Merely going through the motions.

It's about time. Lou Piniella has quit as manager of the Chicago Cubs. In mid-season. So he can spend more time with his ailing 90-year-old mother. If that's the real reason, I have new-found great respect for Piniella. Mom is more important than the Cubs. But Piniella had other reason to quit. He's been a lousy manager for the past season and a half. He's allowed his ballclub to be a bunch of lazy underachievers. Actually, Piniella should have been fired. Along with half of the team. This is the most pathetic Cubs team I've seen in a long, long time. Not for lack of talent. Rather, it's lack of gumption. No spirit. Merely going through the motions of collecting a paycheck. --Jim Broede