It made no sense for him to just sit on the bench.
2007-07-12 02:43:49 · 17 answers · asked by Yahoo Man 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Would we see another Reggie Jackson-Billy Martin kind of fist fight if LaRussa sits Pujols out for another game?
2007-07-12 03:33:59 · update #1
Because LaRussa was drunk like usual and thought he had to lose the game in order to win.
2007-07-12 02:46:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off I would like to state that LaRussa is a pretty good manager and actually tends to over-manage. I hate how everyone is jumping on the LaRussa hate-wagon. He is closing in as the all-time leader in cardinal wins.
With that said, yes he made a mistake in not playing Pujols. I honestly think that if he would have just come out and said, "I thought that Aaron would get the job done" instead of "I am the manager, no one questions my decisions", then this wouldn't be a big deal. But, he did manage to piss off the one player who he had to keep happy (even though Albert says all is well now). I hope that this doesn't carry over into the regular season.
LaRussa said he wanted Albert in case the game went to extras, but you don't go to extras when you are losing. And in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, a single to the outfield with speed on second usually scores two anyway, so that would have been the game. It was a momentary Brain-Fart on LaRussa's part, but he will never apologize for it.
P.S. Would this be an issue if Rowand came through? Just think about it...
2007-07-12 03:28:24 · answer #2 · answered by Jacob G 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i won't have the ability to understand why Pujols wasn't placed into the game the two. i recognize if he had performed till now interior the game then he would have had to play outfield particularly of his universal place as quickly as the enjoying cards have been given back out to the sphere. yet...the 9th inning and national team has bases loaded with a huge gamble to win or a minimum of tie the game? i think of LaRussa became not notably intelligent for not having Pujols bat to grant the national team a struggling with possibility. LaRussa says 'that wasn't the main crucial concern this evening.' What became the main crucial concern? dropping the game?
2016-10-20 23:55:48 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh BS to all of these "saving him for extra innings" crap. It's the freakin' all-star game for crying out loud and the fans voted to see one of the best hitters in the game bat. The NL was BEHIND in the ninth inning and Pujols should have batted...Period! LaRussa even admitted that he made a mistake. So don't sit there and play "saving him" couch-manager. Pujols should have batted and Tony LaRussa (a great manager) just made a mistake. Simple....end of story. Now get off Tony's back about it.
2007-07-18 16:53:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
2 reasons he batted Rowand instead of Pujols.
1. He was saving him in case it went to extra innings. With Lee already playing 1st and no other position players out there, Pujols would have had to play elsewhere for the first time in a couple years. On top of that, if there was a injury to anyone in the field, a pitcher would have had to come in to play the field.
2. Although Pujols has been a great career hitter, this year he has been subpar, especially in the clutch whereas Rowand has been money. Of all players with at least 25 a bats with 2 outs and runners in scoring position, Rowand ranks 10 in the majors and Pujols ranks 60th, right behind the Cubs Jacque Jones.
2007-07-13 10:49:00 · answer #5 · answered by jkoons 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He did this because he knew it would piss Pujols off and possibly motivate him to the point that he would start hitting again like he uses to. It has worked out pretty well to might I add as Pujols homered 4 times in his first 5 games after the break
2007-07-18 16:53:12 · answer #6 · answered by bump pickle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read that LaRussa was "saving his star player in case the game went long." I don't think it was very nice, but I guess maybe it was understandable in LaRussa's mind.
2007-07-12 02:58:39 · answer #7 · answered by somebody 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No idea and your guess is as good as mine. Rowland was due up but not to pinch hit for Pujols, who might end up being one of the greatest power hitters of all time, there is now chance Rowland even picks up the bat. Plus, I would have had Albert bat even before Rowland.
2007-07-18 15:37:08 · answer #8 · answered by lastgoodcowboyab 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only Tony knows and you will never hear the real reason from him, I think he just didn't want to use him, to give him a day off.
2007-07-19 00:56:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he was saving him because he did not want to run out of useable players if the game went into extras. He wanted someone good for him if that happend.
2007-07-12 02:49:41 · answer #10 · answered by A-dog 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