Bernie Miklasz has a nice piece on TLR’s return, with some tidbits that really jumped out at me.
“I appreciate the value of statistical analysis,” La Russa said. “What Jeff and his group do is important. But Jeff (Luhnow) also understands human nature and recognizes the value of a manager and coaches observing players on a daily basis and making judgments that way. That’s a critical part of it.”
Great things can happen when you actually TALK. Cheers to Tony for taking the higher road and trying to find common ground.
“To set the record straight, if I had to choose one, I’d take the young team,” La Russa said. “I’d rather have a group of young guys with true talent than I would (older) guys who are on the (declining) side of their careers. So if you ask me, to pick between a team that is just over the edge or brand new, I’ll take the brand new.”
That is what I like to hear. Now, hopefully he will walk the walk. Talking to stat guys. Playing the kids. On with the youth movement. Maybe this could work out, after all.
Filed under: Tony La Russa
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Talk is cheap.
These are comments from a guy who said just a week ago that he wouldn’t sign until a new GM was in place because the new GM should decide if he wants him back or not.
Has there ever been any evidence Tony was “anti-stat” guy?? Heck, he is widely known as one of the first managers to use statistical analysis to help him prepare and manage.
Some fans are mad he relies on stats, numbers, etc. too much while others say he doesn’t use the “stat” model. Tough crowd I guess. I don’t think Tony has ever been anti-stat.
Same with the “playing the kids” argument. He will play kids if they are worth playing. He’s not going to play someone who isn’t a worthy player. What young players has Tony held back over the years that ended up being productive major league guys?
You have to remember when he made the comments about wanting the GM in place…he made made those comments before Dewitt had even truly narrowed down the list much less start interviewing. Tony is smart and knows that he will be working for and with the GM so he probably wanted some assurance that the guy that they hired would be supportive of him being manager. How many times have managers been fired or on the hot seat the entire time because they are not the GMs “guy”. The guys that the Cards are considering all basically signed off on Tony’s return. You can’t blame Tony for wanting the support of the new GM.
I can’t believe some of the distrust and animosity towards a manager that brought the Cards a 10th World Series. What has Tony really done wrong with this ballclub? You can’t blame all of Reyes’ struggles on Tony and Duncan. From what I’ve been told Reyes doesn’t prepare for games through video or gameplanning for each hitter. I’ve also been told that he is extremely hard to coach. I am not saying that the philosophy of the 2-seamer should be pushed on every pitcher, but there are other factors working against Reyes-including himself.