Spiezio Just the Latest LaRussa Casualty
Baseball, Courts, Legal February 28th. 2008, 1:22pm
Is the only reason that Tony LaRussa is still coaching the Cardinals because of that 2006 World Series title? Because in the last two years, here are just a few of the sordid off-the-field incidents that have taken place under the watchful eye of the drunken skipper (who is still in denial about Big Mac and PEDs!):
* Rick Ankiel and HGH
* Pitcher Josh Hancock’s drunk driving death
* Slugging it out with 3B Scott Rolen in the media, then trading him
* Pissing contest with St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Bernie Miklasz
* LaRussa’s own DUI arrest
* This week’s crazy-beyond-belief tale of OF Scott Spiezio, which resulted in the team cutting him
Sure, there have been front office issues, and sure there have been injuries, and sure, players have to be accountable for their actions away from the team. Still, one must at least consider the above incidents. If you want to check out the most disappointing read this week, it’s this “Scott’s turned it all around” piece in the Palm Beach Post, which came out the day before Spiezio’s arrest was made public.
Photo: Icon Sports Media
56 Responses to “Spiezio Just the Latest LaRussa Casualty”
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February 28th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
crazy-beyond-belief? that’s called ‘Saturday’ my friend.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I love funny in game photos. Shaq always brings it:
http://www.juneauempire.com/images/102802/shaq.jpg
February 28th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
at what point does this team become the bengals of the MLB, they have less players on a roster, but still have multiple issues.. i agreed with what dan le batard said on his show yesterday, this team has a “substance” issue does it not?
February 28th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I’m not a LaRussa fan but, outside of his own DUI, I don’t particularly fault TL for the other incidents. Was Joe Torre to blame for PED usage on the Yankees? Was Torre also to blame for Cory Lidle’s air show? Does not virtually every manager have a run-in with writers on a semi-routine basis?
LaRussa is a bit of a tool…but this is a bit much.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
412…TL also had a lot of issues when he managed the A’s. once is an anomaly, twice is a trend.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
The Cory Lidle air show? Come on man, he wasn’t drugged up or drunk
I didn’t take a tally, but in two years, has any other team had this man off-the-field issues? Granted, this isn’t a million, but as Spencer said, LaRussa was also managing those drug-using A’s teams …
February 28th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Gotta agree with 412, while LaRussa reeks of doucheness, if you fault hime for Ankiel, then you have to point the finger at Torre , and I dont think its coincidence that Rolen in on his third team.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Spiezio’s wife is HOT!
LaRussa sure is a piece of work. Anyone remember that story Sports Illustrated ran last year about what a loving father he is to his two oldest daughters?
Interesting this team tried its best to bury Josh Hancock’s problems and looked the other way on LaRussa and his wine drinking, but that World Series win (finally) was sure great!
Yet Spiezio, Rolen… in the words of Robert De Niro in “The Untouchables” — “Rolen – DEAD! Spiezio – DEAD!”
February 28th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
And he wanted to sign Bonds the past 2 offseasons, only to have the idea nixed by the much more rational front office
February 28th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Being nitpicky but the headline for this post could have used an editor.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
So, Hancock was driving 68 MPH with a BAL of 0.157 while texting and this is Tony LaRussa’s fault?
February 28th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
LaRussa isn’t even a good manager.
I don’t think managers are that important anyway, but he’s particularly bad.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Nick – LaRussa’s record
February 28th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
@nick p:
agree completley dude.. he’s pretty bad.. and he makes me want to punch him in the face when he wears those damn sunglasses on a night game.. overrated jackass
February 28th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
412, don’t forget about the ganja.
Also, maybe Hancock’s family should have tried suing LaRussa, instead of the bar Hancock was at.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
as a St. Louis Cardinals fan let me say, I would be all for canning La Russa. Also, Baseball players do some wild shit, it just so happens the Cardinal players are not very good at keeping it out of the press.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
i think its funny his friend got pissed when he threw up and made a comment back to spiezeo. But he probably wasnt expecting to get his ass kicked from helping out his friend
February 28th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
baseball manager is the most ridiculous coaching job in sports. larussa sends in a pinch runner and all the sudden he thinks hes Carl Sagan.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Does anyone know what the hell a bench coach does?
February 28th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
nitpicky is good, either via email or in the comments
thx cbh
February 28th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
@spencer,
and dont forget the revolutionary move of batting his pitchers 8th. He actually had a press conference concerning that yesterday.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
A couple of weeks priot, Hancock got in a wreck coming from a strip joint at 5 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. He was so hungover from that incident he couldn’t pitch that day.
The Cardinals — including LaRussa — did their best to bury that story, which didn’t come out until after Hancock died.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Good to know TBL, we send out proposals at my job all of the time so being nitpicky has been drilled into my head.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I think that’s the guy who hooks the manager up with the prime trim…kind of like a roadie for Van Halen.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
cbh…fluffs the manager.
IUgrad…ugh.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Hahha, +1 to 412 and spencer.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I was put in the position of defending Tony LaRussa. Damn you, TBL.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
@UIgrad and Spencer:
I dont know if you boys follow the sabermetrics much, but there is either a chapter in a book or an article I read (I know this really narrows it down, when I get home from work I will look it up) that states batting the pitcher 8th instead of 9th increases run expectancy. Probably by dumb luck, La Russa is doing some thing the sabermetric stat heads would approve of.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
ASU…yea, ive read that, but i dont agree with it at all.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Here’s the small little fact the calculator heads may miss about why Abner Doubleday bats the pitcher eighth (Little Abner claims he wants more baserunners on base for Pujols):
Bat Pujols at cleanup!
