Cubs Manager Shrugged Off Blago's Lineup Advice

Rod Blagojevich sought to extend his influence beyond politics and media during his tenure as Illinois governor, the Chicago Tribune reports, sending Cubs manager Lou Piniella lineup suggestions in 2007. “I’ve talked to him, baseball-wise,” Piniella said of a note from Blagojevich during a rough patch. “He’s a big Cubs fan. Obviously we didn’t heed his advice.”

The letter—bringing to Piniella’s attention a cartoon in the Sun-Times comparing the manager to Blagojevich—appears on the Tribune website. “What a great compliment for me,” the since-indicted governor wrote before advising in a postscript that Piniella move slugging outfielder Alfonso Soriano from the leadoff to the third spot. Says Piniella, “We always welcome suggestions.”
(More Rod Blagojevich stories.)