guy having a career Contract year start game 2.Could of changed the outcome but probably not.Piniella is overrated and has won ZERO PLAYOFF games in 3 years.His intro press conference he said "We're gonna win here End of story".3 years later no playoff wins and piniella is a being extended while dusty was ran out of town even tho he won a playoff series and 3 wins in the nlcs.Piniella can go he seems way too old and forgetful anyway.
First of all, calling him "Dumpster" is so 2007. Why not ask us what we think of Wrecks Grossman or Cedric Bumson while you are at it? Second, starting Dempster in Game 1 of the 2008 NLDS was not exactly controversial. He won 17 games and had a 2.96 era that season and had even better numbers at Wrigley. I'd say those numbers were worthy of starting Game 1. I'll give you the Zambrano complaint, but there's no doubt that Dempster was worthy of starting Game 1 of the 2008 NLDS.
It doesn't matter.
Cub fans will continue to flock to Wrigley Field no matter what happens.........which is the only REAL problem with this team's lack of success.
Why is this even a story.Forget lou piniella let that old man retire already.It's brilliant decisions like starting Ryan DUMPSTER in game 1 of the 2008 nlds and pulling Carlos zambrano after 6 innings in game 1 of 2007 nlds,So he can
"save him for game 4" great decisions like that have gotten us NOWHERE.F lou piniella