How will the La Russa Area be remembered?

[Leedog]

Surprised no one has asked this all important question yet.

[philco_3]

Pissing off All-Stars...see Ozzie Smith.

[cardsfan04]

Depends who you ask. I'll remember it as a time when the Cards dominated the Central. He got hired when I was 10 in November 1995, so the vast majority of my Cardinal memories are of him being manager. And, we have really been dominant under him.

7 division titles
2 wild cards
7 appearances in the NLCS
4 pennants
2 WS titles

All that in 16 years? I think there's a lot of very legit criticism. He over-manages for sure. But, more than that, he wins. And, I can't imagine another manager having better results than him over this stretch. Sure, he had great talent, but he pretty much made the most of it. And, unconventional or not, results are what matter.

[goon attack]

It was the era when that little whiny bitch, Ozzie Smith, was revealed as the petty, self-absorbed douchenugget he really is... and the Cards won a ton.

[cprice12]

Pissing off All-Stars...see Ozzie Smith.

Ozzie was a whiney bitch over that whole thing. Royce Clayton beat him out fair and square and was the better choice for SS that year.

[cprice12]

It is amazing how many people think LaRussa over-manages.

Some call it over-managing.
I call it winning.

LaRussa can "over-manage" every game, all game long...as long as he wins...and he does...so who cares?

And is it really considered over-managing if he just wins games? I don't think it is. I think that's just called being a real good manager.
You could argue that other managers that don't win as much as LaRussa, actually under-manage their teams.

And the more I think about it...on what messed up scale is LaRussa judged and determined to have "over-managed" his teams? Isn't that a negative term? Shouldn't that term be reserved for managers who make too many moves and DON'T win games?

People like Slaten are outspoken about how bad LaRussa actually is as a manager. But how many games has Slaten ever won as a manager?
Zero.
Nobody would hire him because he isn't qualified...not good enough...not talented enough.
How many games has LaRussa won?
Exactly.

Thanks for playing.

[DaDitka]

People like Slaten are outspoken about how bad LaRussa actually is as a manager. But how many games has Slaten ever won as a manager?

You keep mentioning Slaten....if you still listen to his show, you're probably the only one.

To be honest with you, I had forgotten we even had AM sports talk channels until Ponder got his spot.

[cardsfan04]

It is amazing how many people think LaRussa over-manages.

Some call it over-managing.
I call it winning.

LaRussa can "over-manage" every game, all game long...as long as he wins...and he does...so who cares?

And is it really considered over-managing if he just wins games? I don't think it is. I think that's just called being a real good manager.
You could argue that other managers that don't win as much as LaRussa, actually under-manage their teams.

And the more I think about it...on what messed up scale is LaRussa judged and determined to have "over-managed" his teams? Isn't that a negative term? Shouldn't that term be reserved for managers who make too many moves and DON'T win games?

People like Slaten are outspoken about how bad LaRussa actually is as a manager. But how many games has Slaten ever won as a manager?
Zero.
Nobody would hire him because he isn't qualified...not good enough...not talented enough.
How many games has LaRussa won?
Exactly.

Thanks for playing.

I don't see why it can't be both winning and over managing. Granted I'm only 26 and haven't seen as many managers as some, but he makes more moves than any manager I've ever seen. Maybe micromanage is a more appropriate term because it doesn't carry as much of a negative implication. People definitely go overboard in their criticism of him though.

His results have been incredible (and that's really the most important thing). But, that doesn't mean he's beyond reproach or criticism.

[cardsfan04]

Oh, and I agree. Slaten is an idiot and a douche. I can't believe he still has a show.

[thedoc]

Oh, and I agree. Slaten is an idiot and a douche. I can't believe he still has a show.

This is the smartest thing you have said in the two years I have known you.

[dmiles2186]

7 division titles
2 wild cards
7 appearances in the NLCS
4 pennants
2 WS titles

This is all that needs to be said.

[cprice12]

People like Slaten are outspoken about how bad LaRussa actually is as a manager. But how many games has Slaten ever won as a manager?

You keep mentioning Slaten....if you still listen to his show, you're probably the only one.

To be honest with you, I had forgotten we even had AM sports talk channels until Ponder got his spot.

I flip around the dial on the drive home...and 590 is on the flip list.
It's not like a make a point to tune in and listen to him. When one station goes to commercial, I flip around.