Tony leaving? > USA Today

[Coop]

Cardinals keep battling through crises on, off field - USATODAY.com

Overall I like future hall of fame manager, Tony LaRussa.
He has killed me with Jeff Brantley as closer, Kip Wells as starter, etc.
He refuses to change, no matter what happens on the field.
I want a manager who thinks new and young and likes base running.
Tony is station to station.
I WANT YOUNG PLAYERS TO GET A CHANCE!!! We have them.
I sure hope Walt stays.

[AutobodyCAD]

That was a good read. Thanks, Coop.

Personally, I would like Tony to finish his career here, and I'd rather he not leave on such a sour note. The only other guy I'd want would be Jose Oquendo.

[Marcella]

During a recent Cards/Braves game, Chip Caray said that Cincinnati was interested in TLR. I say take him and welcome. He is not noted for his ability to bring along young players (unless their last name is Duncan). Coop is right: We have a bunch of great young players at AAA Memphis, most of whome will fall by the wayside as long as TLR is at the helm.

[AutobodyCAD]

Originally Posted by Marcella

During a recent Cards/Braves game, Chip Caray said that Cincinnati was interested in TLR. I say take him and welcome. He is not noted for his ability to bring along young players (unless their last name is Duncan). Coop is right: We have a bunch of great young players at AAA Memphis, most of whome will fall by the wayside as long as TLR is at the helm.

You do realize we've been in the playoffs in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and still have a shot (albeit slim) this year? How many other NL teams have done that this decade?

Is none of the credit due to Tony?

[tulcard]

On the broadcast last night Hrabosky said he spoke with Tony and said that TLR said he was misquoted that he may be leaving....that the only thing he said was that he'd like to manage a few more years but couldn't put a timetable on how long. Never did he say he didn't want to be here.

That sounds more like TLR. He will weigh many factors, but I feel he'll not only be back but that he'll retire as Cardinal manager....which is fine by me!

[AutobodyCAD]

Maybe he's not the 'genius' that some laud him as, but he's one of the best currently active managers.

Like I said: I hope he stays, but if not I want Oquendo.

[BleacherBum593]

Derrick Goold has an article on Tony in today's Post -

La Russa: To go or to stay?

A couple of quotes that I found interesting in the article:

"There have been periods this year when we have struggled — where I had to honestly let the team know we had to keep pushing," La Russa said Tuesday. "The product of that could be some strained relationships. There may have been some people who got their feelings hurt. If there is a lingering effect, that's significant."

"First thought, can you honestly, realistically look at the next year and make the commitment you need to make?" La Russa said. "If the answer is no, then you don't need to go through the whole process. If it's yes, (one of the questions to ask) is there an alternative that is a better fit?"

La Russa likened this decision to the one he faced after the 2004 season, when his contract expired after the Cardinals' trip to their first World Series with him as manager. He said he'd follow a "similar formula" to come to a conclusion. That includes gauging whether he has the focus for it, whether he thinks the organization isn't numb to him after a dozen years, whether he likes the direction of the franchise and whether the players will respond to him.

"It's very common when you're doing that, that you ruffle some feathers, you get their attention," he said. "There are some strained feelings, some touchy times. Happened in Chicago (with the White Sox). Happened in Oakland. Happened in St. Louis (in '96). It's been a pretty nice run in the 2000s. The core group. The respect. The mutual respect. The relationships. But this year, we've had a lot of tests.

"That, to me, is the only difference between '04 and '07. That's why I think the 'player responding' part of that formula is important"

"I don't see a whole lot of alternatives," he said. "There are not a lot of places that I could go manage. People wonder where I'm going to manage. The real question is where is Dave (Duncan) going to be the pitching coach? And find out if they need a manager. Because I want to sign on there."

Duncan has a contract with the Cardinals through 2008.

I think Tony will follow the formula that he has followed since he has been here. He'll wait till the off-season and then assess whether he wants to continue here. I would say that there is a better than 75% chance that he'll be back in STL in 2008.