LaRussa, the reality show

by jjray on Jun 27, 2008 9:31 AM EDT

For a number of years, TLR has been grating on me. There is the Don LaRussa intimidating younger players on the team (example, B. Ryan last season). There is the slavish devotion to left-righty matchups, the use of extremely small sample sizes to determine use of pinch hitters or spot starts, his occasional ridiculous jihads against the local press for preceived slights in their of him. The list of personality quirks is endless.

.... but I came to a conclusion recently: as entertainment, I very much enjoy watching the LaRussa Cardinal teams. My wife was born out of the country and is a reality TV queen. She is now way into the Cardinals. That's when it dawned on me--the LaRussa Cardinals are a long running reality show. We have the tragic deaths of Daryl Kyle (drug use) and Josh Hancock (alcohol). TLR's interesting DWI arrest--fell asleep with the car running and in gear at a red light. The star who is a regular on the show--Sir Albert Pujols. The stars who feuded with TLR and left--Edmonds and Rolen. TLR always seems to have a wipping boy--A. Reyes. He also seems to adopt a player as a son / mascot. Before it was Taguchi. As my wife pointed out the other night, Miles is TLR's new adopted son. We have the nepotism story line--the struggling C. Duncan. Dave Duncan--the consummate resurrector of disgarded pitchers, the magician at making starters out of relievers, and one of the hardest heads in the game of baseball who will attempt to jam a square peg in a round hole come hell or high water.

It's great theatre! Really, I think a day will come when we have a manager who is mild mannered, always plays the correct percentages, and is a fair evaluator of talent. I'm sure my wife will lose interest in such a team. I'm sure to miss these LaRussa drama teams.

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Drug use? DK?

Unless I am missing something, I think you need to get your facts straight.

I understand that this post is meant to be lighthearted, but slandering the memory of a beloved deceased ballplayer has no place here. If you can edit this, I recommend you do so.

by Zack Morris on Jun 27, 2008 10:27 AM EDT 0 recs

His facts are straight though irrelevant on DK

There was pot found in his room during the investigation. It was also found in his system though it had nothing to do with his tragic demise. That was caused by a heart condition.

by DJ4508 on Jun 27, 2008 11:23 AM EDT up 0 recs

The post implies that his death was caused by drug use

At least that is how I read it. Apologies if an incorrect inference led to an overreaction here, but I found that sentence to lend a tawdry innuendo to a tragic situation that did not merit it.

by Zack Morris on Jun 27, 2008 11:56 AM EDT up 0 recs

It does imply that

but I’d chalk it up more to misstating what he intended rather than slander. There was some pot in DK’s room but as DJ above stated, nothing to indicate that it was in any way involved in his death.

by chuckb on Jun 27, 2008 4:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not only will the them be boring.

It won’t win nearly as many games either.

by Evilfrog on Jun 27, 2008 10:56 AM EDT 0 recs

DK drug use

It was a well known fact. Only pointed it out for the drama factor. Have no idea whether it played any roll in his death or not and apologize if the post inferred there was medical linkage (don’t know either way).

by jjray on Jun 27, 2008 1:23 PM EDT 0 recs

It played no role.

by liam on Jun 27, 2008 3:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

drama factor

so that is what you were going for?

Classy!

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Jun 27, 2008 10:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

uh huh

“We have the tragic deaths of Daryl Kyle (drug use) and Josh Hancock (alcohol).”

Methinks that is more than a casual, innocuous “inference.”

What was the point of this whole thing, again?

by baw on Jun 28, 2008 12:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

To view

the tragic deaths of DK and JH as part of a larger “entertainment” is rather sad-to me, at least. Whatever-I’m neither shocked nor angry, just a bit surprised by the lack of taste and compassion that is necessary to make this analysis work. If that’s “great theatre” to you, enjoy. Unfortunately, those two young men won’t be taking any curtain calls.

by rockin redbird on Jun 27, 2008 3:31 PM EDT 0 recs

dying is part of living

I never take either too seriously.

by jjray on Jun 27, 2008 3:32 PM EDT 0 recs

Dont know how old you are....

.... wait until you hang in between the two for a few weeks, your attitude might change? Or lose a son or daughter…..I dont know you, maybe you’ve had these or similiar experiences. I do love baseball, but dont watch reality TV, so I dont have your unique perspective for this re-hash…..??

by cardschinmusic on Jun 28, 2008 8:06 AM EDT 0 recs

Taste aside, it does seem in recent years the Cards have had an inordinate amount of loss

Quite apart from the bottomless DL, there was Jack Buck’s tragic passing, Juan Encarncion’s vision, and Speez’ situation. I’m sure I’ve left out other anecdotes. That said, to field consistently challenging ball clubs in the face of the turmoil suggests to me that TLR’s personnel management is extraordinary and deft.

An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.

HL Mencken

by akaitori on Jun 29, 2008 11:50 PM EDT 0 recs