Sweet Lou snubbed by Hall

Long time Seattle Mariner manager, Lou Piniella fell short in his quest for Cooperstown, falling on vote shy (11). Piniella has a history of winning as a player and as a manager (.517 winning percentage), and an air-tight resume, which makes him missing the cut a complete snub.

He was a decorated player and manager with 41 years in the game and has a laundry list of accomplishments on the field and in the dugout. According to Baseball Reference, Piniella is 17th on the all-time managerial wins list, one spot ahead of Jim Leyland, and he won the same number of division titles (six) and a World Series championship. I'm not saying Leyland shouldn't have made the cut, but Piniella should be onstage with him.

The list of stars Pinella managed is extensive, highlighting Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, Rob Dibble, Norm Charlton, Randy Myers, Edgar Martinez, Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, and so on. That's four Hall of Famers and it's just the tip of the iceberg when looking at the talent he cultivated as a manager.

Piniella also had a way of connecting with his players and getting the best out of them. He knew when to be stern and lay down the law, but he also offered room for his guys to be themselves.

It's a shame Sweet Lou didn't get his name called, but you'd like to think the committee will get it in December 2026 because he absolutely deserves a bust in Cooperstown.