SUNDAY, 9:13am: La Russa's return to St. Louis is "almost certain" at this point, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. As Saturday's AP story suggested, it's still unclear whether or not La Russa's entire coaching staff will be retained, but a source tells Strauss that he'd be "very surprised" if the long-time Cardinals skipper didn't return for 2011.
SATURDAY, 11:43am: Free agency will forever be dominated by the players, but managers are going to get a big piece of the action this winter. Arguably the biggest free agent manager is Tony La Russa of the Cardinals, but the AP (via The Boston Herald) reports that the two sides are talking daily, and that a deal could be reached soon. One of the sticking points involves the security of La Russa's coaching staff, who he presumably wants to return intact.
La Russa has been managing the Cardinals since 1996, leading them to seven division titles, eight playoff berths, and two National League pennants, including a 2006 World Series victory. Overall, St. Louis is 1,318-1,110 under his watch. It's worth noting that La Russa has had his fair share of run-ins with players throughout the years, with Colby Rasmus joining the likes of Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen this year.
At over $4MM annually, La Russa's previous contract made him one of the highest paid managers in baseball. There's no reason to expect that to change if and when a new deal is a reached.
Frank Wren, FRANK WREN!!!!!!!!!
Garcia or Shelby would have to be involved for that to ever happen. Most likely Garcia. Others would have to be involved also.
I get every one’s comments….thing is TLR and Mo need to go. More so with TLR. Many have talked about how he handled players the last few years, but what about how he treated Ozzie Smith in 1996, Ozzie’s last season. He jerked him around. It has been stated that Ozzie will not do much with the Cardinals until TLR leaves. I am not sure how true it is, but there comes a time for new blood. Maybe that time is now.
I agree with you tank1976 and until TLR leaves the Cardinals the problems are not going to be solved only going to get worse. I have heard some rumors and it is not to pretty about how Tony really manages the club. It is just time for a new beginning in St. Louis and integrity restored. To me, Tony has worn out his welcome in St. Louis and hopes he returns back to California.
I agree with you tank1976 and until TLR leaves the Cardinals the problems are not going to be solved only going to get worse. I have heard some rumors and it is not to pretty about how Tony really manages the club. It is just time for a new beginning in St. Louis and integrity restored. To me, Tony has worn out his welcome in St. Louis and hopes he returns back to California.
Rasmus has said the he hopes La Russa is back. You can even go search rotoworld for what Colby Rasmus said about La Russa. And laos Pujols wants La Russa back. If La Russa leaves, Pujols might now be too far behind. Yes, La Russa has trouble with having a lot of young kids. But, he also has done well with them. Like, Albert Pujols when he was a rookie. Alan Benes in 96. Adam Wainwight in 06. Matt Morris, I guess you can count him. Yadier Molina in 04. Kyle McCellan, in his 1st season. And most recently, Jaime Garcia. Garcia was even coming off of tommy john, and stil did well. I don’t think La Russa has worned out his welcome, as long as the players want him back. Which, they do. The front office just needs to improve the team, and then La Russa will have a better team. And you also need to wonder, what happened if Brad Penny never got hurt? The Cardinals were doing well with him, until he got hurt and he was even pitching fine.
but that doesn’t help guys like BravesRed or JohnMiltonRocks argument, therefore we will continue to create a parallel fantasy that all is still not well with Rasmus and LaRussa and he can be had for a bag of balls and some b prospects
Please show where I said anything about “bag of balls and some b prospects.”
look up what the word facetious means. while your add it, look up sarcasm.
look up what the word facetious means. while your add it, look up sarcasm.
Please show where I said anything about “bag of balls and some b prospects.”
This argument that La Russa’s contract is instrinsically tied to La Russa coming back does not seem logical to me. Let’s keep something in mind here: La Russa has 1-2 years left and Pujols is looking to sign at minimum a 7 year contract. Also, Pujols is already here for one more year with the option so if TLR is back one more year, Pujols won’t be thinking about this at the table. He’ll be playing for a new manager under his new contract anyways. So let’s throw this TLR coming back influence on Pujols contract extension out the window shall we?
Rasmus has said the he hopes La Russa is back. You can even go search rotoworld for what Colby Rasmus said about La Russa. And laos Pujols wants La Russa back. If La Russa leaves, Pujols might now be too far behind. Yes, La Russa has trouble with having a lot of young kids. But, he also has done well with them. Like, Albert Pujols when he was a rookie. Alan Benes in 96. Adam Wainwight in 06. Matt Morris, I guess you can count him. Yadier Molina in 04. Kyle McCellan, in his 1st season. And most recently, Jaime Garcia. Garcia was even coming off of tommy john, and stil did well. I don’t think La Russa has worned out his welcome, as long as the players want him back. Which, they do. The front office just needs to improve the team, and then La Russa will have a better team. And you also need to wonder, what happened if Brad Penny never got hurt? The Cardinals were doing well with him, until he got hurt and he was even pitching fine.
