In addition, if you're interested in purchasing the CD profiling Harry Caray and featuring some of his greatest broadcasts, narrated by WGN Radio's Pat Hughes, visit www.baseballvoices.com. The CD also is available at Harry Caray's restaurants, the Cubs Clubhouse at Water Tower Place and at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

I was really disappointed that the Cubs did not hire Joe Girardi as their manager. What do the Cubs see in Lou Piniella that they don't see in Joe?
-- Nick M., Norman, Okla.

Experience. A proven winner. Someone who understands the importance of the whole organization, top to bottom, from the scouts to player development to the big-league level. Not to say Girardi didn't, but Piniella impressed Cubs GM Jim Hendry on that topic.

How good are the Cubs' chances of landing A-Rod? And if acquired, would he play shortstop or third base?
-- Erik P., Dyersville, Iowa

The Alex Rodriguez rumor was prompted by Piniella's hire, and both Piniella and Hendry say that the Yankee third baseman's name never came up in their talks. It wasn't a package deal. As to whether the Cubs will try to deal for Rodriguez ... he's pretty expensive. A-Rod is owed $108 million over the next four years (with the Texas Rangers paying approximately $44 million of that amount as part of the trade of Rodriguez to the Yankees in 2004), and his contract includes a complete no-trade clause, so any deal would have to be approved by him. The Cubs might want to spread that money around, because they have other issues to address -- see the next question.

I've been reading about how the Tribune Co. is planning on beefing up the payroll by trying to make a few big offseason moves. Some of the names I'm hearing are A-Rod, Carlos Lee, Alfonso Soriano, Jason Schmidt and even Ichiro Suzuki. I'd like to know our realistic chances of landing a name like Ichiro or Soriano, and what it would take from the Cubs to get a player like that.
-- Jeff C., Aurora, Ill.

Hendry says that he'll get an increase in payroll, he just doesn't know how much. It may depend on the players. The Cubs have some holes -- they need starting pitching and another good hitter. Piniella, his staff, the scouts, and the player development and baseball operations people will gather on Nov. 6 for their organization meetings to figure out who they want to focus on this offseason. Last year they targeted Scott Eyre and Bob Howry, and got both.

Are you worried about Larry Rothschild being the pitching coach? Not one pitcher has gotten progressively better since 2001. Bringing Rothschild back, it's hard to see us having any of our great young pitchers turn into anything over the next three years.
-- Ty D., Omaha, Neb.

Have a question about the Cubs? E-mail your query to MLB.com Cubs beat reporter Carrie Muskat for possible inclusion in a future Inbox column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content. First Name, Last Initial: Hometown: Email Address: Question:

Rothschild knows that he's accountable. Tigers manager Jim Leyland liked Rothschild so much, he wanted him to come to Detroit and offered a three-year deal. Piniella gave Rothschild his first job in the big leagues in 1990 with the Reds. As for progress, Carlos Zambrano has gone from a young reliever to the ace of the Cubs' rotation. Rich Hill showed improvement from his first callup to his second stint. You can't blame Rothschild for Mark Prior getting sideswiped by Marcus Giles in 2003 or taking a line drive off his elbow.

How many World Series have the Cubs been in? I know they last won in 1908 and were last in the series in 1945. My dad says that the Cubs were really good a long time ago. I'm hoping Piniella takes them there again. Thanks.
-- Zack V., 9 years old, Tampa, Fla.

The Cubs have played in 10 World Series (1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938 and 1945), and have won twice (1907, '08), beating the Tigers both times.

Since the St. Louis Cardinals are in the World Series with an 83-78 record, I was wondering what team had the worst record and won the World Series.
-- Richard D., Columbia, Ky.

The all-time worst record for a World Series champ was 75-51, by the 1918 Boston Red Sox, who beat the Cubs. If you want a more modern representative, the 1987 Minnesota Twins were 85-77 and beat the Cardinals that year to win the World Series.

I just read a quote that said, "Hendry finally interviewed former Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg over dinner in Chicago and stressed he was looking for a manager with experience. Sandberg's next task is to gain the necessary experience." My question is, will that experience be gained via the Cubs in Spring Training or will he go elsewhere? Ryno is great, and the best player the Cubs have ever had, in my opinion. I want him to stay within the Cubs family.
-- J.B., Nashville, Tenn.

I think Sandberg will be back in the Cubs camp this spring. He was a surprise candidate for the top job. Hendry didn't know the former second baseman and Hall of Famer was interested until the last minute.

Juan Pierre said that he wanted a manager who likes to run, and I was wondering if Lou "likes to run." What are the chances of re-signing Pierre?
-- Andy B., Muncie, Ind.

Piniella does like to run -- Ichiro stole 56 bases in 2001 for the Mariners under Piniella. But Pierre is a free agent for the first time and might take advantage of that and test the market.

When will the Spring Training schedule be released, and are the Cubs going to play in Las Vegas again?
-- Dan C., Las Vegas

I don't know about Vegas, and I don't have a date for the schedule. The Cubs didn't release the 2006 spring schedule until early January.

It seems to me that the Cubs always managed to get two quick outs, but most of the damage was done with two outs. Is there any way to find out how many runs Cubs pitchers gave up with two outs as opposed to one or no outs?
-- Ryan T., LaGrange Park, Ill.

Cubs pitchers gave up 321 runs with two outs, second-highest in the National League (the Nationals were first, serving up 334 runs with two outs). For a point of reference, the San Diego Padres (244), St. Louis Cardinals (250) and New York Mets (268), all playoff teams this year, gave up the fewest number of runs with two outs.

The Cubs ranked eighth in the NL in runs given up with one out (305), and were second to the Cincinnati Reds in serving up runs with no outs (208 runs). Overall, Cubs pitchers were second in the NL in runs allowed, behind the Nationals.

I heard that the Cubs attendance was somewhere around 3 million. What was the highest annual attendance for a team that finished in last place? I have a feeling it might be the Cubs.
-- John P., Jackson, Miss.

The 1993 Colorado Rockies hold the distinction of drawing the most fans for a last-place team. The Rockies drew 4,483,350 fans that season despite a 67-95, sixth-place finish. Four teams that drew 3 million fans won fewer than 66 games: the 1993 Marlins (64-98), the 1994 Rockies (53-64 in strike-shortened year), the 1998 Diamondbacks (65-97) and the 2001 Orioles (63-98).

The Cubs' final 2006 attendance was 3,123,215, second-highest in franchise history.