Comments on: Report: Rasmus requested trade earlier this season

By: Not satisfied with the current product, the Cardinals are trying to change outfielder Colby Rasmus | HardballTalk

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 01:02:54 +0000

[...] was only six months ago that the now 24-year-old Rasmus requested a trade away from St. Louis because of a tarnished relationship with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. And [...]

By: willmose

willmose — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:35:02 +0000

“he thought sending his superstar Latino first baseman to a Glenn Beck rally was a good idea”
Boy have you got that wrong. Tony went to the Glenn Beck rally give Albert some cover. Joe Buck, an employee of Fox, approached Cardinal ownership about Puljos attending the rally. Cardinal ownership strongly requested that Albert attend to pick up an award, asuring him that there would not be anything political about the rally. The ownership said it would considerate a personal favor if he would attend. Tony invited himself along to get between Albert and any annoying questions.
The Cardinal ownership did Fox (who pays them millions of dollars per year) a favor. Cardinal ownership also strongly agrees with Glenn Beck’s political agenda (as does Buck), so it was a win-win situation for them. Unfortunately, ownership forgot about the impact on the team.
The story is all over town here in Saint Louis, it is amazing that you guys missed it.

By: Sam Lee

Sam Lee — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:16:18 +0000

You highlight the dysfunction between the manager and a young, talented player, but what stood out to me in that story was this: “Duncan and bullpen coach Marty Mason convened a meeting of minor-league pitching coaches during spring training. The meeting grew contentious, according to several who attended, and communication between levels all but ceased.”
That is amazing.

By: Paper Lions

Paper Lions — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:14:07 +0000

Put another way. LaRussa and Duncan have made it clear that they use a “my way or the highway” approach. You can’t blame players for asking to see the highway.

By: Paper Lions

Paper Lions — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:09:26 +0000

Ludwick also requested a trade every year. When a manager makes you feel unwanted, it is only natural to ask to be traded to someone that might like to have you on their team. LaRussa is developing a strong pattern of playing favorites at the expense of team performance.