La Russa- Thin Skinned

[madrx]

La Russa is just representative of the St. Louis fan base. They attack all other teams for being unsportsmanlike just for having some fun and not playing baseball like they're constipated. The relationship between the two teams has been ugly since Ned Yost and TLR got into a bean fest near the end of the 2008 season and nearly cost the Brewers the wild card.

As a brewers fan, we used to hate Cubs fans the most because they can be obnoxious when they make the short trip to Milwaukee. Now, most Brewers fans like to beat the Cubs, but they respect the fact the Cubs fans continue to support a struggling team. A cubs blogger started referring to the cardinals fans as the uptight citizens of St. Louis, which has been adopted by Brewers fans as well.

 

[brhawks18]

Please know the whole story? He has the 2nd most games managed in history. First manager to win more than one pennant in both leagues.

You know who has the most losses all time? Connie Mack, who also has the most games managed in history! Coincidence? Nope.

He may over think some situations, but he is top 5-7 managers ever.

Who gives a rats behind. He can't make a pimple on the a$$ of Whitey Herzog in this town. If Joe Torre would have had the financial backing of the current ownership, he may have still been managing for many years in St. Louis.

Busch the III and the brewery's failure to care about the Cards cost them quite a lot in the 90's.

Connie Mack would not have lasted very long as a manager in today's game. He didn't win enough. As several former Cards players have stated, if you tell LaRussa he shouldn't do something, he'll do it just to spite you. His attitude and moves during games or lack of moves during games is what people don't like.

His brand of baseball is boorish. Very little stealing or hit and runs. Even less time spent on fundamentals defensively. Starting pitchers who struggle to pitch effectively past the 5th inning. Extremely poor base running. If the Cards don't hit multiple homeruns in a game, their odds of winning said game are very slim.

This team leads the national league in runs scored. Yet they are only 4 games over .500 in probably the worst division in baseball. How can that be?

Today, with the Cards down 2 runs in the top of the 6th, they put the first 2 batters on base. 2nd and 3rd to be exact. The pitcher, Edwin Jackson was due up. In 5 innings he'd given up 7 runs. He most certainly would pinch hit for him, correct? Nope. What the heck is going on?

It was something about his bullpen being tired. B.S., the Brewers used the same number of pitchers last night, yet went to the bullpen the next inning. If certain pitchers in the bullpen throw one inning the day before, they need to rest them. The pitchewrs are babied in this organization yet many of them end up hurt during their time in St. Louis. That is a fact.

 

[brhawks18]

La Russa is just representative of the St. Louis fan base. They attack all other teams for being unsportsmanlike just for having some fun and not playing baseball like they're constipated. The relationship between the two teams has been ugly since Ned Yost and TLR got into a bean fest near the end of the 2008 season and nearly cost the Brewers the wild card.

As a brewers fan, we used to hate Cubs fans the most because they can be obnoxious when they make the short trip to Milwaukee. Now, most Brewers fans like to beat the Cubs, but they respect the fact the Cubs fans continue to support a struggling team. A cubs blogger started referring to the cardinals fans as the uptight citizens of St. Louis, which has been adopted by Brewers fans as well.

That attitude has only been around since LaRussa has been in St. Louis. Also, Cubs and Brewers fans along with the Reds don't like St. Louis because historically the Cards win much more then they do, combined!

Let's see, 10 world championships to 7 for those 3 teams combined. That will add to the hatred.

 

[SDK46]

That attitude has only been around since LaRussa has been in St. Louis. Also, Cubs and Brewers fans along with the Reds don't like St. Louis because historically the Cards win much more then they do, combined!

Let's see, 10 world championships to 7 for those 3 teams combined. That will add to the hatred.

This.

LaRussa was simply laying down the "law" for the upcoming games left with Milwaukee. Face it, Brewers threw at Albert's head the whole series...bush league.

 

[brhawks18]

This.

LaRussa was simply laying down the "law" for the upcoming games left with Milwaukee. Face it, Brewers threw at Albert's head the whole series...bush league.

I've made it clear, I don't care for LaRussa much. Not many St. Louis fans do. But you are correct. The Brewers threw up and in most of the series. (In) would have been fine, but not the (up) part.

If you want to call that whiney go ahead. But hit Fielder or Braun on the hand that's near his face and see how whiney the Brewers fans get. Heck, Braun got hit in the middle of the back and Brewers fans screamed bloody murder and yelled at LaRussa that they hope he gets shingles again. I guess that's not whiney, that just the norm for the inbreds that inhabit many parts of Milwaukee.

