he blew the chance to win
2007-07-10 23:14:36 · 10 answers · asked by jasonpickles 3 in Sports ➔ Baseball
As I answered on another "thread" - bassically, yes he was:
Pujols has every right to be p'd off at LaRussa if LaRussa did not discuss this strategy w/ him beforehand, and get his "okay".
Pujols is not only his star player, but along with Bonds - has been the best player in the NL since he entered the major leagues in 2001. Yes, Rowand is having a good year for him, and Pujols is having a down year by his lofty standards. But, even in a down year, Pujols is less likely to strike out, much more likely to walk, and given his career numbers, he was easily the player that any baseball fan (even me, a Phillies fan) would rather see up there.
Again, if he discussed it before with Albert, and Albert "forgot", then maybe I give LaRussa a pass here. Otherwise, LaRussa is an idiot!
2007-07-11 02:24:50 · answer #1 · answered by Da Whispering Genius 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Hes been on it for however many years he's coached. Rowand is a good DEFENSIVE player and can hit a little bit.
Pujols can hit the ball out of the park at any time! Tony LaRussa is just crazy!!!
2007-07-11 01:09:40 · answer #2 · answered by Catherine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LaRussa made a big mistake by playing Rowland insted of Pujols. Not taking anything away from Rowland, but , in my opinion, Pujols would have made a better chance at getting a runner in to either tie the game or win the game. For us Cardinal fans...this will always be rememberd as the All-Star game that LaRussa lost for the National team. :)
2007-07-11 01:11:40 · answer #3 · answered by Dorth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He must have been drunk. The game was going to end with that at bat, whether Pujols/Rowand made an out or got a hit. Most likely, a hit would have scored two runs.
2007-07-11 02:03:20 · answer #4 · answered by Sarge 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I thought so too .Saying that he was saving Pujols for possible extra innings makes no sense if you can't get there ,The tying run was 90' away time to go all in.
Wouldn't it be ironic if somehow St Louis managed to get back to the WS only to lose it in game 7 in an AL ballpark ?
2007-07-11 00:45:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How quickly people forget. Remember the All-Star Game just a few years ago that had to be called off in extra innings due to no available players left on the bench? Managers from here on will be holding back a player or two in close games to prevent that from ever happening again.
2007-07-11 00:10:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why? instead of a fly ball out, Pujols might have struck out...
either way, the game was over.
LaRussa's reasoning...he was saving his star player in case the game went long.
“Once we lost (Miguel) Cabrera and (Freddy) Sanchez, he (Pujols) was the guy we were going to use to protect ourselves in case we kept playing because of Albert’s versatility,” La Russa said. “I think we had the right guy (Rowand) at bat.”
but, this didn't go over well with Pujols...
Pujols irked about getting left on the All-Star bench
'If he wants to get upset, he can get upset,' responds La Russa.
“It’s the All-Star game. He can do what he wants,” Pujols said Tuesday night. “He does whatever he wants."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19703652/
Isn't it fun for us fans to always be second-guessing the manager?
2007-07-10 23:28:41 · answer #7 · answered by GeneL 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
And those of use cheering for the AL thank you Mr. LaRussa.
2007-07-11 04:34:19 · answer #8 · answered by SoccerClipCincy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
saving players for extra innings in a allstar game is ridiculous. If they lose a game because of a lack of position players in extra innings, I would respect that more because he tried hard to get the game won in the bottom of the ninth.
That was bull.
2007-07-11 00:58:03 · answer #9 · answered by Walter M 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yup he sure is!!! Why else would he have screwed things up! Guess he wanted his friend to win!
2007-07-10 23:20:35 · answer #10 · answered by amethyst 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