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.

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.