Blame LaRussa or...Pujols?

Question

Apparently, according to Chris Russo, he had heard from reputable sources that Pujols was out of uniform in the ninth inning of the asg, and that's why he wasn't put in. LaRussa was actually taking the bullet for him to protect him. And it makes sense too. Not many people know it, but Pujols is a clown. He whines, makes stupid comments, and acts like a baby if things don't go his way. So when the 9th inning rolled around and the NL was down 3 runs and Pujols never took the field, it makes perfect sense that he went into the locker area and changed out of uniform, ready to leave.

I was watching the game, there were no shots of Pujols in the dugout in the 9th and that is why they were saying Pujols was "warming up" in the batting cage or something like that.

This isn't about hindsight...if you have a choice of Pujols or Aaron f'in Rowand in the bottom of the ninth, 2 outs, bases loaded, down by 1 with K-Rod pitching, you'd be crazy not to put Pujols in. That's why it was so mind boggling, before I heard about this.

Many in the media know about Pujols' antics, sorry if you never heard but he's in a small market so it's not reported as much, especially in a town like St. Louis where they applaud the team that beat them.

Out of uniform - in the locker room, changed....all players don't shake hands and talk to the media after the game! And Pujols did talk to reporters, out of uniform!

Look, the issue I'm presenting here is not if Pujols should have been at the plate in place of Rowand! It's that Pujols was not in the dugout, out of uniform in the locker room with some other players who had been taken out earlier in the game! LaRussa couldn't call a timeout so Pujols could get changed!

And why the hell would LaRussa tell Pujols before the game that he isn't playing him? That's exactly what Pujols was upset about, he said that if he wasn't going to play him he should have just told him so he would know. That's why Pujols was upset, and why he got changed early - he's a baby.

Pujols was NOT seen in the dugout in the 9th, and that is why LaRussa had to make up the story about him warming up in the batting cage below! I already explained all of this people - read!

I too thought the whole "we're saving him for the 10th" was ridiculous and asanine. But it's what LaRussa made up to protect his franchise player.

And just to prove that Pujols was NOT on the bench, he came out today and stated that he was in the trainer's room getting prepared for extra innings! All of you who are saying he was in the dugout are flat out lying/wrong.

I'm pissed because as a fan of baseball, I felt robbed of a good ending to the game! And it's not just an exhibition anymore with HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE on the line in the WORLD SERIES. That extra game is key in a close series, and winning those first two games at home can really turn a series around. |Of course it may turn out to be another bad series, but I was pumped for the all star game and because one player is a baby, we didn't get to see him try to win the game with all of the talent he has.

Answer 1

I blame Pujols. As usual the manager has to be the scapegoat for the mess ups of a player.

Answer 2

Why protect Tony LaRussa here?

The CARDINALS won the WS - and there was ONLY ONE player representing the defending WS champs -- this may be a simple as that! There were MORE Cubs, Brewers, and Astros and what did they win? There were MORE Mets, Sox, Tigers, Yanks and what, last year? Do you recall ESPN didn't mention any Cardinals for months of voting, right? No Rolen run-through as the best-fielding & deserving (lip service etc.) ...Don't we know LaRussa to be spiteful... don't we see ego, here? Why not investigate if LaRussa wasn't teaching NL fans a lesson and NL players alike -- for voting Fielder a starter over Pujols, in the first place. (as in "you got what you wanted"). Remember, LaRussa is a guy that's shielded the STEROID bash-brother A's which might have seen 20-guys abusing steroids more than Mac and Canseco for crying out loud...?

It was an AWFUL decision to bat Rowand bases-loaded, 2 outs with the Angels' K-Rod on the ropes, like that. Inexcusably poor, since you have one of MLB's all-time batters in Pujols sitting on his hands, a few feet away.

Answer 3

On the one hand, Tony LaRussa is a real cover-himself kind of guy. He doesn't let anything interfere with his "genius" image (not HIS fault his favored teams lost the World Series in '88, '90 and '04, right?), and when one of his players has a problem with him (Scott Rolen last year), LaRussa is not the one to pay the price. And Chris (Mad Dog) Russo, while entertaining, is a blowhard. The guy still likes Bonds, for crying out loud! He makes Peter Gammons look like Nostradamus.

On the other hand, the Fox cameras didn't show Albert Pujols in the dugout. Then again (a third hand?), this is Fox we're talking about. Truth and accuracy are not exactly their long suits.

Answer 4

I can believe it. Either way, whether Tony was saving him or Pujols was out of uniform, he made the correct decision. If the game went long people would be asking why he didn't save any of his better hitters. You really can't win in this situation when you are the losing manager. I mean people are always going to doubt your moves when you lose.

FLIPSIDE IS THIS, Had he won people would be saying great move. I assure you nobody would even be talking about Pujols had Rowand made a hit. I can guarantee you that much! Like I said people will always criticize you when you lose!

Answer 5

First of all, you saw Pujols there in the dugout. Now, bases are loaded and ur down by one run, and your not gonna have probably one of the most feared hitters in the game in there? Its La Russa's fault. La Russa has probs with his players like Rolen. He even was caught DUI. It's LaRussa you can't trust him. Chris Russo is just defendin his italian homie. Pujols should've been in the game. Just a single would've won the game, and you have larussa sayin he was saving pujols for extra innings? Rowand isn't even that good, shouldn't have been in the allstar game. He struck out the inning before. La Russa is retarded.

Answer 6

There is no blame to be placed on anyone and this whole issue is blown out of proportion. Tony had a game to manage that could have gone into extra innings and he was managing accordingly. You say that not many people know that Pujols is a clown, whines, and makes stupid comments. If information like this trickled all the way down to you, than why wouldn't the rest of us know about it? The only thing I have ever heard about Pujols is that he is a great teammate, super in the clubhouse, and a class act.

Answer 7

If Pujols wasn't in uniform, and he complained after the game, ever stop to think that maybe La Russa told him before the game even started he didn't plan on playing Pujols, and Pujols thought "what the heck, exhibition game, I'm not gonna be in it, I don't need to wear the uniform, what purpose does it serve"? That would make sense.

Answer 8

you are correct Pujols whines like a baby and makes stupid comments when he dosen't get his way. he said that if he would have known that he wasn't going to get to play he wouldn't have even come to the game. but the reason why he didn't get to play is because Tony thought that aaron Rownad could have just gotten a base hit to get in a run to tie the game he wanted to have some one like Pujols on the bench to maybe win the game.i have no clue what you are talking about when you are saying that he was out of uniform. do you really think that some one didn't stop him from changing? they all have to go out there and slap hands in front of the fans and media, and didn't i ever occur to him that he might have to talk with the media hiimeself? you need to be more specific when you say"out of uniform"

Answer 9

No question Pujols should have been in the game. There is no one I would rather have up to bat in that situation. Bases loaded, 2 outs, bases loaded, bottom of the ninth. A single would of scored 2, game over. I'm still scratching my head wondering what he was thinking!!!

Answer 10

Should LaRussa have put Pujols in? Probably so, but hindsight is 20/20.

Hindsight has a lot to do with it. No one would be asking these questions if Rowand had gotten a hit.