Comments on: Of course Colby Rasmus’ dad ripped Tony La Russa yesterday

By: stlmojo

stlmojo — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:42:22 +0000

For a guy who doesn’t watch or pay attention to baseball you sure seem to have some true opinions about the matter. The biggest problem with the Internet is people like you typing opinions about things you know nothing about. It would be like me a male typing about what it’s like to be pregnant. You do not need to have an opinion about everything. What Tony and the cardinals do is up to those people. See you didnt spend 199 million dollars to buy the team. You don’t even watch which makes your opinion worthless.

By: mgflolox

mgflolox — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:08:02 +0000

Well, there’ll never be a shortage of those.

By: mgflolox

mgflolox — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:05:58 +0000

Yeah, and look at all the pennants he won.

By: mgflolox

mgflolox — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:35:50 +0000

I can clearly remember what a mess the A’s were from the time Charlie Finley dismantled the mustache gang in the ’70′s until the arrival of TLR and Dunc in ’86. In a year and a half, they, along with Sandy Alderson, built a dynasty. The Cards went 9 years without a postseason berth before TLR arrived in “96 (after the great Joe Torre was fired). He got the White Sox into the postseason after a 24 year wait. It’s not like he’s been walking to successful situations and riding someone else’s coattails.

By: mgflolox

mgflolox — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:16:24 +0000

That is a perfect example of AM radio-level bullshit analysis.

By: okwhitefalcon

okwhitefalcon — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:23:37 +0000

Tony Rasmus went on with Rob Rains earlier today, dude is all over the place…

Listen hear: http://www.kfns.com/podcast/Episodes.aspx?PID=2074

Scroll to:

07282011

Tony Rasmus joins the Sports Zone to talk about the move of Colby

By: cintiphil

cintiphil — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:28:25 +0000

You are right on with this comment. The game has changed a lot in the past few years. I don’t know the if FATHER of any player in the previous era’s would have even would dare to cry about his kid not getting good treatment from the manager or not, but doubt it. If any of these guys dared to challenge the manager in the past, he may have found himself traded several times, and to the lowest teams. Even if you hate LaRussa, you have to admit that Colby’s dad has no business getting into the every day play of the ball player. I don’t care where he coached in his life, he doesn’t have the talent or ability of ANY Major League coach. If he did, he would have played this game. Too bad for Colby, because the old man will continue to interfere with the coaches at Toronto, when Colby goes into a slump, and will be ready to blame the manager and hitting coaches etc. He will insist that Colby listen to him to get out of the slump he will go into, and that may ruin his chances of making it big. Where will he be traded to then? On the other hand, maybe Rasmus is JUST a potential good player, but just doesn’t make it regardless. I keep saying just like Bay. But in his case, Bay does have injury problems.

By: jimbo1949

jimbo1949 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:18:52 +0000

Gene Mauch?

By: irishuncle

irishuncle — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:04:43 +0000

Fact is, like it or not, TLR is the manager. That’s a fact Daddy Rasmus never quite understood. Colby is a player with great potential and was given every opportunity to develop it and become a better player. He didn’t. If you want superstar treatment, at least hit and field better than your 2nd bench role player. While I wish him good luck, I fear he’s just going to be one of those could have been players. The Cardinals have upgraded their team with this move.

By: okwhitefalcon

okwhitefalcon — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:43:35 +0000

I’m no blind follower of TLR nor a whacked out detractor who laments the loss of the likes of Brendan Ryan for cryin’ out loud – good Lord, Brendan F’n Ryan??

Raz never fit TLR’s “grinder” profile, wouldn’t listen to vets and coaches trying to help him and was not happy in the StL environment – he’s wanted out and he got his wish. Good luck to him.

As for Brendan F’n Ryan, I’ll give him this – at least he played his way out of StL without his Dad baiting the media with interviews and message board posts…

By: cintiphil

cintiphil — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:25:37 +0000

I think you are right in one instance. You really know very little of sports and baseball specifically. ALL sports teams have used beer in the club house in the past. It was a way of celebrating a victory etc.. Also, after every game, the home team always provides food and drinks in the visitors club house as hospitality. I am sure that beer was offered too. It is not a LaRussa thing.

I am sure the Phillies fans remember MAD MAN MACH. The manager in 1964, who after losing about 8-9 games in a row and dropping out of first place to the Cards went to the hospitality room as the players were eating and drinking (beer), overturned the table and chewed out all the players for sloppy and unprofessional play. How does that compare with TLR. Most people today don’t have a clue about real baseball players and it seems that the nanny state has crept into out sports teams. Mach was not about to reward a bunch of losers with free lunch. And, he was trying to appeal to their professional pride to do much better the next day. The result was not good, but he tried.

By: hooockey

hooockey — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:12:19 +0000

Here’s what I don’t like about LaRussa, and nobody seems to ever talk about it:

2 Cardinals players have been killed in recent years drunk driving. 1st was the guy on the freeway drinking and toking, and talking on the phone. The 2nd player didn’t cause the accident, as the other car’s driver did and was wasted, but the player and/or his driver was drunk also (can’t recall if the player was driving or his buddy).

