you can draw your own lessons

The Seattle Times: Lou cuts loose in M’s win

With little else to play for, Lou Piniella showed last night that pride and passion are still part of his game in the dying days of this long-gone pennant race.

Following his own call to win as many as possible, the Mariners’ manager went berserk when first-base umpire C.B. Bucknor blew a close third-out call on Ben Davis at first base that ended the ninth inning and cost Seattle a win in regulation.

A week or so back, Lou Piniella put on quite a show, protesting a blown call that cost his team the game. It provoked this response:

I’m certain Lou was provoked by the umpire. I’m certain he was and does get frustrated. I’m also certain that he, like all other concerned parents, would like his children to respond with a apology for less than “sportsman-like conduct,” rather than the excuse that he was provoked.

Another lesson you can draw is that a leader stands up for his guys, and if he loses his temper, so be it. Sports at that level is not a passionless exercise. It’s not like he took a bat to the umpire: he vented his energy on inanimate objects (though the first base bag flying into right field might not count as inanimate).

I sometimes wonder if Seattle isn’t too concerned about appearing emotional, rather than displaying a bit of passion and drive.