 

[Hawkeye11en1]

Who gives a rats behind. He can't make a pimple on the a$$ of Whitey Herzog in this town. If Joe Torre would have had the financial backing of the current ownership, he may have still been managing for many years in St. Louis.

Busch the III and the brewery's failure to care about the Cards cost them quite a lot in the 90's.

Connie Mack would not have lasted very long as a manager in today's game. He didn't win enough. As several former Cards players have stated, if you tell LaRussa he shouldn't do something, he'll do it just to spite you. His attitude and moves during games or lack of moves during games is what people don't like.

His brand of baseball is boorish. Very little stealing or hit and runs. Even less time spent on fundamentals defensively. Starting pitchers who struggle to pitch effectively past the 5th inning. Extremely poor base running. If the Cards don't hit multiple homeruns in a game, their odds of winning said game are very slim.

This team leads the national league in runs scored. Yet they are only 4 games over .500 in probably the worst division in baseball. How can that be?

Today, with the Cards down 2 runs in the top of the 6th, they put the first 2 batters on base. 2nd and 3rd to be exact. The pitcher, Edwin Jackson was due up. In 5 innings he'd given up 7 runs. He most certainly would pinch hit for him, correct? Nope. What the heck is going on?

It was something about his bullpen being tired. B.S., the Brewers used the same number of pitchers last night, yet went to the bullpen the next inning. If certain pitchers in the bullpen throw one inning the day before, they need to rest them. The pitchewrs are babied in this organization yet many of them end up hurt during their time in St. Louis. That is a fact.

The Cardinals are known to turn mediocre pitchers into a 3rd or 4th starter. They have done that with many pitchers in the last 5 years. Dave Duncan, you say? Sure. But don't put the blame on LaRussa when that statement is absolutely false.

They are 5th in HRs but first in runs. So that statement about only winning with HRs is also false. 2nd most hits in the NL.

We don't have anyone that can steal a base, so there is a reason we don't. When we have speed, he does. He plays a lot of hit and run with guys like Molina, because they are slow of foot. You don't take the bat out of guys hands like Pujols, Holliday or Berkman. With Furcal on the team we will get more steals.

How did we win the game last night? An infield single, SB by Holliday, and a bloop hit. You gonna say LaRussa had nothing to do with that?

Our pitching took a beating when our #1 starter went down for the year. Otherwise we would be in much better shape. They turned Salas into a nice closer. And yes, he pitches consecutive days. That is the dumbest comment ever.

So if all these former Cardinals hate LaRussa, why is St Louis still a destination for a lot of players and why is he still in the dugout?

You may not like him, but he won the WS with maybe one of the worst teams to win one in recent memory. He is a good manager and has the titles to prove it. The olden days of baseball are over, and just because he isn't what you want in St Louis doesn't mean he doesn't belong there. He absolutely does. If you like what the Brewers do so much, you can follow them and have all those titles and division championships that they have.

 

[tm3308]

La Russa is a great manager, but yes, he's whiny.

La Russa called the pitch that hit Pujols "scary" but not intentional and they were trying to send a message to Braun by pitching him tight.

"That's what all these idiots up there -- not idiots, fans are yelling," La Russa said. "I don't want to even hear about Braun getting a little pop in the back when we almost lose (Pujols) in several ways."

He openly admitted that the beanball to Pujols was unintentional. So who gives a flying f*ck what the fans are saying? Fans will ALWAYS heckle, especially after the best player for the home team gets beaned.

Great manager. Still acts like a baby.

 

[brhawks18]

The Cardinals are known to turn mediocre pitchers into a 3rd or 4th starter. They have done that with many pitchers in the last 5 years. Dave Duncan, you say? Sure. But don't put the blame on LaRussa when that statement is absolutely false.

They are 5th in HRs but first in runs. So that statement about only winning with HRs is also false. 2nd most hits in the NL.

We don't have anyone that can steal a base, so there is a reason we don't. When we have speed, he does. He plays a lot of hit and run with guys like Molina, because they are slow of foot. You don't take the bat out of guys hands like Pujols, Holliday or Berkman. With Furcal on the team we will get more steals.

How did we win the game last night? An infield single, SB by Holliday, and a bloop hit. You gonna say LaRussa had nothing to do with that?

Our pitching took a beating when our #1 starter went down for the year. Otherwise we would be in much better shape. They turned Salas into a nice closer. And yes, he pitches consecutive days. That is the dumbest comment ever.

