"I wasn't expecting what we got and I don't think anybody was," Piniella said Friday as Cubs pitchers and catchers reported for spring training.
"I felt like I was run over by a Mack Truck, I'll be honest with you. Never once did I feel what happened to us would happen."
Piniella decided he'd have to make some changes - general manager Jim Hendry made plenty on the roster during the offseason
- that might help his team get past the first round. If of course, they make it back.
He became a student. He began reading, especially writings of other successful coaches, most notably his Tampa neighbor, Tony Dungy, the former coach of the Indianapolis Colts, who won a Super Bowl after the 2006 season.
"I learned a lot. I'm 0-6 in postseason," Piniella said of his stint with the Cubs. "There is room for improvement there for me. Jim has tinkered with our roster. He's done his job. Now I got to do mine and the players have to do theirs. ...
"My disposition is last year we had a darn good baseball team. We just need to figure out how to stay longer," Piniella said. "I'm going to do things a little differently than I did last year as far as getting ourselves more prepared. The manager has a responsibility."
High on his list, Piniella said, is getting his regulars more rest, especially since the Cubs still play a home schedule heavy with day games.
The Cubs have added a new right fielder in Milton Bradley, a utility infielder in Aaron Miles and a backup center fielder in Joey Gathright. They restocked their pitching staff with Aaron Heilman, Kevin Gregg and Luis Vizcaino. Paul Bako is the new backup catcher to last year's rookie of the year, Geovany Soto.
Among those no longer around are solid clubhouse personalities and effective performers like Mark DeRosa and Kerry Wood.
One thing the Cubs won't have to deal with is talk about the 100th anniversary of their last World Series champion? Why? Cause it's now going on 101.
" You give yourselves enough chances, sooner or later you break the barn door down and you get it done and that's what we have to do," Piniella said. "We didn't make the changes with this ballclub because we didn't have a good ball club. We're just trying to get better."
One new look the Cubs could have by opening day is in the executive suite where Tom Ricketts
- longtime fan of the team - could complete a purchase of the team from Tribune Co. by opening day.
Hendry was happy with the team he has put together but also cautious Friday, saying that despite two straight NL Central titles getting back will be difficult.
