Tony Loves Scott

by DuncanDipper on Dec 5, 2007 10:44 PM EST

I know there has been a lot of fuss lately about mediocre diaries. And I will probably be adding fuel to that fire here, but I read an interesting article quoting Tony and his spite for Scooter.

http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2007/12/05/rolen-has-to-go.aspx

I found this link on MLBtraderumors.

Good quotes include:
"The whole idea isn't to please Scott. It's to take care of the St. Louis Cardinals. I don't understand why he can be down on the Cardinals. I don't understand why he can be down on me, to be honest.

"The idea is to accommodate the St. Louis Cardinals, our team, our responsibility to our players and to the competition. So, no, I don't want to accomodate Scott."

There are several others... enjoy the article, sounds like Tony is creating an even greater rift. [editor's note, by DuncanDipper] NOTE: Funniest part of the whole thing is the comment from one of the Brewers fans... 'maybe Tony is just really upset that Scott will not go drinking with him.'

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Sounds like LaRussa is telling the truth

He never says Rolen is a bad player or plays bad baseball, in fact, he says the opposite. He just believes Rolen lives in a fantasy world in which he is being pursecuted by the front office and where he is still the player he was in 2004.

"Well, you wait for a strike. Then you knock the shit out of it. - Musial to Flood on how to hit a curveball

by Hardcore Legend on Dec 5, 2007 10:34 PM EST reply actions

La Russa's words did seem to be

well chosen, but I'm really puzzled by him even saying anything to the press. Why did he think this was necessary, what does it accomplish. This is not the first time he has talked about the Rolen situation to the media. Meanwhile Rolen has been completely closed mouthed. I can't figure La Russa's motive, but what do I know, I'm not that smart.

by ridgesee on Dec 5, 2007 11:45 PM EST up reply actions

uh-oh...

that's no good, tony, no good at all. if scotty doesn't go there's gonna be a lot of non-baseball related drama this year. i wonder if this will change mo's mind. i hope that scott doesn't get between the GM and tony, that would really frank things up.

Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.

by wilson on Dec 5, 2007 10:35 PM EST reply actions

Tony is a dumbshit...

for saying those things to the media.

If Tony is truly "leader of men" (even with a DUI), then he knows that embarrassing a player in the national freakin' media is not good leadership. Wonder how many other Cardinal players are wondering if Tony will throw them under the bus if they disagree with him.

"Dude, we're running out of stadium" - said on the way to our seats in Section 428.

by bukowski on Dec 5, 2007 10:42 PM EST reply actions

Well, considering

he did it to Jim last year, has done nothing but to Rolen the last year or so, likes to bandy about his thoughts on Reyes not being in the team's plans, yelling at rookies, and questioning the guts of any player who actually admits he's not healthy, I can't imagine any of the players wonder if he would throw them under the bus.

He would, and they all know it.

Punch. Drink. Cry.

by the red baron on Dec 6, 2007 8:40 AM EST up reply actions

While I can't disagree with what was said...

TLR is a damned fool for saying it. If he truly wants what is best for the Cardinals he should shut the hell up. Anybody think MO will call Don Tony on the carpet?

Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...

by giveml on Dec 5, 2007 10:43 PM EST reply actions

If LaRussa wants Rolen to stay

this is a brilliant move. Keep driving the value down, down, down.

"Well, you wait for a strike. Then you knock the shit out of it. - Musial to Flood on how to hit a curveball

by Hardcore Legend on Dec 5, 2007 10:45 PM EST reply actions

I saw that and think it is a very important thing

to post. After all the internet blogging is about communication and keeping up to date on rumors and thier validity. Just to add to that apparently we have been bidding on <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/cardinals-rum-3.html">Bedard</a>. Maybe we pull off a mini blockbuster for Tejada and Bedard while sending Rolen out to pasture.

In case anyone is interested the html format to clean up a link is <a href="link">what you want to say</a>

Once you get it down it is pretty easy. Nice and clean.

The Red Blazer

by Red Blazer on Dec 5, 2007 10:47 PM EST reply actions

There's some irony in there, somewhere.

by sjoshi on Dec 5, 2007 10:50 PM EST up reply actions

Toupe Alex Trabec.

The Red Blazer

by Red Blazer on Dec 5, 2007 11:06 PM EST up reply actions

I saw that and think it is a very important thing

to post. After all the internet blogging is about communication and keeping up to date on rumors and thier validity. Just to add to that apparently we have been bidding on Bedard. Maybe we pull off a mini blockbuster for Tejada and Bedard while sending Rolen out to pasture. You do need to format in html to get the desired result. Another reason I love this site. You can't do that on the PD board.

