Preseason questions: Should this be La Russa’s last year?
[The following is a quick take on the question that HotStove.com posed this week: Should the Cards Keep LaRussa Past 2010? We also touched on the issue earlier in the offseason.]
After the 2010 season, it’ll be time for Tony La Russa to pack his bags. The nominal effect on winning that he might have — The Hardball Times puts the maximum positive effect at a mere two games — isn’t worth La Russa’s ego, petulance and exorbitant salary. Some cracks are starting to show in the foundation of the man who managed two of the game’s most notorious PED users but who has recently had to eat the words he spoke in 2005 about being “absolutely certain that Mark [McGwire]earned his size and strength from hard work and a disciplined lifestyle.” In bringing back McGwire as hitting coach, La Russa displayed either a stunning aloofness to reality or an arrogant disrespect for the game and contempt for fans. And with his recent comment that he “would rather have a closer than a No. 1 starter,” it would appear that at least some of his success has been in spite of his ideas, not because of them. Come 2011, the Cardinals can and should spend that $4.5 million on a player who can make an impact on the field — without the baggage that La Russa brings.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
I found it interesting to see Joe Gordon of the Post-Dispatch take exception to this article (http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/tipsheet/tipsheet/2010/02/la-russa-bashing-cont/). I’ll agree La Russa gets credit for things he doesn’t deserve. That seems to be the fate all managers are in line for; either that or the inverse.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Jeff Gordon, my apologies. Joe played baseball. Jeff could either be a NASCAR driver or a sports writer, but he most certainly does not play baseball.
February 24th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
TLR takes heat from geek sites like this because he does not suffer media fools lightly. I would rather one La Russa’s than a hundred “sabre” men who are PC and see things “your way”. The only ones worrying about TLR’s baggage are folks like you with nothing better to do than disparage a proven winner. Keep being intense Tony, real Cards fans respect and admire you.
February 25th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
rj,
It’s hard to take your comment seriously if you can’t even spell SABR right.
March 2nd, 2010 at 7:14 am
[...] Cubs fans (and baseball fans, in general): You should be reading Fungoes. [Fungoes] [...]
October 21st, 2010 at 11:00 pm
[...] ready for an end to his era in St. Louis and the head games, recalcitrance, superciliousness and, as we wrote earlier this year on his hiring Mark McGwire (about whom he was “absolutely certain … learned his size [...]