February 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
spencer – It’s not an absolute but, unless you have pitchers that can hit with some regularity, it makes sense that you want to have three consecutive viable batters before you get to the “meat of the order”. I don’t doubt you’ll see others follow suit.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
that states juicing up McGwire and Ankiel increases run expectancy.
/fixed
February 28th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
412…oh, i understand the logic behind it, and in a perfect world it makes sense, but how many guys batting at the bottom of a lineup get on base at a .300 clip? thats the only way itd be worthwile, otherwise its just GIDP’s or catchers clogging bases.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
@gonzo: There has been no physical evidence to link Mr. McGwire to steroids. Allegations against Mr. McGwire have been strictly hearsay. Mr. McGwire is a man that would like to focus on the future and not the past. In short, he is an optimist. He believes in a brighter future for you and I. Can we really hold that against a man?
F it. I can’t defend him. He juiced.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
It’s an interesting idea that hasn’t really been tested at the ML level. It blows when you lead off an inning with a pitcher which is, almost invariably, an out. At least if you have an actual batter at 9, you might get ~ .250-.300 OBP.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
so…asusundevil…you’re saying that McGwire’s hitting prowess was equal parts talent and “hope”
February 28th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
well speizio has the ultra marketable red thing on his face…so theres that.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
412…yea, but regardless of where you put a pitcher, theres a chance theyll lead off an inning anyways. i agree, it is a good theory and itd be incredibly useful if a team was loaded with young talent where you could bring in an athletic OF who still needs seasoning and groom him in that no. 9 hole. but unless you have a hitter youre confident in, the production is going to be about the same regardless if its a position player or pitcher.
and even then, you negate your leadoff hitter’s ability to steal bases and be aggressive because theres a guy on base in front of him.
its all personal opinion, and while i like the idea, i think it only works in certain situations. yet TL does it regardless and thinks his shit smells like roses. its a nice, progressive theory not cold fusion like TL makes people believe it is.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
@412: Look at the players on his team. That’s who wins games. Lou Piniella was supposedly a great manager, but he sucked ass in Tampa Bay, then got *good* again in Chicago. Did he suddenly remember how to manage? I think not.
Also, lineup construction at the margin doesn’t add a ton to expected runs scored, but why would you want the pitcher to get more at-bats? Each move up in the line-up is something like 35-40 incremental at-bats. Why let your worst hitter hit more?
February 28th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Also, LaRussa is widely credited with the move towards “managing towards the save,” which, if true, only confirms my opinion that he is a horrible manager. Managing to/for the save is the dumbest possible thing a manager could ever do.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
As a native STL-ian, I’m really bummed that LaRussa is managing the Cards again this year. God, the guy needs to go.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
@patrick send me some Imo’s pizza and some gooey butter coffee cake. that shit is the best
February 28th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Herzog was doing that with the Royals in the late-70s. If you have a very good closer(s) and a not-so great rotation/middle relief, it’s not a bad way to go.
Exactly, it’s backwards (unless you have a pitcher who hits over .300. There are some). As stated before, if you want more runners on base for Pujols, bat him clearnup, not No. 3.
Really, this isn’t rocket science as much as LaRussa wants people to think it is.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
as a cubs fan i guess all i can say is…..fuck the cardinals fuck them in their stupid asses
February 28th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
The whole reason for batting Pujols third instead of putting him at cleanup is so they don’t take at bats away from him. And traditionally the Cards have one of the better pitching staffs in the league.
And mrej, like most cub fans that I know, you are clearly an idiot.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
yes yes i am…but at least im not a cardinals fan
February 28th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
arkbadger…all it takes is one hit and Pooholes would have the same number of at bats at 3 or 4…its negligible.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I believe the thinking though is that with another position player at the #9 spot it is essentially the same as batting him cleanup. I don’t really agree with La Russa’s stance on this, especially for how much he pulls the double switch, I’m just pointing out his reasoning for it.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
@mrejr: World Series.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
great asu and that is the only time any cardinals fans ever shwo their faces is when they are in playoffs or in the series an other time good luck finding a cardinal fan. asu your from where im from …you know cub vs.cardinals is like hatfield vs mccoys….you can say world series as many time as you want and i will still hate the cards…
February 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
mrejr: haha. I know how bitter the rivalry is. You can hate the Cards and I can hate the Cubs. Somehow we will live in perfect harmony.
You can always find a Cards fan. Now finding a TRUE Cubs fan is difficult (I am not calling you a poser, you obviously bleed Cubbie blue). There are more “Loveable Loser” fans than true Cub fans.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
@mrejr8234- wow… great comeback. Lemme guess; MENSA member?
February 28th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
mrejr, I believe you are confusing Cardinal fans with Braves fans. The cards have averaged over 3 million fans at their games for as long as I can remember. And Cardinal fans actually show up to watch the game, not to get plastered and talk about how great their stadium is even though it hasn’t hosted a world series game in eons.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Oh, btw; I’m a lifelong Cardinals fan, but I do not drink the Kool-Aid, meaning I’m not blindly loyal to my team. I cannot defend the actions of the team, or La Russa, over the last two years in regards to off-field issues. And I also think it’s time that La Genius moved on.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
btw im talking about finding a cards fan in central illinois…..and yes i have been a cubs fan my whole life…theres a picture of me as 5 yr old drinking out of a cardinals glass i wanna burn it every time i see it. and yes i hate the cubs fans who know absolutely nothing about the cubs. and yes im actually the mid west mensa chapter president.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Nice freakin’ chin.