The Red Blazer

by Red Blazer on Dec 5, 2007 10:49 PM EST reply actions

What about

Reyes, Bryan Anderson, and maybe a AA pitcher (Ottavanio?) for Bedard? Maybe?

by Jhusk on Dec 6, 2007 2:17 AM EST up reply actions

we dont have the players to get in on

bedard just like last year we were in on then all till the end and didnt want to spend the money the hell with it...one hundred millon dollars on a 75 win team damm

by cm1000 on Dec 5, 2007 10:57 PM EST reply actions

Well, this was alittle harsh...

"And he's going to be treated very honestly. If he plays hard and plays as well as he can, he plays. And if he doesn't, he can sit. If he doesn't like it, he can quit."

"Well, you wait for a strike. Then you knock the shit out of it. - Musial to Flood on how to hit a curveball

by Hardcore Legend on Dec 5, 2007 11:23 PM EST reply actions

Harsh but Honest

I saw that too and was going to post it here if no one else did.

If Scott truly believes Tony gives preferential treatment in teh clubhouse, this should lay that notion to rest. Scott, you are being treated like any other ballplayer; play hard or don't play. Don't like that? Then quit.

I also agree with the other posters, though: the timing of these comments is poorly thought out, unless Tony knows (via Mo) that Rolen positively ISN'T going to be traded. Then it makes sense; he's telling Rolen what to expect.

by Ray Lankford on Dec 6, 2007 8:50 AM EST up reply actions

I could get

real tore up over this whole situation.
The reasons I like Scott Rolen would take a whole page... BUT I also remember WAY too many floating pop-ups to right field off his bat last year.

And I hate the idea of LaRussa seeming to win a 'battle of will's with yet another player. In fact, it's painfully ironic that he, in effect, accuses Scotty of having trouble adjusting to reality... because on THAT score, TLR needs to look in a mirror.

Just as a player needs to make adjustments and compromises as he gets older, so to a manager has to manage the club he HAS, even if not the one he would like to have or is used to.

by the Tewk on Dec 5, 2007 11:25 PM EST reply actions

make that...

"so TOO a manager has to..."
I HATE it when I make that mistake.

by the Tewk on Dec 5, 2007 11:27 PM EST reply actions

Mo, get your house in order

Someone in the organization (Mo?) needs to get things in order. This kind of public airing of problems makes the whole organization look dysfunctional. If the Cards want to get back to the high standards to which we have become accustom, someone needs to step up and take control. Even though the on field product may be subpar, there is no excuse for the off field perception of the organization to suffer. TRL needs to handle the Rolen situation in house and not fan the flame. The stories and reports surrounding the Cardinals need to be more about building a winning team and less about a divided front office or manager player drama.

Go crazy folks, go crazy!

by WizardofOz on Dec 5, 2007 11:37 PM EST reply actions

I agree, but

many other clubs have drama like this. The Giants, for example, have had the Barry / steriod drama for several years. The Yankees constantly have to deal with A-Rod's over-reported personal life (is he having an affair? is he gambling too much? etc.) The Royals have to constantly remind KC that they are a major league team . . . (that was a joke)

by Ray Lankford on Dec 6, 2007 8:54 AM EST up reply actions

Actually

that joke you made is not too far off track...unfortunately for the Royals.

stlfan

by stlfan on Dec 6, 2007 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

Why is Tony saying these things and not Mo?

It only adds credence to the thought that the "old ways" rule the halls of Cardinal headquarters, and Mo is nothing but Jocketty lite. As a fan I'm quite confused and not encouraged.

"I don't believe what I just saw!" ~ Jack Buck

by itsalemmon1019 on Dec 5, 2007 11:40 PM EST reply actions

cause

this is definitely a Manager thing, not a coach thing. That's part of those HOF coaches intangibles, managing the personalities of the players. :D

"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"

by rocKStark5 on Dec 6, 2007 10:34 AM EST up reply actions

doh

i meant Manager thing, not a GM thing.

"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"

by rocKStark5 on Dec 6, 2007 10:35 AM EST up reply actions

TLR resigning

I was ok with reupping Tony at first, but it seems more and more he is impeding the progress of this team. How he possible thinks that these comments are productive is beyond me. I'm wishing more and more everyday that we had not signed him.

by cardzfanbub on Dec 5, 2007 11:43 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

If this thing blows up in the media anymore than it has, I am starting to wonder if maybe LaRussa might be shown the door here soon before spring training even starts.

