Mom's condition helps spur early retirement

The toll of his mother's failing health, a losing season and a difficult personal decision to leave his last baseball season early were etched on Lou Piniella's tearful face.
''A lot of good times, good people ... it's been a lot of nfl jerseys
fun,'' the Cubs manager said in his last news conference Sunday.
''This will be the last time I put on the uniform,'' he said, choking back tears. ''It's been very special.''
Hours before the Cubs' 16-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves, Piniella announced Sunday's game would be his last. He made the decision Saturday night after several heart-to-heart meetings with general manager Jim Hendry about the declining health of his 90-year-old mother, Margaret. Her condition, which has worsened in recent days, made Piniella decide to step aside now instead of at the end of the season, as he had announced in July.
''It's not fair to the team, the players,'' he said. ''My mother hasn't gotten better. In fact, there have been a couple other complications. The best thing is to step down and go home and take care of her.''
Piniella's unexpected decision was followed by another surprise. Hendry chose third-base coach Mike Quade instead of bench coach Alan Trammell to finish the season as manager. Hendry made the choice because Trammell will not be a candidate to manage next season; Quade will be. Trammell managed the team during several absences by Piniella this season.
''Alan's terrific and an outstanding coach,'' said Hendry, who told Colts jersey
Trammell on Sunday morning. ''The last few weeks I've made the decision Alan won't be a candidate for the managerial job. He understood. The decision I made is if he wasn't going to be the manager, we'd be better served not having him be managing the rest of the year.''
Quade, 53, a Mount Prospect native, has spent almost a decade with the organization, managing in the farm system before joining Piniella's staff in 2007.
''You thank Jim and the front office and the Ricketts family for giving me the opportunity,'' Quade said. ''Probably first and foremost, I should thank Lou because without him, I mean, my life is in a whole different place, probably.''
Hendry said the rest of the coaching staff will remain, with first-base coach Ivan DeJesus moving to third base. Trammell, who managed the Detroit Tigers, remains the bench coach, and a roving minor-league instructor will be added to the staff.
''I don't have a front-runner,'' Hendry said of the next manager. ''I said I would take a long, extended amount of time and do what I thought was best for our organization. There isn't a leading candidate. Mike deserves this opportunity, and I hope he handles it well.''
Piniella's final game came against manager Bobby Cox, who will retire after the season. The two exchanged lineup cards and hugs at home plate before the game, and Cox acknowledged the cheers.
The applause for Piniella was the deeper gesture. He called it a touching tribute.
''I noticed things around the park I hadn't noticed before,'' Piniella said of his last day. ''I was very cognizant of the things around here.
''It's a good day to remember, and also forget,'' he added with a smile, noting the score.
''I don't think when you come here as an outsider you Cowboys jersey
realize what you're getting into -- and it's good. We've raised the bar a little. The fans get into it here. It's probably the most fun place in major-league baseball.
''I hope in the very near future they can get a team here to give the fans what they want.''