Seattle had a winning season his first year and continued the tradition all but three of his ten seasons in Seattle. They went to the playoffs four times, the ALCS three and won 300 games the last three years.
Family Matters
Family has always been important to Lou. This is the reason he said he wanted to leave the team-to be closer to his home, Tampa, Florida. The Devil Rays wasted little time in making their hometown boy an offer.
Weather this is the whole reason he is leaving we don't know. Some wondered if he was frustrated with the front office for not making a move to improve the team before the playoffs (Lou showed his frustration openly, even though the Mariners still ended up with the second best record in their history).
Anyone who wants to win like he does would be frustrated, but I think we should take him at his word--home is where he needs to be now.
Who Else but Lou
It's hard to imagine someone else at the helm after all these years-even someone we already know, like McLaren or Price.
Lou left his distinctive imprint on the team. Who else could kick dirt over home plate or uproot a base and throw it the way he does? Who else could stutter and sound like he's completely out of it with reporters, then be an absolute genius managing his players on the field? Who else would call for the squeeze in a key moment to win a big game? Who else but Lou?
A New Era Begins
It's too bad the Mariners couldn't have at least made it to the World Series before he left. But Lou has played on and managed World Series teams before. Perhaps the satisfaction of knowing how far he took the Mariners and the impact he had on baseball in Seattle is enough. Now it's time for another challenge.
Next year, it appears, the Lou Piniella era will begin in Tampa, much as it did in Seattle-with a losing team. If anyone can get them to .500 and beyond, it's Lou.
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