Lou Piniella Was 'Ambushed'

While Cubs manager Lou Piniella isn't as fiery as he used to be (he's been ejected from a game 61 times), he still will get tossed from a ball game from time to time. Of course, ever since Lou came to Chicago, he's lived up to his nickname as he's only been ejected from a game twice. The first time came back on June 2nd, 2007 when Sweet Lou gave us a classic performance that resulted in getting himself suspended for four games.

It also happened to coincide with the Cubs turning their season around, as they went 35-18 over their next 53 games to dig out of an early season rut (they were 22-31 before the ejection) and went on to win the division. Lou's second ejection came this past Sunday, and it also comes at a time when the Cubs are struggling, as they've lost four in a row for the first time all season.

Though if the Cubs win 10 of their next 11, Lou's performance probably shouldn't get the credit, as he never intended to put one on. No, according to Lou, he was ambushed as he went out to argue a checked swing by Joe Crede.

"I was talking to the first-base umpire about the checked swing, and I got ambushed from behind," Piniella said. "Well, then I got my money's worth ... I think. Probably not."

"[First base umpire Chad Fairchild] said: 'You can't be on the field for that. I was going back to the dugout. And the other guy ambushed me. What was his name? Drake? ... Anyway, he ran me. I didn't even know I was run until they told me to get off the field.

"Evidently, you can't contest a checked swing, but I guess the first-base umpire was going to allow me to go back to the dugout, and then the home plate umpire [ejected me]. Truthfully, he didn't need any help on that had he been paying attention, because when I saw it on replay, it was even more flagrant than what I thought it was from seeing it in the dugout. You know what's amazing is, umpires make mistakes at times, and when you question them, you end up paying the consequences.

"You can't argue anymore. Anyway, I got a little frustration out. It's over with. They're still my buddies."

Yes, they're most definitely buddies. That explains why Lou didn't even know Rob Drake's name. Well, that or it could be the fact both Drake and Fairchild are minor league umpires filling in for a couple of guys on vacation.

Whatever the case is, Lou has every right to be upset with Drake, as he had no reason to eject him. Lou's problem was with Fairchild, and he didn't think Piniella did anything to warrant getting tossed, so what gave Drake the right to do so? Arguing a checked swing is not the same thing as arguing balls and strikes, and Lou wasn't lying about the replay, either. It was a pretty clear cut call that Drake shouldn't even have needed help on.