The Cubs' .525 win percentage in 2007 put Lou Piniella 8th among all-time Cubs' managers in win percentage, among managers who have managed at least 100 games. The rankings page has been updated.

The hiring of Lou Piniella got Derek at Cub Town and Rob G. at The Cub Reporter talking to USS Mariner proprietor Derek Zumsteg about Piniella's preferences and tendencies.

A few of the nuggets we learn:

• Piniella likes veterans. Piniella overworks his pitchers unless constrained by a suitable pitching coach. At least we'll avoid anxiety resulting from change.

• Piniella doesn't like platoons. Good news for Jacque Jones and lefthanded National League pitchers.

• Piniella likes scrappy players with no talent. But, really, who doesn't?

In an article mostly speculating about the Cubs acquiring Alex Rodriguez, the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan quotes Jim Hendry as saying about Lou Piniella: "I enjoyed my time talking to Lou Piniella. He's an outstanding baseball person and for all the things he has accomplished in the game he certainly deserves to be a candidate." Notice that Hendry believes Piniella deserves to be a candidate, as if he is not one already. Also notice that Piniella deserves to be one for all of the things he has accomplished in the game, not because he would be a good fit for the Cubs. Either Hendry is trying to depress Piniella's market price, or he just isn't that enthused about him. Or, I'm reading too much into Hendry's statement.

This MLB.com article writes commenting on sources in Florida:
Girardi has "zero" chance of returning for a second season.
I'm a Dusty fan, but I say goodbye to Baker and hello to Girardi.

The Chicago Tribune's Melissa Isaacson profiles Bob Brenly, and the possibility that he could be a big league manager again soon, perhaps for the Chicago Cubs:

"If the right situation came along, absolutely I'd like to get back on the field. But I don't have to go out searching for that job or be standing by my phone 24 hours a day waiting for the call. I'm perfectly content to do what I do for the rest of my life."

Ruz at The Cub Reporter has an insightful interview with Miami Herald columnist Dan LeBatard on Joe Girardi. Ruz comes away from the interview endorsing Jim Hendry making a move for Girardi, if he becomes available -- LeBatard says he will -- in the offseason.

A couple of LeBatard's responses make me leary of going after Girardi:

Cubs' All-Time Managers, Ranked by Winning Percentage
Must have managed at least 100 games to be included.