Lou Piniella said he had not heard a specific rumor about him being a candidate to become the Cubs' next manager. "But I am aware," he said Saturday, explaining why he chose not to go down on the field before the White Sox-Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Piniella, who does color commentary for Fox Sports, which telecast Saturday's game, said he did not want to be on the field where most of the media had assembled before the contest. Typically, national announcers chat with players and managers on the field before a game to get information on the ballclubs. "Just out of respect to [Cubs manager Dusty Baker], I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable," Piniella said. "But there is nothing to [the rumor], nothing to it."