Word out of Tampa Bay has Devil Rays managing general partner Vince Naimoli relinquishing control to 46-year-old New York investor Stuart Sternberg at the end of the season. If so, it will mean a parting of ways between Lou Piniella and his hometown team. In the height of his frustration over the Devil Ray ownership's reneging on promises to raise payroll, Piniella publicly blasted his bosses' commitment to winning a couple of months ago, and it was clear he was referring primarily to Sternberg, who bought 50% of the team in May of 2004 and has put a hold on spending until he assumes the general partner position. According to sources familiar with the circumstances, Sternberg approached Piniella last spring about remaining the D-Rays manager beyond the expiration of his contract after the 2006 season and was turned off when Piniella told him he had no interest in continuing a rebuilding situation. Piniella has made no secret of the fact that, at 62, his managerial clock is ticking and he wants one more shot at going to the World Series. Sternberg's timetable for the Devil Rays being contenders is apparently 2009 at the earliest. Two weeks ago, Piniella became only the third manager in history with both 1,500 wins and hits, joining Joe Torre and Hall of Famer Fred Clarke. Obviously, if Torre doesn't get the Yankees into the playoffs, Steinbrenner is going to be looking for heads to sever, and with his "favorite son" Sweet Lou out there as a free agent, well, it may be too much for The Boss to resist.