Cubs GM Lynch Resigns

CHICAGO (AP) â€” Ed Lynch resigned as Cubs general manager Wednesday, ending a tenure in which the team finished above .500 only twice in five seasons. <br><br>The Cubs said team president Andy MacPhail

Wednesday, July 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CHICAGO (AP) â€” Ed Lynch resigned as Cubs general manager Wednesday, ending a tenure in which the team finished above .500 only twice in five seasons.

The Cubs said team president Andy MacPhail will take over Lynch's duties for the rest of the season.

Heading into Wednesday night's home game against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cubs were 39-53, 14 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the NL Central.

``I would apologize to the fans. I'm sorry I was not able to bring a winner to the greatest fans in baseball,'' Lynch said. ``I am glad we gave them a good run in 1998,'' the year the Cubs made the playoffs as a wild-card team.

He will help the Cubs with major league scouting this season and with its Arizona spring-training operations next year.

Lynch offered his resignation two months ago, but MacPhail said the offer came when he had to deal with a brawl in the stands at Wrigley Field between Cubs fans and Los Angeles Dodgers players.

So, MacPhail said, he put off a decision until after the All-Star break.

On doing both jobs, MacPhail said: ``I'm going to get it done or it will kill me. ... If I don't get it done, they will have only one person to look at, not two people.''

In November 1998, the Cubs extended Lynch's contract through the 2001 season. At the time, MacPhail said Lynch's leadership during the 1997 season â€” when the Cubs finished 68-94 â€” was a significant factor in the team's decision.

Lynch, a former major league pitcher with the New York Mets and the Cubs, was hired by the Cubs in October 1994.