So if all these former Cardinals hate LaRussa, why is St Louis still a destination for a lot of players and why is he still in the dugout?

You may not like him, but he won the WS with maybe one of the worst teams to win one in recent memory. He is a good manager and has the titles to prove it. The olden days of baseball are over, and just because he isn't what you want in St Louis doesn't mean he doesn't belong there. He absolutely does. If you like what the Brewers do so much, you can follow them and have all those titles and division championships that they have.

Please, I live here in St. Louis and some of these former players kids and mine go to school together and play ball together. I hear things constantly. Being on the inside of how things are done can be eye opening. You think politics in d.c. is bad, you should hear about it in pro baseball.

A former college teammate of mine is a top scout with the Cards. Not the job he wanted, but after a lifetime in pro baseball it was the only job he could get without moving.

You are partly correct. St. Louis is a destination for many players. Many players past their prime that is. You are also correct the Cards, not LaRussa won a WS with a bad team in 2006. They also didn't make the WS with argably one of the best teams in baseball in 2004 and 2005.

As for why he is still in the dugout the answer is easy. It's because of the owner Dewitt. He still also has Luhnow in a very high position with the Cards. He is a graduate of Wharton with an MBA from Northwestern. As he describes in his bio, he brings an analytical approach to the game. He wasn't even in baseball until 2004. The Dewitt family knew him as an entrepreneur in the business world. Not a smart move for the Cards. No wonder Jocetty left or was fired.

I never said I love the Brewers. You must not have read my post. I actually kind of ripped on the entire city. I will always be a Cards fans but not a LaRussa fan. He'll make the HOF. Longevity will do that for you. His 53% winning percentage is not great, but it is good.

 

[pacoyal]

Please explain why he's one of the best managers ever. Is it because he has the 3rd most wins in baseball as a manager?


Please know the whole story. He also has the 4th most losses all time as a manager. He has a law degree and is very book smart. Because of this, his common sense smarts is lacking in decisions he makes. In other words he over thinks many situations.

This is a great post, stats-wise, why LaRussa is a great manager. Well done. You can have a million losses, as long as you win the whole thing. He has done it multiple times with different teams. He's also been managing for about 30 years (I may be off on that).

Why is he one of the best managers ever? He has won titles. He has done it with a couple of teams. He has won many division titles.

He does have quite a few losses, though, I give you that. So please explain to me why his loss count negates his titles, division titles, and overall wins.

 

[brhawks18]

This is a great post, stats-wise, why LaRussa is a great manager. Well done. You can have a million losses, as long as you win the whole thing. He has done it multiple times with different teams. He's also been managing for about 30 years (I may be off on that).

Why is he one of the best managers ever? He has won titles. He has done it with a couple of teams. He has won many division titles.

He does have quite a few losses, though, I give you that. So please explain to me why his loss count negates his titles, division titles, and overall wins.

The losses don't negate the wins. He's been a manager for 32 years and has 2 WS titles. However, it's a two way street. He gets credit for wins but should also get credit for losses, correct?

It's not the losses but the way some of them happen that upset people here in St. Louis. This is a good baseball town with many who understand the game in a very technical way. Certain moves he makes or fails to make during and/or before games are, to put in nicely, very odd. I won't give examples as I already gave one regarding todays game.

I will say fairly or unfairly, the association he had with players during the steroid era has not helped him any. He said he never saw anything. Whether he did or not I have no idea, but many baseball people find it difficult to believe he had no knowledge.

His constant blaming of others for his teams failures (the lights at Miller Park) are for the most part becoming old to Cardinal nation. Even most of the media, who have walked on egg shells around TLR for years have started to question some of his excuses. Some go as far as to say Brandon Phillips may have been correct last year in calling the Cards whiney bi%*&es. That's hard to hear for many Cards fans but has been mentioned more then once this year.

 

[pacoyal]

The losses don't negate the wins. He's been a manager for 32 years and has 2 WS titles. However, it's a two way street. He gets credit for wins but should also get credit for losses, correct?

It's not the losses but the way some of them happen that upset people here in St. Louis. This is a good baseball town with many who understand the game in a very technical way. Certain moves he makes or fails to make during and/or before games are, to put in nicely, very odd. I won't give examples as I already gave one regarding todays game.

I will say fairly or unfairly, the association he had with players during the steroid era has not helped him any. He said he never saw anything. Whether he did or not I have no idea, but many baseball people find it difficult to believe he had no knowledge.

