So much for my thought that the media had made out Jim Hendry's enthusiasm for Lou Piniella to be more than it really was. Peter Gammons has "a source" telling him that "Lou Piniella could be the manager of the Chicago Cubs before the World Series begins. . . . The Chicago Sun-Times first reported Saturday that negotiations between the Cubs and Piniella could begin Monday."

Chris Le Duca's Sun-Times article states:

By the end of next week, Lou Piniella is expected to be named the 48th manager in Cubs history.

Told Friday by the Sun-Times that all signs pointed to the job being his, Piniella stepped back, smiled and politely declined to comment during a pivotal day in the process.

Le Duca goes on to write: "After Hendry interviewed Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly on Thursday, sources said the GM got the unofficial green light from the San Diego Padres to interview their manager, Bruce Bochy. But according to several sources, Hendry's superiors quickly shot down the idea of pursuing Bochy -- a well-respected manager who has little sex appeal in Chicago."

So this decision is based in significant part on marketing. Which should not come as a surprise, though it does reinforce a few things: 1) it's not all about winning for the Tribune Co.; 2) this isn't completely Hendry's decision; 3) it was a waste of everyone's time to have interviewed Mike Quade and Pat Listach, given that Bochy's marketing appeal -- which is apparently so insufficient to even allow him to be considered for the job -- is much greater than those two.

This is playing out much like 2002, with one star candidate in the field, with Hendry and that candidate merely needing to come to terms on years and dollars. Let's hope it turns out better this time.