There are managers in Major League basebal than can take his job, but none can take his place.
He has been a credit to whatever team he was on.
Paul in PA
Not to take anything away from his baseball mind and his accomplishments, but he was the manager of two of the most well known steroid violators (Canseco, McGwire) and you have to wonder what he knew about it. I don't believe for a second that he didn't know anything.
However, he should be a HOF manager if he isn't already.
He is an extreme tactician.
I read something interesting about him when he was the A's manager and his pitching staff was on the wane in the 90's.
He wanted to abandon the traditional starting pitcher concept of having the starter go 5-6 innings while throwing 100+ pitches to a system wheer he would have 3 pitchers assignedand designated to only pitch 50+ pithes for 3 innings each.
He would alwys have a fresh pither to pitch on any day and in any game.
He tried it but it failed because the pitchers did not buy into the system.
The starting pitchers moaned and groaned that they would never get any win stats because they would not be eligible for the decision by pitching less than 5 innings.
No win stats meant no big contracts when they became free agents. So one can devise a new innovative strategy but if the players do not want it it will fail.
I read it in a book called Scorecasting. A good read in a freakonomics kind of way.
He was never afraid to think outside the box. If he thought it would help him win, he'd try it, no matter how ridiculous people thought it was.
> Not to take anything away from his baseball mind and his accomplishments, but he was the manager of two of the most well known steroid violators (Canseco, McGwire) and you have to wonder what he knew about it. I don't believe for a second that he didn't know anything.
>
> However, he should be a HOF manager if he isn't already.
Sorry Ryan, your "Not to take anything away" comment just doesn't float. As is well known, under the rules they played under, whether or not they took steroids or whether or not LaRussa knew is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT and should NOT have even been mentioned.
😛
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/10/31/tony-la-russa-announces-his-retirement/
Yeah, I am bummed!!! My Cardinal friends told me about it this morning. I had a feeling that he was just waiting until after the celebrations to confirm it. Dang it!!
He's done A LOT of good, and not just for baseball. He is the founder of ARF. :cat: :dog:
This in itself makes him a hero, in my book!!! http://www.arf.net/
Now...if Ozzie Smith takes his place...I WILL BE STOKED!!! 😀 :clap: :party: :hi5: :angel:
TONIGHT!! Tony La Russa on Lettermen & David Freese on Leno!
http://www.bnd.com/2011/10/31/1922521/your-monday-tv-freese-on-the-tonight.html
Dang it..which one will I watch!!! 🙂