His constant blaming of others for his teams failures (the lights at Miller Park) are for the most part becoming old to Cardinal nation. Even most of the media, who have walked on egg shells around TLR for years have started to question some of his excuses. Some go as far as to say Brandon Phillips may have been correct last year in calling the Cards whiney bi%*&es. That's hard to hear for many Cards fans but has been mentioned more then once this year.

It's a sobering thing to hear from a "Cards fan". Nothing like hearing a cloaked non-Cards fan.

Try harder next time. Have a good night.

 

[pacoyal]

The losses don't negate the wins. He's been a manager for 32 years and has 2 WS titles. However, it's a two way street. He gets credit for wins but should also get credit for losses, correct?

It's not the losses but the way some of them happen that upset people here in St. Louis. This is a good baseball town with many who understand the game in a very technical way. Certain moves he makes or fails to make during and/or before games are, to put in nicely, very odd. I won't give examples as I already gave one regarding todays game.

I will say fairly or unfairly, the association he had with players during the steroid era has not helped him any. He said he never saw anything. Whether he did or not I have no idea, but many baseball people find it difficult to believe he had no knowledge.

His constant blaming of others for his teams failures (the lights at Miller Park) are for the most part becoming old to Cardinal nation. Even most of the media, who have walked on egg shells around TLR for years have started to question some of his excuses. Some go as far as to say Brandon Phillips may have been correct last year in calling the Cards whiney bi%*&es. That's hard to hear for many Cards fans but has been mentioned more then once this year.

Well, nobody has walked on egg shells for TLR. The game against the Reds and Brandon Phillips, if you defend him tapping his bat on Yadi's shin pads after he talked complete trash against the Cards, all I you need to see if Yadi's response. Also, almost any baseball personality that is not a Red guy, will tell you the same.

C'Mon, try harder.

 

[brhawks18]

It's a sobering thing to hear from a "Cards fan". Nothing like hearing a cloaked non-Cards fan.

Try harder next time. Have a good night.

I am such a cards fan I can't begin to tell you. I go back, for real, to the days of Ken Reitz at 3rd base. I was always a 2nd baseman until I saw him play 3rd. I moved to that postition as a 13 yr old. He played 3rd just like the Zamboni machine he was called.

My best memory though was getting a foul ball hit by Tim McCarver against the Reds. The jerk wouldn't sign it. Billy Muffet, the pitching coach and Julian Javier, the Cards 2nd baseman did though. Javier was a class act.

I am just a Cards fan that liked Whitey ball over TLR ball. It was and remains no contest as to what was better and more fun baseball to watch.

Lastly, God rest Ken Boyer, but I blame him to this day that Reitz was traded away form the cards.

 

[Hawkeye11en1]

Please, I live here in St. Louis and some of these former players kids and mine go to school together and play ball together. I hear things constantly. Being on the inside of how things are done can be eye opening. You think politics in d.c. is bad, you should hear about it in pro baseball.

A former college teammate of mine is a top scout with the Cards. Not the job he wanted, but after a lifetime in pro baseball it was the only job he could get without moving.

You are partly correct. St. Louis is a destination for many players. Many players past their prime that is. You are also correct the Cards, not LaRussa won a WS with a bad team in 2006. They also didn't make the WS with argably one of the best teams in baseball in 2004 and 2005.

As for why he is still in the dugout the answer is easy. It's because of the owner Dewitt. He still also has Luhnow in a very high position with the Cards. He is a graduate of Wharton with an MBA from Northwestern. As he describes in his bio, he brings an analytical approach to the game. He wasn't even in baseball until 2004. The Dewitt family knew him as an entrepreneur in the business world. Not a smart move for the Cards. No wonder Jocetty left or was fired.

I never said I love the Brewers. You must not have read my post. I actually kind of ripped on the entire city. I will always be a Cards fans but not a LaRussa fan. He'll make the HOF. Longevity will do that for you. His 53% winning percentage is not great, but it is good.

Look, I appreciate all the "inside" info you get and how "eye opening" it was, but I really don't give a ****. You fail to see that he has been a manager for 32 years and there is a reason for that. You say the Cards won the WS but it wasn't because of LaRussa, but then you blame him for losing when they had the "best team in baseball". Have your cake and eat it too, my friend.

 

[Row55]

Point of fact, Cardinals were in the '04 WS.

I think LaRussa made a mistake returning for 2011; we'll see how Aug & Sept go. It could be that the Cardinals wasted the best 5 years of Puhol's career.

