While Lou Piniella's time in Chicago as manager of the Cubs has resulted in two division championships and a 182-144 record, the aspect of his tenure here that sticks out more than any other is the team's 0-6 mark in postseason play. For two straight seasons the Cubs have gone into October with dreams of ending their World Series drought only to be swept out of the first round by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers, and it's an outcome that Piniella would like to change.
So give Sweet Lou some credit for being able to admit to himself that maybe he's doing something wrong with his team when playoff time comes. While a lot of managers might say it was their players who just didn't perform, or that the team's general manager didn't give him the talent he needed, Lou knows he's just as culpable as anybody else. Which is why he's planning on boning up on some sports literature in hopes of helping his team get over the hump.
“I want to read [John] Wooden’s book on winning, and buy a couple of sports psychologist-type books,” Piniella said. “I’ve got to take it upon myself to do things a little differently when we get to postseason, and I will.“I don’t know exactly what, but I’ve been searching. I’ve been talking to my coaches about it since I’ve been here. The fact that this team hasn’t won in so long, it’s going to take a little different approach, as opposed to just letting them play.”
Aside from Wooden's book, Lou also plans on reading the work of another Chicago coach who helped bring quite a few championships to the Windy City: Phil Jackson. This in spite of the fact that Lou says he's "not a zen guy."
No word on whether or not Lou plans on heading into the occult section of Barnes & Noble to see if he can find any books on how to end a curse.
