Piniella steps down as Cubs manager to tend to ailing mother

A day after reiterating his plans to retire at the end of the season, Lou Piniella stepped down Sunday as manager of the Chicago Cubs to spend more time with his ailing mother.

Piniella, a three-time Manager of the Year, missed four games earlier this month to be in Florida with his mother, who is 90. Ultimately, he decided he was needed more at home.

"I'm concerned about my mom," Piniella said in comments before the game. "Family is important, it comes first. My mom needs me home and that's where I'm going."

Piniella, 66, has been a major-league manager for 23 seasons and is 14th on the all-time wins list. He has a 1,835-1,713 record after yesterday's 16-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field. The Braves scored 11 runs in the final three innings.

"She's had a couple other complications, and rather than continue to go home, come back, it's not fair to the team, it's not fair to the players," Piniella said.

Third-base coach Mike Quade was promoted to interim manager, getting the nod over bench coach Alan Trammell.

Piniella trails only Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals, Braves manager Bobby Cox and Joe Torre of the Los Angeles Dodgers in victories among active managers. Cox, who will retire at season's end, was given an ovation before yesterday's game.

Then the public-address announcer ran down Piniella's achievements as he stood at the plate, and scattered cheers of "Louuu" could be heard throughout the crowd.

After Piniella and Cox posed for a picture with the umpires, the managers hugged each other. Piniella then headed to the dugout as the cheers got louder, took off his cap, waved it to the crowd and began to clap for the fans.

After succeeding Dusty Baker at the helm of the Cubs, Piniella posted a 316-293 record. After winning the National League Central title in his first two seasons in Chicago, the team missed the playoffs last year and currently is in fifth place with a 51-74 record.

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