LaRussa is an idiot!

frankhardy · July 10, 2007 1:06PM

For not letting Pujols bat with the freakin' bases loaded. He needs his head examined - unless he is injured.

stitzen · July 10, 2007 1:10PM

Really curious game calling there...why isn't Pujols hitting in that situation? Unbelievable.

WeekendHacker · July 10, 2007 1:21PM

If the game is tied going into the 10th, are you going to play Pujols in the Outfield and risk injury for an exhibition game? Or do you throw him at first and risk the injury to your rival Cubs with D Lee roaming CF? I call it sensible situational managing. Afterall, Rowand is no slouch, in fact, I think he's an All Star……………………

bigfische · July 10, 2007 7:42PM

He could have batted for hudson and played second.

hofautos · July 10, 2007 9:26PM

all they needed was a hit...rowand has a better batting average...

kcballboy · July 10, 2007 9:34PM

I too think he should have put Pujols in.

However, I wish Albert didn't have to cry to the media about it. The more he talks the more he looks like a whiner.

frankhardy · July 10, 2007 9:40PM

I'd be pretty ticked off about it. If I'm one of the best in the game and my own manager doesn't put me in, that is worse than a slap in the face.

kcballboy · July 10, 2007 9:55PM

Well then he can talk to Tony in private and out of the media. I'm sure the last thing the Cardinals need right now is something as silly as one at bat in the All-Star game to become an issue back in the Cardinals clubhouse while they still have a shot at the playoffs. I'm not saying Albert shouldn't be mad, but he's not helping his team by calling out his manager because of an exhibition game.

MantleMarisFordBerra · July 10, 2007 10:21PM

I'd be Pizzed off as well if I were Albert...no reason HIS OWN MANAGER couldn't put him in for that big spot. Albert hadn't even been in the game yet, and ultimatly didn't get to play at all. No offense to Aaron Rowland, but this was Albert's moment and Larussa doesn't put him in? I wonder if this has anything to do with the report that came out a few days back speculating LaRussa won't return next year?

frankhardy · July 10, 2007 10:28PM

After this, I hope he doesn't return. I have always took up for LaRussa, but this non move was borderline insane.

kcballboy · July 10, 2007 10:31PM

<< After this, I hope he doesn't return. I have always took up for LaRussa, but this non move was borderline insane. >>

So you are perfectly fine with letting go a manager with a track record of consistently making the playoffs because of one at bat in an exhibition game? I suppose that's fine. Please let Dayton Moore know on the timing of his release, as we would love to have Tony here in KC.

Morgoth · July 10, 2007 11:20PM

Tony Larussa is from the Bobby Cox school of making the playoffs but never winning the series. With all the great teams he has managed how many WS titles does he have?

BobaFett72 · July 10, 2007 11:57PM

"With all the great teams he has managed how many WS titles does he have? "

I believe he has two more than you or I

It was a questionable move not to bat Pujols, but should it end his managerial career? Hardly. I'm thinking maybe he was a little drunk...ya know the cards suck this year, Pujols is having a sub-standard season (by his standards) Maybe Tony hit the sauce (again) and after the game fell asleep at a stoplight in his car

stown · July 10, 2007 11:58PM

<< After this, I hope he doesn't return. I have always took up for LaRussa, but this non move was borderline insane. >>

Surely you can't be serious.

However, from a biased perspective, I agree with you 100%. Get him out of STL and never, ever come back

joestalin · July 11, 2007 12:52AM

Pujols is in a major slump, if anyone knew that it was his own manager. Check the numbers, Tony was right on...afterall he DOES have one more
championship ring than do all of us put together!

JS

kcballboy · July 11, 2007 1:12AM

<< Pujols is in a major slump, if anyone knew that it was his own manager. Check the numbers, Tony was right on...afterall he DOES have one more
championship ring than do all of us put together!

JS >>

Since Tony has 2 rings, I'm curious to know who here has one...

Morgoth · July 11, 2007 3:03AM

The point is that only 2 rings is pretty sad considering the teams he has managed. Last year was very flukey for the Cards. Larussa has had issues with overusing his pitchers and playing favorites his whole career. I loved how he wouldn't even play Ozzie in his last year even though the team was awful.

bengineno9 · July 11, 2007 6:27AM

I loved how he wouldn't even play Ozzie in his last year even though the team was awful.

amen.

