Some unsolicited advice for St. Louis Cardinals president Mark Lamping and chief executive officer Bill DeWitt Jr.: Keep the changes coming.

Don't stop with disgruntled general manager Walt Jocketty, whose good run in St. Louis ended in good riddance on Wednesday. Send manager Tony La Russa on his way as well.

Jocketty and La Russa have long been considered a package deal. First, they were headed to Cincinnati at season's end. Later, it was Seattle.

Regardless, keep the package intact.

With Jocketty out, and La Russa's contract up, seize this chance to start anew. Seek a fresh approach, inject some enthusiasm, bat the pitcher ninth.

Go crazy, folks.

Don't count on La Russa to make nice with the next GM, unless you bring in Bob Knight. Jocketty hired La Russa in 1996, and they were joined at the hip. His departure creates a recipe for head butting and backstabbing should La Russa return. Neither is conducive to moving up in the standings.

La Russa's supporters - wave if you're out there - likely believe Cardinal execs should be down on hand and knee, begging him to stay.

They cite his win total, which is among the best ever. They point to the 2006 World Series trophy and wonder, "Why would you want anyone else?" They hold up their La Russa bobble heads, distributed at the final home game, and gush, "Genius!"

Don't buy it.

To be fair, La Russa has enjoyed a Hall of Fame managerial career, winning World Series titles in both leagues. His place in history is secure, and he could well go elsewhere and win again.

That said, at issue is whether or not his place is in St. Louis, and the vote here is no.

La Russa's act has worn thin after 12 years in the Cardinal dugout. His mix of surliness and superiority can work for awhile, nowhere longer than in St. Louis. Yet, even with six division titles, two National League pennants and a World Series championship since his arrival, you ask yourself, "Is there another way?"

Must the face of your organization always have pursed lips, steely eyes and a furrowed brow? Or is it possible to win with a manager who knows baseball, commands respect AND has a personality?

Lou Piniella comes to mind. So does Ozzie Guillen. Pick your favorite. There are plenty out there.

Meanwhile, La Russa gives the impression he invented the game (i.e., batting the pitcher eighth), and takes offense if anyone suggests otherwise. You tolerate that when you're winning, though it is grating.

When you're losing, as the Cardinals did this year, you long for any semblance of fresh air.

That is not to say La Russa was solely to blame for St. Louis' slide this season. Free-agent departures and injuries contributed heavily to the Cardinals' 78-84 record and third-place finish in the NL Central.

Yet, except for a brief surge in late August and early September, the team seemed dead emotionally as well. That may not rest entirely with the manager, but passion and motivation are part of the job.

Even in 2006, La Russa nearly presided over a colossal collapse. The Cardinals squandered a comfortable lead and narrowly hung on to win the division with an 83-79 record.

They caught fire in the postseason and won it all, overshadowing the regular-season struggles. Turns out that may have been the last breath of life in the La Russa era.

The Cardinals are in need of an overhaul, particularly on the mound, and it began with Wednesday's "mutual" parting with Jocketty. The next step is cutting ties with La Russa, whose successful run has run its course.

There is no disgrace in saying thank you and goodbye in the same breath. Just don't say welcome back.

Randy Kindred is a Pantagraph columnist. To leave him a voice mail, call 820-3402. By e-mail: rkindred@pantagraph.com. The Randy Kindred Blog is at www.pantagraph.com/blogs