Forget playing for extras--you have a chance to WIN...Carpe Diem. The favortism argument doesn't seem to come into it eiather as I am sure almost all would rather have Pujols than Rowland or Hudson. Tony walks to the beat of his own drummer and this is just another example--maybe he was drunk!!!
If he ties the game up where does he play. Center Field when he replaces Aaron Rowand? Or you move Hudson or one of them to the OF when they have never player their before and then you have two monster defensive liabilities on the field?
Or if he ties it up and it goes into the 10th or 11th the pitcher bats? Because they have no one else to pinch hit? Don't you think that would cause a little controversy as well?
La Russa did the right thing... and I hate the guy
Or if he ties it up and it goes into the 10th or 11th the pitcher bats? Because they have no one else to pinch hit? Don't you think that would cause a little controversy as well?
La Russa did the right thing... and I hate the guy
LOL. You are really stupid. First of all you 100% PH pujols with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th. If he gets a hit the game is most likely over 2 runs score. If he doesnt, the game is over simple is that. Larussa managed the all star game like a moron. He could care less who wins cause he knows his team has 0 shot at making the WS. Leyland Managed to win cause he knows his team has a shot to make it to the WS.
Another thing is why was Pujols saved just because of his versatility? Come on are you fucking serious?? Freddy Sanchez can play every infield position so he should have been saved for the "versatility option" play Pujols at 3b after Wright comes out since Cabrera could only pinch hit. If later in the game you still have Pujols at 3b who could move to the of if you need him too. There was no reason for Albert to not get at the VERY LEAST 1 AB in this game. Fucking joke, i think Larussa's drunk ass bet on the A.L.
This is from ESPN INSIDER:
Sitting Pujols defies logic
posted: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 | Feedback | Print Entry
Preposterous. Unconscionable. Indefensible.
[pause while online thesaurus is consulted ...]
Inexcusable. Unjustifiable. Lamebrained.
[more consulting ...]
Unpardonable. Irrational. Outrageous.
[wait, just one more ...]
Wrong.
Those are some of the words we might use to describe Tony La Russa's non-use of Albert Pujols with the All-Star Game on the line, and I'm certainly not buying his "explanation" ...
As I've said many times, I like Tony La Russa. If there's a Tony La Russa fan club, tell me where to sign up. When he's elected to the Hall of Fame, I'll be leading the cheers. But sometimes he'll drive you absolutely nuts, because sometimes he apparently feels compelled to prove ... well, to prove that he's not only smart, but smarter than every manager who's come before him.
One year ago, Albert Pujols was the best player in the National League. Three months ago, if somebody asked you to name the best hitter in the National League, would you have hesitated for more than three seconds before naming Pujols?
OK, so his stats aren't what they usually are, and he hasn't homered in nearly a month. You know what, though? HE'S STILL ALBERT PUJOLS. La Russa either forgot that, or didn't really care. Either way, his decision was [wait for it ...] absurdly silly.
Sitting Pujols defies logic
posted: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 | Feedback | Print Entry
Preposterous. Unconscionable. Indefensible.
[pause while online thesaurus is consulted ...]
Inexcusable. Unjustifiable. Lamebrained.
[more consulting ...]
Unpardonable. Irrational. Outrageous.
[wait, just one more ...]
Wrong.
Those are some of the words we might use to describe Tony La Russa's non-use of Albert Pujols with the All-Star Game on the line, and I'm certainly not buying his "explanation" ...
Pujols and Texas shortstop Michael Young -- last year's All-Star Game MVP -- were the only position players who didn't get into the game. Ever since the 2002 event ended in an extra-innings tie, managers have tended to hold a hitter back just in case.
La Russa said he indeed was saving his star player in case the game went long.
"Once we lost [Miguel] Cabrera and [Freddy] Sanchez, he was the guy we were going to use to protect ourselves in case we kept playing because of Albert's versatility," La Russa said. "I think we had the right guy at bat."
Brilliant! Save your star until you really, really need him! Just think how many more games the Yankees might have won, if only Miller Huggins and Joe McCarthy had realized how foolish it was to actually put Babe Ruth in the starting lineup. And now we know why the Yankees are struggling this season: Joe Torre's not saving Alex Rodriguez for the extra innings! I mean, the guy can play third base, shortstop, and (I'm quite sure) first base or left field in a pinch. La Russa said he indeed was saving his star player in case the game went long.
"Once we lost [Miguel] Cabrera and [Freddy] Sanchez, he was the guy we were going to use to protect ourselves in case we kept playing because of Albert's versatility," La Russa said. "I think we had the right guy at bat."
As I've said many times, I like Tony La Russa. If there's a Tony La Russa fan club, tell me where to sign up. When he's elected to the Hall of Fame, I'll be leading the cheers. But sometimes he'll drive you absolutely nuts, because sometimes he apparently feels compelled to prove ... well, to prove that he's not only smart, but smarter than every manager who's come before him.
One year ago, Albert Pujols was the best player in the National League. Three months ago, if somebody asked you to name the best hitter in the National League, would you have hesitated for more than three seconds before naming Pujols?
OK, so his stats aren't what they usually are, and he hasn't homered in nearly a month. You know what, though? HE'S STILL ALBERT PUJOLS. La Russa either forgot that, or didn't really care. Either way, his decision was [wait for it ...] absurdly silly.
It isn't necessarily wrong... Everyone wanted him to pinch hit for Hudson as well. Sure he should have pinch hit with the bases loaded but if he didn't pinch hit with men on first and second why would he with the bases loaded? I guess that is my only question.
If he wasn't going to do it with Hudson then he wasn't going to with Rowand. And if he does it for Hudson he is in trouble...
I'm not saying it was 100% right but I see the side that he was taking. I understand his stance. I'll just agree with everything you guys say from now on.
If he wasn't going to do it with Hudson then he wasn't going to with Rowand. And if he does it for Hudson he is in trouble...
I'm not saying it was 100% right but I see the side that he was taking. I understand his stance. I'll just agree with everything you guys say from now on.
