The same night Lou Piniella was hoisting the trophy that he and his Cincinnati Reds won in the 1990 World Series, George Steinbrenner was on "Saturday Night Live" pulling his pants down for a skit.
In his office that night, Piniella was asked if he wanted to say anything to Steinbrenner, the man who had given him his first managerial job and taken it away, too.
Yes, Piniella said. "George," he said, "I can manage."
Now, with the Yankees reeling after being eliminated yesterday by the upstart Tigers in the division series, it's conceivable that Piniella will get the chance to show Steinbrenner how he'd manage The Boss' beloved, $200 million team. A second straight first-round failure has jeopardized Joe Torre's job and Piniella is a likely replacement.
Steinbrenner has privately said for years that the biggest mistake he ever made was letting Piniella go. He's waited nearly 20 years, during which time Piniella managed the Reds, Mariners and Devil Rays, for the chance to bring him back.
Piniella, a Yankee outfielder from 1974-84, said in an interview with The Associated Press in April that he and Steinbrenner are "good friends." Both live in Tampa, the Yanks' spring home. Piniella was born in Tampa, Steinbrenner's adopted hometown.
Piniella, who at 63 is three years younger than Torre, was hired as Yanks' manager for the 1986 season in place of Billy Martin. Steinbrenner said Piniella was "my kind of player. I think he'll be my kind of manager."
Piniella led the Yanks to a 90-72 record and a second-place finish the first season and was 89-73 and in fourth place in 1987. He was fired after the '87 season and made the GM, but he was back on the bench in mid-1988, replacing Martin for the final 93 games. He wasn't invited back the next year.
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