Word leaked that Tony LaRussa will start Matt Cain instead of R.A. Dickey in the All-Star Game. Rob Neyer is fine with the idea:
Dickey’s story is certainly better than Cain’s. But this is probably the last game Tony La Russa will ever manage. He probably cares a lot less about stories than about winning. He probably thinks Cain pitching two innings gives him the best chance to win. And it’s not obvious that he’s wrong.
On the other hand, since Dickey is a knuckleballer, he might be able to go five innings in the game. If Tony really cared about winning, he would start Dickey and let him go as long as he could. I find this a strange choice. Maybe Tony was drinking at the time.
I know this violates all sorts of norms, but I’d like see a manager at an All Star game just start the best pitcher and have him keep pitching until he became tired or was otherwise ineffective.
I was thinking it makes good strategic sense because this way LaRussa can pitch a good hard throwing pitcher (Cain), follow it up with a knuckler (Dickey), and then bring in some hard throwing pitchers again. That should keep the AL offense from finding any sense of rhythm.
Devon » That would be true in a regular game, but the batters who see the starter probably won’t see the second or third reliever.
Ed>> that’s how they used to do it, but then came the meme that “everyone has to get in the game.”
The thing is, there is a waxy buildup with LaRussa. He’s an incredibly petty and dishonest person. There is an overwhelming expectation of him acting in poor character. Being a fan of a team in the NL Central, he repulses me. You could go through his postgame pressers and find hundreds of obvious lies, yet the baseball press fawns over him because he wins. Maybe that’s the way it is with everything, everywhere, but he’s not a good human being.
It seems that there is a rule saying that no one can pitch more than 3 innings in the AS Game…although in the 67 extra ining game in Anaheim, it seems as if someone did..
Well I tried to add an edit, but no luck…In the 67 AS Game in Anaheim, the NL won 2-1 on a 15th inning HR by Tony Perez off of Catfish Hunter, who threw 5 innings. The AL had some pitchers who did not pitch, Steve Hargan was one…but I do not know why…
Why is someone who is retired from baseball even managing the All Star game?
Of course he would start Matt Cain over R. A. Dickey!
Now everyone will look at him, pay attention to him, wonder what the heck he’s thinking. Look at me! I’m a genius! I would never do what you expect me to do! See, I’m a genius!
I hate that they have allowed him to manage this game. LaRussa is using it to settle old scores with Cincinnati and Milwaukee. Classy moves there! It’s awesome that Selig is allowing it too.