The Cardinals gm, even said that he’s not trading Rasmus. So, if La Russa does want him gone. Then, La Russa can leave instead. Jose Oquendo can be manager.
I am personally sick of Larussa’s antics and his salary. Would we be better getting a younger manager with a smaller price tag? That means we could invest more in our infield. I also think having a former Cardinal player would be helpful to get the Larussa era in St. Louis to be over.
I would not mind having Oquendo as manager. He has paid his dues. Terry Pendelton would be a nice guy to have around as well. I would take him as either hitting coach or manager if we could get him. He has done great work in Atlanta. I can remember that the Cardinals broadcasters had previously said that the Cards wanted Joe Girardi to be a coach in the St. Louis system when he was older and playing for the Cardinals.
Could we ever get one over on the Cubbies if we picked up Sandburg as manager for a season? Not that I would want that to happen, but it would be a great way to spite them. I would not fault the Cubs for picking Quade or Girardi over Sandburg.
Big time PR. I put very little stock into Mozeliak saying that. You don’t TELL the media you plan to trade a player- that’s bad for leverage, especially if you have the player under control for multiple years. For Mozeliak to come out and say anything other than “we’re not trading Rasmus” would be absolutely dumb.
I’m not saying the Cards plan to trade Rasmus or anything, just not to put real stock into that statement.
Nope, I don’t buy it. You don’t claim a player isn’t getting traded and then trade him. You get a bad reputation for those sorts of actions.
But why would Mozeliak trade Rasmus in favor of a manager that is only going to be here for 2 years at the most? That doesn’t seem to make much sense to me, especially if Rasmus is fine with TLR coming back and doesn’t want to be traded any more.
The Cardinals gm, even said that he’s not trading Rasmus. So, if La Russa does want him gone. Then, La Russa can leave instead. Jose Oquendo can be manager.
The La Russa era has run its course, time for them to move on
“Almost Certain” that Colby Rasmus would want a trade and leave. The Braves have to jump on this. Golden opportunity is only made possible by Tony La Russa’s stubborness!
Any thread that has Cardinals or Tony LaRussa in it ends up with a bunch of posts about Colby Rasmus. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Rasmus was Willie Mays. But I look at Rasmus’ numbers, and so far, he’s sorta Nate McLouth.
Not the McLouth of this year, the one that used to be a pretty good ballplayer.
he’s 24 and led all centerfielders in OPS…….. call me crazy but i think he has some growing still to do. His ceiling is probably a hybrid of Grady Sizemore-Carlos Beltran.
Rasmus’s defense in CF is monumentally better than McLouth’s ever was.
You seriously underrate Rasmus, and considering the guy had an incredibly inconsistent year and ended up with a wOBA above .360 is a statement in itself.
@Ferrariman, that’s a high ceiling. From age 24 to age 31 Beltran averaged:R=108, RBI=104, HR=29, SB=29, CS=4, OPS=.877, OPS+=124@melonis_rex, Yes, Rasmus is better than McLouth defensively.@Taskmaster75:2010: Rasmus, OPS=.859, OPS+=132, Age=232008: McLouth, OPS=852, OPS+=125, Age=26The way I see it is that Rasmus is ahead of McLouth at this point, but not by that much. It all depends on his development/consistency or lack thereof. I can’t see that he’s going to be a superstar from what he’s done so far.
Remember how easy it is for young players to take a big step backwards. Look at Matt Kemp, 127 OPS+/age 22, 124 OPS+/ age 24. Age 25? Right now, half the people on this board would say they didn’t want him on their team.
My point being that Rasmus is capable of so much more if he just stays consistent. When he’s on and not racking up 2-3K’s a game, he’s a very good hitter, at least capable of above .900 OPS. Add in the fact that he and his manager had a pretty big tiff, and it’s safe to say he has had a pretty distracting season.
And yes, it’s possible for him to regress, but without Ludwick, it’s very hard to not put Rasmus into the lineup, even for TLR. He just needs consistent AB’s.
For all TLR did in Oakland back in the day, the A’s really need to take Colby Rasmus off LaRussa’s hands in STL.
Good. St. Louis can have him. I was afraid he was going to end up with the Mets. They have enough problems in New York without looking out on the field and seeing Aaron Miles playing second base.
And the Rasmus rumors continue.
Not going into his value because it’s really a pointless debate, but I would like to say that young players of Rasmus’ skill (.850 OPS, slightly above average defense at a premium position, upside) have a much higher tendency to stay with their club (at least through their arbitration years) than they do to leave. Until Mozeliak says he’s on the block (or at least stops denying he isn’t) or actual names are mentioned, I’m inclined to think this is just a rumor.