MVN - Most Valuable Network

What next for LaRussa?

I’ll jump on the current hot topic around Redbird Land - what’s the future hold for Tony LaRussa.

Some of the facts about Tony are well-known, some aren’t.  He is the winning-est manager in club history (he passed Red Schoendienst this season, and yes, I spelled ‘Schoendienst’ without having to look it up).  He has managed the Cardinals more seasons than anyone but Schoendienst.  From 2000 to 2005 his teams averaged just short of 96 wins a season (95.8); only the great Cardinals teams during the Second World War averaged more wins during a 6 season stretch (101, which is ungodly; no wonder that team went to 4 WS in 5 years, winning 3).

Yet before the 2004 season, there were real questions as to whether he’d return at all.  2004 was his ‘walk’ year.  LaRussa was, and is, hardly beloved in St Louis; his first 9 years at the helm were constantly compared to Whitey Herzog, the most recent successful long-tenured manager in Cardinal memory.  He was whispered to be unable to win the big one, and his team’s poor NLCS record (5-12, including blowing a 3-1 lead against Atlanta in 1996) seemed to bear that out.

The success of the 04 squad got him a 3 year contract.  The team’s success in 04, 05 and 06, including the improbable run to the World Series title last year, didn’t get him a lot of love, although it did finally shut most of the naysayers up.

So he already carries all that emotional baggage.  The Championship vindicated him to a degree; it got the burden of wearing #10 off his back (although not literally off his back; it’s still his number), and provided for an emotional release.  But being a proud man, I’m sure he continued to carry some of the mistrust and angst forged through 9 years of attacks from the St Louis fanbase in general and some in the St Louis media in particular.

There also aren’t the loud calls that he be re-signed by the Cardinals, unlike what was heard last season about Jim Edmonds.

Add onto that all the troubles of this past season, and it’s no wonder he wants to take some time before deciding on where he will work next year.

The bigger question is what direction will the franchise go for the next 3-4 years - continue to find and play veterans (Cairo, Maroth, Wellemeyer, Piniero, etc), or go with a youth movement (Ryan, Ankiel, Wainwright, Reyes, Duncan)?  LaRussa is a guy who likes the veterans, based on his track record.  I think that philosophical decision will have to be made before LaRussa commits to another season of Cardinal Red.

Love him or hate him, there is no doubt he is very good at his craft.  I doubt candidate of his caliber could easily be found to replace him.  As for me, I’d like to see him return.  But I completely understand if he moves on.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 at 10:11 pm and is filed under 2007 Cardinals, Tony LaRussa. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.