Update p 2: Tony LaRussa Retires

[MrSaigon]

I have no interest in Scioscia. He's basically a less talented TLR, and as crazy as TLR was, he never engineered anything remotely as bad as the Napoli-for-Wells trade.

Was Scioscia the one responsible for that trade or pushing for it anyway?

Hasn't it been pointed out around here that his Angels have had a freaky long streak of outperforming their expectations (pythagorean?)?

he refused to play Napoli regularly in LA despite him hitting pretty much like he is now. The difference between Napoli now and Napoli then is pretty much playing time/plate appearances.

That's hard to imagine in a DH league.

And their best hitting catcher this year went .209/.282/.356

[dmarx114]

I think you almost have to give Albert the chance to play and manage. It's the one thing we have and would offer over other teams that can give Pujols the status recognition he wants and deserves. He would probably be at least an average manager. He also might be enticed to not have such a bloated contract since it would hamper the ability of his team to win.

If Pujols says he'll only stay if he gets to manage, I'd prefer he doesn't stay.

[lukethedrifter]

I think you almost have to give Albert the chance to play and manage. It's the one thing we have and would offer over other teams that can give Pujols the status recognition he wants and deserves. He would probably be at least an average manager. He also might be enticed to not have such a bloated contract since it would hamper the ability of his team to win.

If Pujols says he'll only stay if he gets to manage, I'd prefer he doesn't stay.

For sure. It's getting kind of goofy around here. This isn't 1926.

[docellis]

I know this has already been covered probably but Maddon has said he'd love to manage the Cards, hasn't he? Didn't he grow up as a Cards fan? Something like that?

[docellis]

Pedro Gomez
Prediction from someone who covered Tony La Russa as a beat writer for half a dozen years: He'll be back managing in 2013, if not sooner.

[lukethedrifter]

I know this has already been covered probably but Maddon has said he'd love to manage the Cards, hasn't he? Didn't he grow up as a Cards fan? Something like that?

How often does that sort of thing end up mattering? Sure, college football coaches end up back at their alma mater but this is different.

[Faceman]

I think you almost have to give Albert the chance to play and manage. It's the one thing we have and would offer over other teams that can give Pujols the status recognition he wants and deserves. He would probably be at least an average manager. He also might be enticed to not have such a bloated contract since it would hamper the ability of his team to win.

If Pujols says he'll only stay if he gets to coach third base, I'd prefer he doesn't stay.

[Fat Strat]

Pedro Gomez
Prediction from someone who covered Tony La Russa as a beat writer for half a dozen years: He'll be back managing in 2013, if not sooner.

Pedro Gomez... my lord, man. He probably covered him 20 years ago as a beat writer in Oakland. Back as a manager SOONER than 2013? That would be THIS COMING YEAR. What an idiot. I'm sure that Tony just retired from the WS champion Cardinals so he could immediately turn around and sign on with the Pirates or something. We would hold LaRussa's rights for the upcoming season anyway.

After that, who knows. But I seriously, SERIOUSLY doubt that Tony comes back anytime soon. Maybe in 3-4 years, but it's far more likely that he takes an advisor job in a front office, or at MLB, or follows Leyland's career path.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Maddon grew up in rural PA, and I don't remember any mention of being a Cards fan in the chapter dedicated to him in The Other 2%. Not 100% sure about the latter though.

[wart57]

I give the new manager until the 8th inning of his first game before he gets ripped on these here interwebs.