Sorry I don’t remember the players names, I don’t follow baseball or the Cards enough; RIP, no disrespect meant.

But my point is that LaRussa was busted for DUI himself. Perhaps he should have been a better example to the young players on his team who look to him for leadership, and hence follow his ways.

By: cards64

cards64 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:09:37 +0000

caland13….if you are tired of watching Rasmus loaf in the outfield for several years, how tired are you of watching Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina not run out ground balls to first base??? No other major league manager would allow that but TLR. Those two and others like Schumaker are Tony’s favorites. If you are his favorite and do everything he tells you, you are fine. If you stand up to him, you are out!! Period!! Runs the team like a dictator. TLR has the 3rd most wins in MLB history, but he also has the 2nd most losses. No one ever mentions that tidbit. the bottomline is this….the man has a great deal of tenure in the MLB. He has a .535 winning percentage. That is barely above .500. As far as wining % goes, Tony isnt even in the top 50 managers of all time. He does act like he invented the game. For example, name me one other manager in history that bats/batted the pitcher 8th!!! He is a marginally successful manager.
I am a St. Louisan and I simply cannot wait until this guy is out of here. I hope he takes Pujols with him wherever he goes too. I have had enough of his mouth as well.
I wish Bob Gibson would have pitched against Pujols when Pujols hits a home run and stands there and admires it for 12 minutes!! Gibby would have rocked his world on his next AB.
I dont even go to the Cardinals games any more because this buffoon has made a mochery of a once proud organization!!!
Ohhhhh, and one last point…..why do we have to go out and get another pitcher when we have the best pitching coach in all of baseball? Why couldnt Duncan fix what he’s got? I’ll tell you why, because he is just as bad as LaRussa!!! Pitchers teach other pitchers on this team; not Duncan!!! Good bye to the mighty Duncan as well. CLEAN HOUSE!!!!!

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:43:17 +0000

Yeah, we disagree on that….which is fine. I think he wants to win his way and only his way, if for no other reason than to prove his detractors wrong. If winning was his only concern, then he wouldn’t exhibit the biases for and against certain types of players….he also wouldn’t sacrifice bunt with no outs in the 9th and down by 2 runs, thereby significantly decreasing the chance of tying or winning the game.

By: houseofcards21

houseofcards21 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:48:39 +0000

Im sure that a lot of people already know that he was “talked to” on more than one occasion by players in the dugout for him running his mouth (including Albert) so then his dad started chiming in and thats when the break up started. He is a cocky kid who has a lot of talent but would never have been a number one star player and wouldnt get his elite contract like he wanted in St. Louis. It also blows my mind that he wouldnt have told his dad to shut his d!ck garage a long time ago because it could cost him money or his job. You’re 24 Colby its ok to tell Daddy to shut the f*%k up now. Good luck to him in toronto.

By: drmonkeyarmy

drmonkeyarmy — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:43:02 +0000

See my second sentence. I said there were others but LaRussa had the most glaring examples. He turned a blind eye. It was obvious to everybody that something was going on. As long as there were W’s in the win column, he didn’t care about how they were getting there….even at the expense of the long term health of his players.

By: philly56

philly56 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:38:56 +0000

This is starting to look like an episode of E True Hollywood Story, like the parents of some tween actor that obsess over their child’s fame and fortune and end up driving them into financial ruin through mismanagement and greed – and eventually towards some type of addiction or depression when they realize that even after trying to please their parents all that time in the end it was their parents who let them down, and on more than one level.

You can call La’Russa a micromanager, definetely. I remember one phillies/cards game he had like 15 pitching changes in one inning and everything blew up in his face which was very satisfying to watch, but seriously – this dad is doing PR for his 24 y/o son which is about as obsessive as you’re going to get. It’s one thing to show Colby some pointers during the all star break, but deciding that he should be speaking for Colby and releasing statements explaining how Colby was being mistreated is way off base.

By: sabathiawouldbegoodattheeighthtoo

sabathiawouldbegoodattheeighthtoo — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:35:34 +0000

Rasmus and his dad can say that they want, but he was hitting every day either 2nd or 5th in the lineup, until his level of suckitude caused him to lose playing time. Whatever the reasons for Rasmus’ drop-off in production, it was not for lack of opportunity.

In the meantime, Alex Anthopoulos has found the new market inefficiency…dillholes.

By: mf44srq

mf44srq — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:26:36 +0000

It’s the BIG LEAGUES folks!!! I don’t care if Attila the Hun is the manager, tell Daddy to shut up and let his little boy live or die on his own merits. The kid needs to perform to stay in the Bigs, no matter who the manager is…

By: anythingbutyanks

anythingbutyanks — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:24:45 +0000

We are hearing from his DAD…’nuff said. I don’t care what the parents are saying, if I’m a manager and one of my players’ parent keeps popping off I’d send the kid packing too. Good riddance.

