Pantagraph.com | Sports | Kindred: Letting La Russa walk would not be Cardinal sin

Reader comments on this story - 25 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

bam wrote on Oct 6, 2007 12:10 AM:

" Randy, wow. Thats all I can say. I have been out of town for a couple of days and I come home and had dinner at the new J'Bucks and got a chance to talk with a couple of people who know baseball unlike yourself and they were hoping that Tony was going to be around the organization a while longer. Time for you to step up and move to a new organization like the Chicago Tribune since you cannot be unbiased. "

Dear Randy wrote on Oct 5, 2007 3:35 PM:

" Who the heck cares if he bats the pitcher 8th. Stick to what you know.....fast pitch softball "

Dr. Q wrote on Oct 5, 2007 3:05 PM:

" Sounds like the logic of a San Diego Chargers fan. You know, the same fans who ran Marty S. out of town and are now chanting his name at yet another losing effort. "

Cards Fan to Kindred wrote on Oct 5, 2007 2:06 PM:

" When was the last time you wrote an article with credibility? Start anew? The rest of the coaches are still under contract, so getting rid of La Russa isn't really starting anew is it? We all have heard about the DUIs and such but that was all the media could keep asking about for days and after two or three days, I would get sick and tired of it myself. Why bother with the same questions over and over again when the answers don't change? I have yet to see that one of the other reasons that Walt has been let go is because of his poor choices on pitchers during his stay in St. Louis. I mean Isringhausen is probably the pitcher that has stayed the longest during Walt's stay and he is a closer. We need starters with consistency. "

Stan's right wrote on Oct 5, 2007 2:02 PM:

" Apparently everyone's so self-absorbed in their Cards vs. Cubs argument they totally missed a very good point here. Stan M. stated that Joe Girardi could be the answer. Now, assuming he does not end up in a Yankee's uniform, the Cardinals would not be out of the question. Let's face it, he grew up in Central Illinois and is well aware of St. Louis baseball. He gets a brand new stadium, a town that supports it's team (unlike the Marlins), and a chance to start fresh. Look what he did with the Marlins and he had absolutely no budget and very little "star power". Give him a crack with some of the Cardinals young players and it could make for some long seasons for the rest of the NL Central. Here's my coaching staff (can you tell I'm a Cubs fan?) Girardi as manager, Mark Grace as hitting coach, Greg Maddux (when he retires) as pitching coach, John Kruk as bench coach (he's honest and entertaining!), Keep Oquendo at third and Willie McGee at first!!!! "

A Card Fan wrote on Oct 5, 2007 1:35 PM:

" I couldn't disagree more. La Russa is a proven and consistent winner. Who else has a better record in the game today other than Joe Torre with the Yankees? Does he have great personality? Probably not, but that has nothing to do with winning baseball games. Of course all the Cub fans have something negative to say. That probably has to do with them seeing all those La Russa managed teams at the top of the standings most years (not this year unfortunately). "

NASCARdinals Bill wrote on Oct 5, 2007 1:27 PM:

" It dont matter. We could win it all even if we had Dusty Baker. "

JW wrote on Oct 5, 2007 1:25 PM:

" Wow Randy, get that hate out! I guess from where you sit, he has to go. I will say that I also am not sure that Tony shouldn't move on. Maybe his time has come to find a new bench. I don't know that he can continue to effectively lead the Cardinals. I am equally sure, that you don't know either, Randy. I do think your comments are consistent with frustrated media types that go after sports personalities that don't play to their rules. Did your boss proof this and make you put the "to be fair" line in. What would you know about how long his style could work in St. Louis? If only they wouldn't have won that darn World Series in 2006. The pitcher batting 8th is really getting to you Randy. You need to get over that. Oh, and the Ozzie Guillen thing; now there's that personality you want! "

Holier Than Thou wrote on Oct 5, 2007 12:48 PM:

" Didn't like LaRussa with the White Sox, liked him less with Oakland and liked him even less in St. Louis. I just want "The Genius" out of the Midwest so I don't have to hear/read about him like he's Abner Doubleday and baseball is lucky to have him. "

Cub Fan wrote on Oct 5, 2007 12:03 PM:

" Leave LaRussa in St. Louis. Chicago is enjoying it. "

Holier Than Thou wrote on Oct 5, 2007 11:33 AM:

Friendly Reader wrote on Oct 5, 2007 11:25 AM:

" The mistake is Kindred's argument has nothing to do with LaRussa. It's that he's making comparisons to other managers that will simply district some from the fact that LaRussa has worn out his welcome. By introducing Lou and Ozzie into the equation, Kindred gives folks a chance to redirect the argument. But no matter what Lou and Ozzie do or how they act, it doesn't change the fact that LaRussa has used smug and condescending tatics to distract fans and the general public when they question his genius. He's a first-class jerk who needs to just go away. I wonder if there are any vegetarian buffet restaurants in Lubbock, Texas? "

Cardinal Phamacist wrote on Oct 5, 2007 11:10 AM:

" LaRussa is a condescending piece of garbage. Indeed, he's won a lot of games and two championships. Then, again, those A's teams were fueled by steroids. Don't fool yourselves: that performance-enhancing advantage happened with LaRussa in St. Louis, too. It's still happening now. LaRussa's supporters think he's valiantly sticking up for his players when they're killed in a DUI crash or accused of taking steroids that could someday kill them. I'd say he's enabling them. "

To: To Kindred wrote on Oct 5, 2007 10:50 AM:

" And what exactly do the Cardinals and LaRussa stand for? Both enabled that hulking phony Mark McGwire to break home run records, and to this day LaRussa and the Cardinals still stand behind that freakish cheat. Josh Hancock kills himself and nearly kills other with a DUI, and yet the Cardinals and LaRussa never once condemned his actions. But that's no surprise given that LaRussa literally fell asleep drunk at the wheel during spring training. I'm not silly enough to think or believe that Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox or any other major league team is any more classy than the next team. Buy anyone who tries to make the case that the Cardinals are a classy organization is drinking waayyy too much kardinal kool-aid. "

Pinella and Gullien wrote on Oct 5, 2007 9:28 AM:

" Command respect? And I suppose Zambrano is a better ace than Carpenter because of his personality? Seriously ... I agree some new blood could help, but I'm not sure where bashing LaRussa comes into this. Or Jocketty. They were both class acts and did a LOT of good for St. Louis. I'd prefer to see Girardi or the Secret Weapon at the helm myself. I think they are both better, and classier, than Pinella or Guillen! "

Also against LaRussa wrote on Oct 5, 2007 9:27 AM:

" I also hate LaRussa, but for different reasons. He gets a DUI and then gets mad at the media for criticizing him. How arrogant. Then one of his pitchers gets killed while driving drunk. Is it any wonder the media brought up LaRussa's own alcohol problems. If this pansy can't take that kind of scrutiny, he belongs in the minors managing the Lansing Lugnuts. "

Walk wrote on Oct 5, 2007 8:58 AM:

" is what he should have done in the spring, instead of drive after drinking. Good luck in the cellar next year, with or without LaRussa. No pitching and not willing to spend money to get it. It'll be difficult to tell the difference between the Cardinal pitchers and the batting practice pitchers. It will be fun though! "

caseydog wrote on Oct 5, 2007 8:47 AM:

" I agree with iwuchamps. I have been a cardinals fan for almost 50 years. I have seen St. Louis have some of the best managers in the game. I am not sure how the dugout demeanor has anything to do with being a great mananger. The players have expressed their support, Puljos especially. Managers must live with their decisions, players can blame the manager. Tony has been a team player and all cardinals, have you read Friday Night Lights? I agree that some players have now reached a point where they might need to have a diminished role or move to a team where they can be productive. Wholesale dismantel of the team could be counter productive. The Cubs can keep Pinnella, that is exactly the attitude St. Louis has a reputation of avoiding. Tony takes responsibility, Pinnella blames poor play by individual players. I say, keep Tony and give him the tools to work with, then afford him the diginty to leave on his own terms if he choses. "

To "Agree, but" wrote on Oct 5, 2007 8:46 AM:

" Over the course of TLR's tenure in STL, he has batted the pitcher eighth many times, especially when weak-hitting catchers like Mike Matheny have been in the lineup. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. Just like rolling the dice, you take a chance and hope it works. "

To Kindred: wrote on Oct 5, 2007 8:42 AM:

" You struck out with this article. Guillen would be a horrible choice. His character is against everything the Cardinals stand for. I wouldn't wish him on any team including the Scrubs. We here in St. Louis want him to stay and for you to stay out of it. "

Ozzie? wrote on Oct 5, 2007 8:31 AM:

" Ozzie commands respect? Being a foul mouthed hot head commands respect? At least LaRussa earns his respect from his players by respecting them. When they have drug/alcohol/injury/other personal issues, he doesn't run to the media to blab about. Ozzie goes on an obscenity laced tirade for not throwing at an opposing batter. That's a class act in my book. Randy, we don't care if you're a Cub fan or not, but at least an article worth reading. Let Flick keep writing the nonsense. "

iwuchamps wrote on Oct 5, 2007 8:07 AM:

" I can't believe someone calling himself a sports writer would put this drivel in print. It's so beyond rational, offers no supporting information, and hints of the overriding anti-Larussa media bias that has existed for years. Because Larussa doesn't suffer fools in the media, they take to the airwaves and print to bash him. Pathetic in my opinion. Great idea, run a sure fire hall-of-famer out of town because he doesn't like talking to you. Nice. "

Agreed wrote on Oct 5, 2007 7:53 AM:

" Nothing lasts forever, and change is inevitable. The Cards made the playoffs 7 of the last 10 years, 2 World Series appearances and 1 World Series title. Thats a good run for any team. Lets start to rebuild the right way, not the way its being done by a team 6 hours north who is about to collapse in the first round of the playoffs. "

Agree, but wrote on Oct 5, 2007 7:42 AM:

" Randy, while I completely agree and applaud this article, I must ask what's your issue with the pitcher batting 9th?? You mention it twice in the article. Tony has employed this tactic twice now as a manager and both times it has worked very well. The Cardinals big push through september started with the change in the batting order, and just like the first time he tried it, it injected new life into the order. I'm not saying it was a miracle move, but it provided a much needed spark. It is moves and decisions like this (against the grain) that set managers like Tony apart from the rest, and make him better. All that said however, I do hope his time in St Louis is up!!! "

Stan M. wrote on Oct 5, 2007 7:05 AM:

" Answer: Joe Girardi. "

Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login? (requires cookies)
	Forgot Your Password?

Ads by Yahoo!

Quality Illinois Broadcasting School

Illinois Flight Secrets

Illinois Sports