An amazing turn around.

My Chicago Cubs found new life in the last six weeks of the baseball season. During that period, they had the second best record in the National League -- 24 wins and 13 losses. Still, the Cubs finished fifth in their six-team division. They played uninspired baseball until manager Lou Piniella quit on Aug. 22 and went home to care for his ailing mother. A Cubs coach, Mike Quade, was named interim manager. And it was under him that the Cubs turned things around. I think he got the players to play with zest. With heart. With gumption. Under Piniella, the players were just going through the motions. Lifeless. Piniella tolerated the lacadaisical play. Maybe because Piniella's heart was no longer in baseball. And he had allowed himself to become an old man. Sadly. Anyway, seems to me that Quade should be named the Cubs manager for next season. He did an unexpectedly good job of it as interim manager. I think he knows how to invigorate and inspire a ball club. The Cubs were a pleasure to watch in those last six weeks. Amazing. What a turn around. From the pathetic Cubs. To a really good baseball team. All of it with the same players. Only a different manager. A different leader. --Jim Broede