By: caland13

caland13 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:14:02 +0000

I didn’t say who was right, or wrong, only that “the boss doesn’t care what daddy thinks”. Sure, players in the past have had issue with TLR, it happens with A LOT of managers and players, but I don’t recall Scott Rolen’s dad stepping in to give his 2 cents. Kid gloves are for the Minors, when you are developing players. This is Colby’s 3rd year at the major league level, and I would venture to guess that the Cardinals and their coaches tried all that they could, being how touted and talented Colby is. You cannot teach drive and desire, and it is tough to curtail sense of entitlement.

In truth, I just can’t wait to buy a Corey Patterson jersey.

By: cintiphil

cintiphil — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:05:30 +0000

People have a right to their opinions whether for or against TLR. Most people in the past who did great or exceptional things “rubbed many others the wrong way”. You can not argue with success and winning. The players who don’t like LaRussa, are out weighed by the many who would play for him in a minute. I just wish we had him in Cincinnati.

Isn’t it strange that Pujols, Holiday, Berkman, Shumaker, Carpenter, and so on, love to play for the guy? The very good players, the good players and some of the not so good players know what he is trying to accomplish and go along with him. Some one earlier stated that Ludwig was a player who didn’t like TLR. I heard that he made comments to the contrary and wished to be back with the cards. You hear that Rolen didn’t like TLR, but don’t forget the circumstances. He insisted on playing hurt in the playoffs, and only after losing did he admit he was hurt and could not swing the bat or some such thing. That, after he insisted to LaRussa that he was fine and had no injury problems. Does anyone think that any manager would be a little “ticked”, considering the circumstances? I think so. And, I hear that he and tony have buried the hatchet anyway.

Besides the comments, I couldn’t agree more with this distraction for the birds, because I want the Reds to finish higher. But as far as Rasmus goes, he will be a flop in Toronto as long as his old man interfers.

By: adowding3

adowding3 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:01:46 +0000

Word on the street is that TLR was there for the infamous ARod/Mirror photoshoot. He taught ARod the most efficient means of kissing yourself. TLR’s version, unfortunately, was only distributed in the Red Light District overseas.

By: cur68

cur68 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:00:34 +0000

I think LaRussa himself said much the same thing. He pointed out, not long ago, that he’s been lucky to manage talented teams and has always had front office support.

I don’t know how much I mind TLR. He is, too me, one of the all time great managers. Lots of guys manage talented teams and never do anything with them. Give TLR something to work with and he makes something happen, even if he spends far too much time with his phizz on the TV during games.

If someone told me that TLR was going to manage the Blue Jays I’d be pretty happy. I’d know they were going to contend and probably make it to the post season. What’s not to like about that?

By: shea801

shea801 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:59:02 +0000

Yes, because AVERAGE Managers win 2 World Series and 5 Penants. Its like saying Bobby Cox was “average” because even though he was successful, he only won 1 World Series and 5 Pennants. Just forget that he kept a team consistently good with different talent over a long period of time. Yes, that seems very AVERAGE.

Again, I don’t get the hate. The guy obviously knows what he’s doing. It might not be your way, or a players way, but it works. And as noted above, some players love it, some don’t. And the ones that don’t are pushed even further away when push comes to shove with the manager. It’s not fun to watch, and especially so when you’re (as I am) a Cardinals fan.

But the guy is a good, almost great Manager (win a title with the team he has this year, and I’d say he is).

By: nategearhart

nategearhart — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:44:31 +0000

Are you applying for a job as moderator?

By: cur68

cur68 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:44:25 +0000

New here, eh?

How about you judgmental types not read the political stuff if it bothers you? I guarantee you, if you spend any time here, you’ll see a LOT of commentary on non-baseball activities. Try and learn to live with it rather than get all up in someone’s grill over some comments?

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:41:13 +0000

….just because you are the boss, does not make you right. There isn’t a single person that has been in the work force for 5 years that doesn’t know this fact….but then project negative qualities on people that challenge their bosses….something everyone one of us does or wishes we had the guts to do.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:40:50 +0000

Obviously PL, we disagree on this. Well, at least in degrees. The one area in which you seem to ignore is the overwhelming support he gets from the majority of those who play for him. Some of your criticism, while a bit hyperbolic, may ring true. And we seem to agree that LaRussa prefers a certain type of player. The one place I will continue to disagree with you vehemently is regarding his role. The notion that he manages in a style that brings attention to him is garbage. As stated above, his focus is on winning games with the St. Louis Cardinals, and that is the only factor in his decision making.

By: caland13

caland13 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:35:51 +0000

I’ve watched this kid loaf around the Busch Stadium OF long enough, and I am happy to see him go. This is Major League Baseball, and the bosses don’t care what daddy thinks. Put on your big boy pants, try running hard every once in awhile, and good things might happen for you. They are just going to happen in Canada now, eh?