La Russa comments on Reyes ... sort of

by bgodar on Jun 14, 2007 8:38 AM EDT

Given the prevalence of La Russa/Reyes debate, I feel it is my duty as an avid reader to post these comments by Tony as reported in this story from MLB.com:

"We tell all of our pitchers that when you watch pitchers who are successful in the big leagues, they do certain things as a starting pitcher," La Russa said. "And if you want to be a successful starting pitcher, you have to do those things. There is no magical formula.

"It's not [pitching coach] Dave Duncan's way of teaching it. It's just that if you look at the successful pitchers, they do a number of things. Anthony does some of them and needs to improve the other things. It's really that simple. [Memphis pitching coach] Dyar [Miller] said he did one of the things well -- and I am not going to get into it -- but he did one of the things better," La Russa added.

It just seems odd that Tony is so willfully vague about what "thing" Reyes is doing well. But I have to assume it relates to throwing the two-seamer, or at least pitching effectively down in the zone. Given the criticism of pushing Reyes to throw the pitch by the PD, blogs, etc., I could see why he wouldn't want to mention it by name. It's also clear that Tony's a little pissed about the second-guessing he and Duncan are getting over this "thing."

Hardcore Legend also mentioned in the comments to this post that he watched the same game and Reyes was very effective throwing low fastballs.

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Perhaps he's more referring to what he doesn't do

as in, tipping his pitches?

by Valatan on Jun 14, 2007 10:15 AM EDT reply actions

or ...

perhaps he actually spent some time going through the scouting report on the other team, and pitched away from their strengths? That's the other major criticism being levied against him, according to Joe Strauss.

(originally posted here.)

by taiko on Jun 14, 2007 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, that is what I was thinking too

maybe Anthony finally took the time to go over a scouting report, etc and that's got him on the fast track back up.

Interested in pre-1990 Cardinals games on tape

by Hardcore Legend on Jun 14, 2007 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

the haze

TLR is not going to dampen the criticism from without employing these hazy comments. My guess is that A. Reyes was told, among other things, he had to be effective down in the zone to be an ML pitcher. The report from one of the posters who saw the game was that Reyes was throwing heat (well over 90) and was getting fastball strikes down in the zone. In the past, Reyes has had much better command of the 4 seamer than the 2 seamer (I'm pretty sure he stated almost these words in an interview somewhere). Conclusion: Reyes is using his 4 seamer down in the zone resulting in more speed and better control.

But TLR said Reyes had to do "other things". What pray tell are these mysterious "other things"??? The only way TLR will get the heat off his back is if he discloses the exact nature of these "other things" and we are able to judge that they are reasonable requests. If one of these "other things" is that A. Reyes has to throw a sinker then forget about it, it's garbage. Not every ML starter absolutely has to have a sinker to be effective. Jason Marquis's best pitch is the sinker and TLR selected A. Reyes for the World Series roster over him. We jumped for joy when the small bears signed Marquis and his sinker.

by jjray on Jun 14, 2007 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

The "other things" is scouting the

hitters...something that both Strauss and Bernie have hinted that Reyes neglects to do before starts.

Interested in pre-1990 Cardinals games on tape

by Hardcore Legend on Jun 14, 2007 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

scouting

... then TLR should unequivocally state it instead of heming and hawing. He should state his case against Reyes in plain language if he wants the public is understand his position. I still think it's garbage. You keep Reyes down in AAA while our rotation gets shelled because he "doesn't properly scout the opposition". Young starters have flaws and learn by experience in the bigs. There is nothing else Reyes can learn in Memphis Let A. Reyes learn in the show.

by jjray on Jun 15, 2007 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Why?

Why should Larussa care that you and I are irked we don't know the 'whole' story?

Interested in pre-1990 Cardinals games on tape

by Hardcore Legend on Jun 15, 2007 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

LaRussa cares how he is viewed

>>Why should Larussa care that you and I [and the local media] are irked we don't know the 'whole' story?<<

Good point. He shouldn't ... but he does. The guy can't handle criticism from any quarter. Remember this clip? Boorish behavior to put it mildly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g64Ae58SvEk

by jjray on Jun 15, 2007 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm baffled about this whole thing and even

angry. The farm system has dropped in their lap a 15 round draft pick that proabably no one thought would amount to much. Well, his minor league record is stellar; he moved through the system at a fair pace and mastered each level in less time than most pitchers do. His problems have been in the majors-and it all seems to center on a pitch that he can't throw. No one knows if Anthony can't or won't throw it. He has not said a word about how he feels--if LaDunc are the great managers they claim to be they look at Anthony and devise their plan around HIS strengths. I feel that he has been the scapegoat of all of the teams pitching woes--and he wasn't even the worst one on the staff. I understand the whole concept of pitching to contact and pitching low in the zone--but it sure didn't help Thompson, Looper, and Wells last time out. He's ours for 3 more years-embrace it. Make him the best he can be-and this vague thing he does or doesn't do-well, just tell us or shut your mouth. Anthony's way has a been successful for HIM and if you keep messing with him, he's never going to reach his potential.

by jillsinmo on Jun 14, 2007 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

LaRussa

Tony doesn't want the competition to know what the "thing" is and I don't blame him for not telling us. (We will figure it out pretty quickly if he pitches in the ML again.) What always cracks me up about Larussa and Duncan is how they are so shocked and angry that someone would second guess them. Accountants and Engineers get second guessed everyday in their jobs even with concrete numbers to back them up. Why should someone whose decisions involve an entire series of "what ifs" be so sensitive to being second guessed. The second guessing is what makes the game so great. And most of the time, LaDunc do what makes the most sense for the team. We Missourians are inquisitive by nature and we want to know why.

How about handin' me another helpin' of those mashed taters...thank you very much!

by Elvis on Jun 14, 2007 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

Hmm. Then again, maybe it's not so crazy...who's Reyes' agent again? ;-)

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

by Mr Clean on Jun 15, 2007 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

No way to confirm

I don't have any inside info on it...

I doubt they'd ever 'fess up to it if that's what they were actually doing, but the timing on his arbitration clock isn't far off if that's what they're trying to do.

by whopperman on Jun 15, 2007 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions