Piniella says 'urgency is important' on North Side

CHICAGO-- Lou Piniella vows to make a winner of the Chicago Cubs, whose last World Series appearance came in 1945.\n"Urgency is important," said Piniella, who was introduced Tuesday as the team's latest manager. "We're going to win here, and that's the end of the story."\nPiniella agreed Monday to a three-year contract, worth nearly $10 million, with an option for a fourth year.\n"I'm just a little piece of the puzzle. My job is to come in here and unite this team," he said at a news conference.\nPiniella said he was assured by general manager Jim Hendry that the Cubs would make moves necessary to improve the team. He brushed off a report that he wanted the Cubs to acquire embattled Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, saying there hadn't been "any discussions about A-Rod." Piniella was Rodriguez's first manager when he signed on with the Seattle Mariners in the mid-1990s.\nPiniella said he was hoping injured pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior would be healthy and come to spring training. The team holds a $13.75 million option on Wood for next season, and the right-hander is rehabilitating a torn rotator cuff.\n"They're both talented individuals. Both have had physical problems," Piniella said.\nThe 63-year-old Piniella has 19 years of major league managerial experience, including a World Series title with the Reds in 1990.\n"We got the right man for the job," Hendry said.\nPiniella replaces Dusty Baker, another veteran manager who came to the Cubs with a strong resume. Baker departed after four years when his contract was not renewed following a 66-96 last-place finish in the NL Central.\nNow Piniella gets a chance where so many of his predecessors have come up short.\n"I managed in a lot of places where winning was what was strived for," Piniella said after modeling his Cubs' No. 41 jersey.