The Cardinal Nation blog

Brian Walton's news and commentary on the St. Louis Cardinals (TM) and their minor league system

Post archive for ‘Tony La Russa’

Bissinger Blasts Birds

Buzz Bissinger, author and friend of Tony La Russa, makes a series of comments critical of the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

La Russa pal Bissinger rips Sweet Lou

One of the oddest and most famous of Twitter personalities aims a series of shots directly at the manager of the Chicago Cubs.

La Russa “Housecat Housecall” appearance on Saturday

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and family to appear on feline-focused television show Saturday morning.

La Russa reacts to Pujols-Howard trade rumor

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa didn’t mince words when asked about the Ryan Howard-Albert Pujols trade rumor.

La Russa sinks floating realignment speculation

A wild idea reportedly offered up in an MLB brainstorming session seems to have many overly concerned while a key member in the room denies it even came up.

Would La Russa and Torre have been the Yankees’ dream team?

Joe Torre recounts the story of how the Yankees wanted him as GM and Tony La Russa as manager back in October 1995. Imagine how the MLB landscape might have changed.

Cardinals loaded up the middle – with coaches

The St. Louis Cardinals coaching staff is full of former middle infielders, starting with the manager.

Will post-dugout La Russa return to Chicago?

Recent remarks by Tony La Russa rekindle questions about his post-managing future.

Projected Top Five St. Louis Cardinals Stories of 2010

A look ahead to the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2010.

Reviewing the predictions: TCN Blog’s top five Cardinals stories of 2009

A look back at the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2009 from one year ago.

The Cardinal Nation Blog top stories of 2009 #6: The successful odd couple, Mo and TLR

Working together, the manager and GM brought great results for the 2009 St. Louis Cardinals.

La Russa needed coaching, too

Just as when Mark McGwire spoke out, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is catching considerable heat for what he said and did not say.

La Russa dreams of activating McGwire (honest)

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa wants Mark McGwire to become a late-season pinch-hitter and expects him in St. Louis next weekend.

Theories for McGwire’s delay

Why has Mark McGwire’s coming out party remained in his most familiar place – limboland?

Help La Russa help Selig improve the game

An errant tweet pre-announced a new MLB initiative. You can get in on the ground floor.

Cardinals minor matters: November 16

A collection of recent St. Louis Cardinals-related links of interest with a little commentary sprinkled in.

La Russa turns down a cold Natty Light

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa reportedly declined an offer from the Washington Nationals to interview for their managerial job.

Cardinals minor matters: November 1

A collection of recent St. Louis Cardinals-related links of interest with a little commentary sprinkled in.

Can the Cardinals carry an 800-pound hitting coach?

Will Mark McGwire become the next St. Louis Cardinals’ hitting coach? Could he do it without shedding his considerable personal baggage first?

More on La Russa’s future

A San Francisco article offers additional insight into Tony La Russa’s future plans.

Don’t blame McClellan for blowing Wainwright’s 20th win

St. Louis’ ugly and costly loss on Friday night has to be hung on the manager.

Could a World Series win drive La Russa and Duncan out?

At least one recent Cardinal thinks a World Series win would set up a “leave on top” scenario for the manager and pitching coach.

Does a big September lead mean Cardinals October success?

2009 is the third time this decade that the St. Louis Cardinals entered the final month with a double-digit lead. That hasn’t yet meant much in October.

Cardinals and September not made for one another

The St. Louis Cardinals have not played well in recent Septembers. That doesn’t mean they will fail in October, however.

Will Duncan end up like Rolen?

This isn’t the first time that off-field issues may be driving away an important member of the St. Louis Cardinals

Why would La Russa be a candidate for Mets GM?

This idea looks to be a match made in… well, not heaven. That’s for sure!

Holliday and more: Recapping the last week

Offering a personal angle on the major stories last week across the Cardinal Nation and digging up some old ones, too

Does the Cardinals’ signing of Joe Williams have a deeper meaning?

At least one well-placed writer sees continued conflict between the Cardinals major league staff and the organization’s player development function.

The Cardinals organization roster matrix: VSL version

The St. Louis Cardinals system rosters are refreshed to reflect the start of the regular season of the Venezuelan Summer League.

La Russa’s coaching legacy: Part two

The Cardinals manager’s staffs have been very static in recent years. It is a two-edged sword.

Where is La Russa’s legacy being passed? – Part one

Should the extent of a coach’s tree be a part of how he is assessed with the greats?

Was Boggs’ hook too quick?

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pulled starter Mitchell Boggs after 4 1/3 innings of two-run ball on Wednesday.

The Cardinals organization roster matrix: regular season

A complete listing of all 282 players currently known to be under contract in the St. Louis Cardinals organization from top to bottom by level and position.

Cardinals pitcher hitting ninth – a good thing?

Tony La Russa has made a change to the bottom of the St. Louis Cardinals lineup again, though it is not cut and dried.

Three more Cardinals injuries ahead this spring?

Looking at a typical number of disabled St. Louis Cardinals players to start the season and wondering about any possible correlation with the team’s won-loss record.

La Russa’s lineups – a historical view

A 13-year analysis of St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa’s defensive deployment of his starters as well as his starting lineups.

Quiz: Cardinals 2008 lineups and starts by position

A dozen questions to test your knowledge of how St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa deployed his line-up in 2008.

La Russa’s lineup combinations increasing

The St. Louis Cardinals manager’s use of different daily lineups is trending upward and 2009 is shaping up to offer more of the same.

Cardinals emergency pitchers – 1996-2008

Since Tony La Russa has managed the St. Louis Cardinals, he has called upon non-pitchers to take the mound eight different times. The most recent three were by Aaron Miles. Who will get the mop-up job in 2009?

Cardinals minor matters – February 8

St. Louis Cardinals-related news includes the Caribbean Series, “A-Fraud”, Joe Torre, MLB Network, TLR on scouts vs. stats, Todd Worrell, Scott Gorgen and more!

Cardinals minor matters – January 30

Continuing a semi-regular series of quick hits on and links to recent St. Louis Cardinals baseball news on the ‘net.

Mac declines La Russa’s suggestion to speak up

Tony La Russa suggested Mark McGwire come to spring training – and answer questions from the media. Big Mac passed on both.

McClellan Still Prefers to Start

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle McClellan would like to return to starting in 2009, but the decision is not in his own hands.

Projected Top Five St. Louis Cardinals Stories of 2009

The final article in Brian Walton’s series looking back at the biggest stories across the St. Louis Cardinal Nation during 2008 and now, looking ahead to 2009.

Top 20 Cardinals Stories of 2008: #1-5

Brian Walton’s look back at the biggest stories across the St. Louis Cardinal Nation during 2008 continues with the top five.

Cardinals: Where are they Now? – Ken Oberkfell

Former St. Louis infielder Ken Oberkfell remains loyal to the New York Mets as many Cardinals fans remain loyal to him.

Tony La Russa Still Loves Colby Rasmus

Brian Walton looks in on the relationship between St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and top prospect Colby Rasmus.