Or is he just stupid? Why would he not let Pujols hit in the ninth inning? It doesn't make any sense. He trusts Hudson, and Rowand over the guy that won him the World Series. May be he did what I did, bet on the AL to win.
2007-07-11 13:15:12 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
Michael M you have got to be the biggest idiot ever. What does that have to do with the death of Hancock? Nothing at all. In case you didn't know, La Russa was charged with a DUI during the offseason. So go home
2007-07-11 13:32:44 · update #1
Sure it is always easy to question the coach/manager after the game, but that's why WE pay them that much money, ain't it?
Sure, if Hudson or Rowand win the game for the NL, this probably wouldn't come up, but yet as a fan I would still be disappointed not having seen Pujols in the game. I'm sure none of the players that have been subsituted in would've had a problem with going into extra innnings. I mean most of them have had may be 3-4 innnings anyway so 10th, 11th, or 12th inning would not have killed anybody. So I don't buy the argument of saving a player.
2007-07-11 13:53:25 · update #2
here's the thing....
the NL hasn't won in a decade... a friggin decade. i would think that it's time to pull out all of the stops, and go for the glory... what else do you have to lose?
he was saving Pujols for later... how much later can you get? bottom of the ninth with two outs... thats as late as you get in baseball. well that is... if you're a manager that plays for the win, not for the tie. what kind of manager plays for the tie?
why not save people like dmitri young and derrick lee for later. no one tuned in to see those guys anyway. (well except cubs fans for lee... they're the only people on earth who think that guy is any good).
how exciting would it have been, to see Pujols put on a helmet, grab a bat, and stroll to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, bases juiced, down by one. that would put so many fans on the edge of their seats. that is why people.... sorry... that is why FANS tune in.
my guess is that LaRussa bet on the AL to win. and i'll bet he had at least one shot of Jack in his system.
2007-07-11 23:13:05 · answer #1 · answered by wedge47 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If anything I would have put Pujols in for Hudson the Rowand. But wht if Pujols was put in and did wht Rowand had did. Not saying La Russa might have made the right decision, but he was thinking ahead of the game incase the game went in extra innings. Then he would have Pujols hit for a pitcher or something. Plus its not like Pujols is the only player who hasent been played in a AS Game. There have been other players who didnt play and didnt complain.
2007-07-12 03:26:42 · answer #2 · answered by mptrunner 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the guys on PTI (Pardon The Interruption) today, La Russa simply "blew it".
And oh boy, is Pujols really pissed off now.
Interesting comments from the Cardinals site:
"Pujols was the only National League hitter who did not get in the 78th All-Star Game, as manager Tony La Russa held him out as protection in case he needed reinforcements in extra innings."
The 2005 NL MVP, who carries a 4-for-11 lifetime mark in All-Star competition, was clearly displeased.
"Ask the manager," Pujols said when asked about not playing. "He's the one that you need to ask. I have no idea."
"Pujols said he was under the impression he would get in the game. He made an effort to stay loose throughout the contest in case he was called upon to hit."
Read the whole article...
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070711&content_id=2081203&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl
(btw, as a life-long Phillies phan, how pleased and gloating do you think I'd be today if Rowand had come through with the game tying or winning hit?
I'm as disappointed as you folks who think Pujols should have batted instead).
We DO love to second-guess the manager though, don't we?
2007-07-11 20:31:01 · answer #3 · answered by GeneL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I definetely agree with you. Who would trust Hudson and Rowand over Pujols. It's crazy. Pujols is the only player who didn't get in on the NL roster, and he plays on LaRussa's team. Now, Pujols is pissed at LaRussa, which isn't good for the chemistry as a team, and LaRussa is also struggling relations with Scott Rolen.
2007-07-11 20:19:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He said he needed Pujols incase they tied it up and went into xtra innings. Okay, you don't get to extra's if you don't tie it. But everyone in the lineup was an allstar, so how do you NOT trust them? It's not like he let the pitcher bat.
Still, why did he even leave Pujols on the bench until the 9th???
2007-07-11 21:12:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
La Russa was drunk. He said he wanted to save Pujols for later. ITS NOT LIKE HE CAN SEE THE FUTURE AND SEE IF THERES EXTRA INNINGS. I would have PH him for Aaron Rowand, espcially when the bases r f*cking loaded! good job blowin it for the NL La f*ggot!
2007-07-11 20:27:57 · answer #6 · answered by Playboyperry509 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
And if Pujols makes an out to end the game?...better to let Hudson hang his head low. The Cards have enough struggles this year without the ASG effecting them too.
La Russa had his reasons.
2007-07-11 20:27:27 · answer #7 · answered by sean1201 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
to give you my honest opinion I think Larussa and Pujols aren't getting along well. Just a hunch but it does not make sense. they are already sounding on the "outs" in the papers, at least thats how its getting spun by the AP.
Pujols might be getting a little to cocky for his own good. maybe not respecting the game like he should (see the glavine comments)
2007-07-11 21:49:04 · answer #8 · answered by matt m 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That seems to be the big question out of the AS game. Who can figure this guy out. Maybe drunk AND stupid. But I'm an AL fan so...he's a GREAT guy!!
2007-07-11 20:33:20 · answer #9 · answered by Silvio 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
drunk or stupid?
The answer is YES
now that you mention it, theres a chance that La Russa did bet on the AL, Because ive seen people just as drunk and stupid make better decisions
2007-07-11 22:39:22 · answer #10 · answered by Tastee Freeze 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