Submitted by Joe Melosi, Nov 13, 2006 23:21

Tim,

You certainly know how to throw the high and hard one, this one right at the head of all that is Tribune ownership and its baseball manager.

You're right about Ramirez, too. He's too laid back and wouldn't become a leader when Lee went down. Juan Pierre had a decent year, though he was uninspring at leadoff and held back too often from trying to steal. He proved at Florida that he can be a winner with a good manager breathing down neck.

The Cubs have an excellent No. 2, Theriot, who played 51 games and led the team in OBP. He was a smart hitter and knew how to work walks and would be valuable to a leadoff base stealer--and to his team. Knowing the Cubs, thought, they will go out and get a high-profile guy who'll be certain to disappoint.

Hope that Piniella knows talent and uses it right.

Excellent column, Tim.

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