Back in July, shortly after the National League found themselves losing another All-Star game, the hotbed issue wasn't pending trades, the wildcard race or regular-season awards races... no, it was this. Now, I typically don't have high expectations for Mr. Smith, but apparently he woke up that day ready to reaffirm why I feel this way.
La Russa is a great manager. He was a pleasure to talk to when I met him, but for years many baseball people have said he is not the greatest person. They include Ozzie Smith, a Hall of Famer for the Cardinals to whom La Russa doesn't even speak. The Cardinals once informed Smith he no longer was welcome in their clubhouse.
Ok, so, Ozzie Smith says that someone he doesn't talk to isn't the nicest of guys? I'm a big fan of the Wizard, but for all intents and purpose, just because LaRussa doesn't participate in the constant wordhumping that he's merited as a Hall-of-Famer doesn't mean LaRussa doesn't respect him. Last time I checked, LaRussa is a major league manager, not some St. Louis fan-boy that lives in awe of other players, remember, LaRussa has watched many stars come and go in his career, so I'll give him a pass for not being star-struck. Instead, LaRussa focuses his energies on managing his team, albeit his in-game strategies do leave a lot to be desired.
Also, even though Ozzie Smith may have a key to St. Louis in his back pocket or something, it doesn't mean that he should be able to actually use said key to just come and go as he pleases. I mean, it's not like he left his wallet in the third locker from the left back in 1987 and suddenly remembered it was there. I mean, he hasn't worn out his "welcome" in other places, so he can just hang out there.
"He can do what he wants," Pujols told reporters after another American League all-star victory. "He does whatever he wants. If I wasn't expecting to play, I wouldn't have come [to San Francisco]."
La Russa responded: "If he wants to get upset, he can get upset. Whatever he wants to do, he can do. It's America. That wasn't the most important thing tonight."
Ok? So, Pujols says he wanted to play in a game, in which his selection to be on the team was based on the respect of his peers in the league and rival managers. A professional baseball player wanted to actually play baseball? Whoodathunkit? Then we see that LaRussa stoically responds that Pujols has every right to feel such a thing? I don't really see what's so wrong with that... I mean, that's like you reading this article and calling me an idiot for supporting LaRussa and my not caring because I know and understand the first amendment rights. I'd imagine a conversation between Smith and LaRussa would go as follows:
Smith: You know Tony, I consider myself a big-time writer, and I totally disagree with your handling of the whole Pujols/All-Star game thing, and I'm totally gonna write about it and make you look like you're some stubborn, inconsiderate jerk!
LaRussa: Ok, you have every right to do that...
Smith: How dare you sir! I'm insulted by your neglect of care for doing what I'm paid and constitutionally defended to do!
He also goes so far as to say that it wasn't the most important thing of the night. *Gasp* One non-existent at-bat isn't nearly as important as actually losing the game that determines home-field advantage in the World Series? An at-bat in which the player that didn't bat would have failed to record a hit 2/3 of the time? (If you follow his career numbers). I mean, if Smith were attacking his overall strategy for the game, such as bringing in Chris Young in the 5th, instead of , say, Jose Valverde or something... He would have a decent, albeit subjective, argument.
There's a trend here, however, that should be more alarming than anything else. Again, it wasn't just La Russa's decision during the All-Star Game that raised eyebrows, but his seemingly apathetic response to any thought of Pujols' being upset over it.
Is it really such a bad thing that LaRussa doesn't dwell on things that have already happened and can't be reversed? I mean, I thought it was the trait of a true professional to forget the negatives and keep chipping away. Big league pitchers don't let giving up a homerun irk them, or if they do, they turn into Brad Lidge. Quarterbacks forget about throwing interceptions and focus on the next play. But I guess a manager should remember making a mistake and let it totally effect the way he manages games. I'm really wondering if Smith is cognizant of the fact that if Aaron Rowand got that hit, would he be writing about this right now? Actually, yeah, he probably would... either that or he would be yelling at us through our TV sets in an effort to confuse us into thinking what he is saying may actually be coherent. Smith also ignores the counter-argument that Rowand was already keyed into game-speed pitches after facing closer extraordinaire Jonathan Papelbon. Pujols would be coming off the bench to face a pitcher he had faced once on July 2 of 2004 in JJ Putz. Sometimes you go with your gut and sometimes you get burned for it.
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