And where is Royce Clayton?

joestalin · July 11, 2007 8:33AM

Did someone just say that beating the great Detroit Tigers who were predicted to win 4 straight, IN 4 GAMES was a fluke?

Give the man some credit, he got his team to the playoffs and took care of business!

JS

stitzen · July 11, 2007 8:37AM

The easiest way to decide this is to ask yourself, truly, honestly:

Would you want LaRussa as your manager?

kcballboy · July 11, 2007 10:11AM

<< The easiest way to decide this is to ask yourself, truly, honestly:

Would you want LaRussa as your manager? >>

Considering he's only won a measley 2 WS rings in 20 years, I would hate to have him as my manager. I mean, the only team that has won more rings than him in that span is the Yankees. Think about it, he's only equaled or beaten 29 teams in that span. What a pathetic loser.

To say someone is not successful in the postseason because they don't win the majority of the time is ignorant. Considering the number of teams that don't even have a shot, he has more than proven himself by being in contention year in and year out.

He's at least proven himself much more so than Poopholes has. 7 years experience doesn't even begin to buy credibility when you're going against a guy with 40 years experience.

Morgoth · July 11, 2007 11:50AM

Flukey, hell yeah. Detroit pitchers making about 3 errors a game. Pujols not hitting at all but they still win. Jeff Weaver turning into Tom Seaver in the playoffs. The Molina HR against the Mets. No team I can think of recently got as many breaks or good luck as that team. Cito Gaston and Tom Kelly have won 2 WS titles in the last 20 years as well KC.

kcballboy · July 11, 2007 12:00PM

I know they have. I said he had EQUALED or bettered 29 teams.

ctsoxfan · July 11, 2007 2:34PM

Hey, Albert Pujols is whining again about something.

There's a shock for you.

frankhardy · July 11, 2007 8:43PM

<< Hey, Albert Pujols is whining again about something.

There's a shock for you. >>

You obviously have something against Pujols because I've never seen you say anything positive about him. Since when does speaking your mind considered whining? I thought we wanted players to be candid instead of being robotic. Plus, (I didn't actually see it, but) I heard that he was actually smiling when he said that about the All Star game.

ctsoxfan · July 12, 2007 12:41AM

I don't necessarily have anything against Pujols - he has tremendous baseball talent, no doubt about it. But, it seems like he is the very definition of a spoiled prima donna who is always making comments about other players in the league (and now his own manager) when the spotlight isn't directly on him. There are many examples of this, like when he complained that he was the MVP over Ryan Howard last season (he was not), and he has made other disparaging comments about a few other players in the league. When called on it, he always says he was "misquoted". I'm glad he is so candid, and that candor allows us to see what an egomaniac he really is.

ziggy29 · July 12, 2007 12:45AM

<< Since when does speaking your mind considered whining? >>

When you do it through the press rather than in the clubhouse behind closed doors.

yawie99 · July 12, 2007 1:03AM

<< I don't necessarily have anything against Pujols - he has tremendous baseball talent, no doubt about it. But, it seems like he is the very definition of a spoiled prima donna who is always making comments about other players in the league (and now his own manager) when the spotlight isn't directly on him. There are many examples of this, like when he complained that he was the MVP over Ryan Howard last season (he was not), and he has made other disparaging comments about a few other players in the league. When called on it, he always says he was "misquoted". I'm glad he is so candid, and that candor allows us to see what an egomaniac he really is. >>

Right. And the guy in your icon just exudes Gehrig-like class.

GOODLIEU · July 13, 2007 12:48AM

The All Star game is for the fans and to be honest a Manager in these games only job in my opinion is to showcase the players (especially the super stars) and try if humanly possible to get them all in the game either on the field or an at bat. I realize that Major League Baseball has changed the rule and Home Field is the prize in the World Series but as I said the fans come first in this exhibition of All Star talent.

stown · July 14, 2007 9:26PM

Tony is now saying in hindsight, he would have put Albert in with the bases loaded.

LaRussa is an idiot!

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