Piniella fact box

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer
Published September 2, 2007

Fast Facts:

Just managing

Is Lou Piniella's success the result of managing better, or managing better players? Here's what his 2005 Rays team looked like compared to his current Cubs team:

Cubs (69-65) Rays (67-95)

Lineup

Alfonso Soriano, lf Julio Lugo, ss

Ryan Theriot, ss Carl Crawford, lf

Derrek Lee, 1b Jorge Cantu, 2b/3b

Aramis Ramirez, 3b Aubrey Huff, rf

Cliff Floyd/Matt Murton, RF Jonny Gomes, dh

Mark DeRosa/Mike Fontenot, 2b Travis Lee, 1b

Jacque Jones, cf Alex Gonzalez, 3b/ Nick Green 2b

Jason Kendall, c Toby Hall, c

Joey Gathright/Damon Hollins, cf

Starting pitchers

Carlos Zambrano Scott Kazmir

Sean Marshall Mark Hendrickson

Jason Marquis Casey Fossum

Ted Lilly Hideo Nomo/Seth McClung

Rich Hill Doug Waechter/ Dewon Brazelton

Key relievers

Ryan Dempster Danys Baez

Bob Howry Travis Harper

Carlos Marmol Lance Carter

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Just managing

Is Lou Piniella's success the result of managing better, or managing better players. Here's what his 2005 Rays team looked like compared to his current Cubs team:

Cubs (68-64) Rays (67-95)

Lineup Lineup

Alfonso Soriano, lf Carl Crawford, lf

Ryan Theriot, ss Julio Lugo, ss