 

[brhawks18]

Look, I appreciate all the "inside" info you get and how "eye opening" it was, but I really don't give a ****. You fail to see that he has been a manager for 32 years and there is a reason for that. You say the Cards won the WS but it wasn't because of LaRussa, but then you blame him for losing when they had the "best team in baseball". Have your cake and eat it too, my friend.

No, I am saying if he gets credit for the wins, and he should, he should get credit for the losses as well. There is a lot of politics in professional baseball and that can play a role in certain things. I realize there are worse managers, many in fact, in baseball.

I am not sure how often you watch the cards. Every game is on TV here in St. Louis and he does and says things that are head scratching at times.

Yes, he's been managing for 32 years and is still around. There are plenty of politicians who have been in d.c. for that long, many of whom have no business being there.

 

[brhawks18]

Point of fact, Cardinals were in the '04 WS.

I think LaRussa made a mistake returning for 2011; we'll see how Aug & Sept go. It could be that the Cardinals wasted the best 5 years of Puhol's career.

And lost the WS 4 games to none in 2004. That was not a pretty WS. Many here in St. Louis thought he'd retire after they won the WS in 2006. He could have gone out on a high.

If Albert leaves many believe LaRussa will leave as well. By the way, his name is spelled Pujols. I think we'll find out as I don't believe Pujols comes back. He wants more then the Cards would like to pay at this point. I think you are correct that Pujols has already had his best years.

He's not as feared by opposing teams as he once was. They don't pitch around him much now. Or should I say they do, but Albert has expanded his strike zone dramatically and swings at very bad pitches many times during games now.

 

[kicker22]

That's all BS cause he did say "it wasn't intentional at braun" on espn this morning. and he did say they got a way. Like I said I don't care if he threw at Braun but quit whining about Pujols getting thrown at. If Pujols ducks it then it's a non issue right. Doubtful. Also the pitch on Pujols was less than intentional at his head. Not in that situation, and you can see the pitch tail high, not intentional.

And of course Brewers fans aren't going to be happy, but suck it up, their brewers fans, what did you expect.

Classy response. I didn't know that Cards fans were any better than Brewer fans.

All LaRussa had to do was quit trying to dodge the issue at hand that they threw at Braun. The guys throwing 90+ out there, if he gets hit in the back it's going to hurt regardless of where it hits him. Don't make light of it because your not throwing at Braun's face. I love the fact that he denies it yet justifies it because Pujols got hit. That's irrelevant, because you still threw at Braun, unwritten rule or not Pujols got plucked so you beam Braun to make a point, everyone get's it but don't try to play it off like it was some accident and wasn't intentional. If it was unintentional then why go inside at him again after you unintentionally missed him with the first one.

 

[hawkfarmer]

Classy response. I didn't know that Cards fans were any better than Brewer fans.

All LaRussa had to do was quit trying to dodge the issue at hand that they threw at Braun. The guys throwing 90+ out there, if he gets hit in the back it's going to hurt regardless of where it hits him. Don't make light of it because your not throwing at Braun's face. I love the fact that he denies it yet justifies it because Pujols got hit. That's irrelevant, because you still threw at Braun, unwritten rule or not Pujols got plucked so you beam Braun to make a point, everyone get's it but don't try to play it off like it was some accident and wasn't intentional. If it was unintentional then why go inside at him again after you unintentionally missed him with the first one.

I meant that they are going to yell at La Russa cause they are Brewer's fans and the Cards were playing the Brewers and Braun, a Brewer's player got hit. Wasn't stereotyping all brewers fans.

Also, I agree with your second paragraph.

 

[tm3308]

Classy response. I didn't know that Cards fans were any better than Brewer fans.

All LaRussa had to do was quit trying to dodge the issue at hand that they threw at Braun. The guys throwing 90+ out there, if he gets hit in the back it's going to hurt regardless of where it hits him. Don't make light of it because your not throwing at Braun's face. I love the fact that he denies it yet justifies it because Pujols got hit. That's irrelevant, because you still threw at Braun, unwritten rule or not Pujols got plucked so you beam Braun to make a point, everyone get's it but don't try to play it off like it was some accident and wasn't intentional. If it was unintentional then why go inside at him again after you unintentionally missed him with the first one.

Um, suspensions usually follow intentional bean balls. No manager in their right mind is going to admit to throwing at a batter on purpose. People who know baseball know that it was on purpose, because it's part of the game, it's an unwritten rule. But they can't admit to doing it without risking suspension.