LITTLE ROCK — CUBS
Final chapters
Lou Piniella wanted to save his hometown team but was fed up with the Tampa Bay Rays by the end of three seasons. He was sure he would have a much better chance to win with the Chicago Cubs, but they entered the weekend having gone 308-272 with him at the helm, compared to the Rays’ 304-276 record during those four years - and you know which of those teams went to the World Series.
Piniella, who will retire after this season, entered the weekend with a .519 winning percentage. It jumps to .536 when you take away the Rays’ 200-285 mark in his three seasons.
Piniella is 14th all-time in victories, putting him in Hall of Fame territory. Of those ahead of him, the only ones not in the Hall are Gene Mauch and the still-active Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre. But the .519 winning percentage and one pennant in 23 seasons hurt Piniella’s case.
ASTROS
Misleading numbers
Why all the fuss about Roy Oswalt? The guy was 6-11 heading into his scheduled start against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday and 14-17 in 49 starts the past two seasons.
Consider that the Astros have scored 10 runs in his 11 losses this season, seven of which qualified as quality starts, and that the bullpen blew six saves behind him last year.
“If I win those six games, you’re not asking me how old I am,” Oswalt, who is being targeted by St. Louis and others, said.
He will be 33 next month, but this year is third in the National Leaguein quality starts, fifth in WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched), 11th in ERA, 12th in strikeouts and 18th in innings. Those are No. 1 starter type numbers, even on strong teams.
Sports, Pages 33 on 07/25/2010