I wonder how much of this DeWitt will take, he got rid of Walt because of the "in-fighting."

This is really dragging down the organization now.

by KYCards on Dec 5, 2007 11:53 PM EST up reply actions

no doubt,

la russa is acting like an idiot. he sounds likes he's about 15 years old. man, i can't believe with re-signed this guy. he's a good manager, certainly, but this stuff is lame.

by ortic jones on Dec 6, 2007 12:06 AM EST up reply actions

just throwing it out there....but

now that lAD signed andrew jones they have a surplus of outfielders..what about this deal

rolen for pierre and laroche

no cash considerations

so basically 2 bad contracts, pierre being the worst so we get laroche.

what ya think?

by samael88 on Dec 6, 2007 1:42 AM EST reply actions

Interesting

I was thinking along the same lines, until I looked at Pierre's OBP and his contract. I would rather eat a huge chunk of salary and try to get Kemp or Elbert.

by sleepl355 on Dec 6, 2007 1:51 AM EST up reply actions

+1

Absolutely. Target LaRoache and Kemp, while keeping Rasmus. It would significantly stock the team's offensive talent.
I would shy away from Elbert--he's coming back from injury and had control problems in the first place. James McDonald is a very interesting pitcher and a good sleeper to target. Although his style may not mesh with LaRussa/Duncan.

by Recon on Dec 6, 2007 9:10 AM EST up reply actions

No way to get Kemp

LaRoche has shown since being up in the bigs.

Kemp, on the other hand, has brought some pop. He's similar to Duncan but does not have cinder blocks for hands. He seems somewhat untouchable from the LAD point of view.

by DuncanDipper on Dec 6, 2007 5:46 PM EST up reply actions

Just thinking aloud....

Wouldn't it be crazy if we kept Rolen and picked up Laroche for perhaps a package around Duncan? The Dodgers want to trade Kemp/Ethier for starting pitching. If they somehow moved Juan Pierre, they might need a left fielder id they are hesitant to give Young the job. That would make Rolen crazy!

Note: I know this is HIGHLY unlikely.

by sleepl355 on Dec 6, 2007 2:08 AM EST up reply actions

i'm starting to think

we should have taken the brewers up on their capuano + prospect for rolen deal...

by FutureMan on Dec 6, 2007 3:02 AM EST reply actions

Hmmm

The idea is to accommodate the St. Louis Cardinals, our team, our responsibility to our players and to the competition.

Doing a bang up of that here, skip.

by plh903 on Dec 6, 2007 5:46 AM EST reply actions

geez

bang up "job"

Tony's a hypocritical ass. How's that.

by plh903 on Dec 6, 2007 5:47 AM EST up reply actions

...let it rest

Dennis Leary says STFU Tony, running down players in the press is bad enough when its NOT the winter meetings or when your team is poor.

You're right, he should know how public emabarrassment feels and just go away until March...cant be helping Moz.

Trade for Sean Rodriguez! (But please dont call him S-Rod!)

by cardschinmusic on Dec 6, 2007 7:18 AM EST up reply actions

I am not sure

of the context in which those quotes were said. The one thing that made me crindge a little was the quote about needing to "give back more", but besides that I have no problem with what was said.

I doubt any of this will be helpful.

by nybirdfan on Dec 6, 2007 8:40 AM EST reply actions

Media press on Rolen issue

Tony is only responding to the media press on Rolen. He's giving what sounds like an honest assessment. I agree, the "give back more" statement was a little harsh, but I haven't heard anything from Rolen to suggest LaRussa is being out of line. Tony is his boss.

by templetown on Dec 6, 2007 8:48 AM EST up reply actions

sorry

I followed Duncan' link to a blog, but then I went to the MLB site and saw and read the whole story.

Tony just KEEP you flippin' mouth shut! ooops too late.

by nybirdfan on Dec 6, 2007 8:50 AM EST up reply actions

childish

The only reason I can conjure that Tony felt it necessary to say this to the press is because he and Rolen are both so childish that they are not speaking at all - therefore the only way (other than a letter - which apparently did not work...) to communicate is through a third party. Unfortunately, he foolishly chose the media as the third party - fueling the drama.

by cdb on Dec 6, 2007 11:23 AM EST reply actions