Baseball Musings: A Little Anger

July 11, 2007

A Little Anger

Albert Pujols wanted to play last night:

Albert Pujols was angry about being left on the All-Star bench and the St. Louis slugger took aim at the National League manager -- who just happened to be Tony La Russa of his own Cardinals.
"It's the All-Star game. He can do what he wants," Pujols said Tuesday night. "He does whatever he wants. If I wasn't expecting to play, I wouldn't have come up here."
Pujols, the NL MVP in 2005 and key to the Cardinals' win in the World Series last year, said La Russa didn't talk to him the entire game.

Pujols could only watch when Aaron Rowand flied out with the bases loaded to end the American League's 5-4 win.

"If he wants to get upset, he can get upset," La Russa said. "Whatever he wants to do, he can do. It's America. That wasn't the most important thing tonight."

Right. The important thing was winning, and a hit by Pujols ends the game. La Russa's strategy was set from the beginning however, and he stuck to it:

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."

Tony explained that early in evening. He probably should have told Albert. And he probably should have thrown the game plan out the window for that last at bat. La Russa had problems with Rolen at the end of last year, I wonder if he has problems with Albert going forward. I'm not sure that Tony can survive acrimony with the franchise player.

Posted by David Pinto at 09:10 AM | All-Star Game | TrackBack (0)

Comments

Was Tony LaRussa watching the same game I was? The NL loads the bases against one of the best relievers in the game, down a run, down to their last out, and there's a choice between having Aaron Roward and Albert Pujols bat?

It's not just that LaRussa must have no memory (what, does nobody else think of the 2005 NLCS, when Houston was an out away from clinching in game five, and Pujols *killed* Brad Lidge?), but he's got no sense of drama. Bases loaded. Down one. Last out. Frankie Rodriguez pitching. He's got Albert Pujols on the bench, and he sends Aaron Rowand up?

Posted by: Chris at July 11, 2007 10:15 AM

This is LaRussa's last year with the Cardinals anyways, so I don't think he's concerned about Pujols.

As for Pujols, how does he sleep at night complaining about not getting any playing time in the Allstar Game? Oh yeah, on a big pile of money.

Posted by: Twill815 at July 11, 2007 10:18 AM

Pujols is being a baby, but LaRussa was a damn fool. There is no excuse for sending Rowand up in that spot. He's already had his at bat, and Pujols is clearly the better baseball move, and perhaps equally as important in an exhibition, a better dramatic move.

Not quite as dick-ish as Cito Gaston warming Mike Mussina up a couple times in Baltimore and not bringing him in, in front of his home crowd.

Posted by: Mr. Furious at July 11, 2007 12:05 PM

Oh, and I don't want to hear any crap from millionaires who earn fat bonuses for making the team complaining about making the trip.

Posted by: Mr. Furious at July 11, 2007 12:07 PM

The only thing dumber LaRussa could have done was to pinch hit with that loser Taco Bell guy hitting off the tee. What was that?

Posted by: Dan Rather at July 11, 2007 12:20 PM

So LaRussa was saving Pujols in case they went into extras? Because of his positional flexibility? Was he going to pitch Pujols? Because he sure burned through his staff from the first pitch of the night. From David's own live-blog:

"La Russa is using one pitcher per inning, so I guess he doesn't expect this game to go extra innings."

Try again, Tony.

Posted by: Mr. Furious at July 11, 2007 01:04 PM

I don't like Pujols, but he's right to be upset. His manager is apparently an idiot.

Posted by: Richard at July 11, 2007 01:49 PM

What's being a baby about wanting to play??? About wanting a chance to make a difference??? Fans complain about players not caring, not running out ground balls, stuff like that, and here you have a guy who wants a shot at breaking a league losing streak, of bringing some pride back to the National League. I don't care how much money he makes or what kind of bonuses he gets, THAT guy can play for me anytime!!

Posted by: tbell61 at July 11, 2007 02:19 PM