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Re: OFFICIAL TLR HEAD SCRATCHER THREAD
Posted: September 15 09, 11:20 am
by cards2468
jim wrote:greenback44 wrote:I guess a manager makes enough decisions over the course of a game that he has to rely on many quick rules of thumb. "I need a bunt, save a position player, use Wainwright." Then midway through the at-bat he remembers that particular rule of thumb originated from a time when he had a three-man bench, and now he's got something much longer than that.
The dumb decision followed by the strange reversal reminded me of my dad complaining at the same age about how he (my dad) just wasn't as sharp as he used to be. La Russa looked old during that at-bat, and it's kinda discouraging that nobody protected him from himself there.
Maybe, or maybe it was just another vintage Tony LaRussa moment.
He has his moments, but at least he's otherwise good unlike managers such as Baker who consistently make stupid decisions.
Re: OFFICIAL TLR HEAD SCRATCHER THREAD
Posted: September 15 09, 12:02 pm
by Faceman
greenback44 wrote:I guess a manager makes enough decisions over the course of a game that he has to rely on many quick rules of thumb. "I need a bunt, save a position player, use Wainwright." Then midway through the at-bat he remembers that particular rule of thumb originated from a time when he had a three-man bench, and now he's got something much longer than that.
The dumb decision followed by the strange reversal reminded me of my dad complaining at the same age about how he (my dad) just wasn't as sharp as he used to be. La Russa looked old during that at-bat, and it's kinda discouraging that nobody protected him from himself there.
Yeah I agree with this. Kind of like the "save AP for extras at the ASG" deal. Overthinks it.
Re: OFFICIAL TLR HEAD SCRATCHER THREAD
Posted: September 15 09, 12:17 pm
by jim
cards2468 wrote:jim wrote:greenback44 wrote:I guess a manager makes enough decisions over the course of a game that he has to rely on many quick rules of thumb. "I need a bunt, save a position player, use Wainwright." Then midway through the at-bat he remembers that particular rule of thumb originated from a time when he had a three-man bench, and now he's got something much longer than that.
The dumb decision followed by the strange reversal reminded me of my dad complaining at the same age about how he (my dad) just wasn't as sharp as he used to be. La Russa looked old during that at-bat, and it's kinda discouraging that nobody protected him from himself there.
Maybe, or maybe it was just another vintage Tony LaRussa moment.
He has his moments, but at least he's otherwise good unlike managers such as Baker who consistently make stupid decisions.
He's obviously doing something right and I acknowledge all of that, but he makes too many mistakes in game.
Re: OFFICIAL TLR HEAD SCRATCHER THREAD
Posted: September 15 09, 12:59 pm
by JackofDiamonds
Meh, we're up approximately 100 games on the Cubs. Between LaRussa, the FO, and those guys that actually play the games, I have no complaints. For as much as I dislike seeing Thurston still in St. Louis, he was a big part of our April start. Those games count too, though not as much as the Important Games.
Re: OFFICIAL TLR HEAD SCRATCHER THREAD
Posted: September 15 09, 1:06 pm
by Freed Roger
JackofDiamonds wrote:Meh, we're up approximately 100 games on the Cubs. Between LaRussa, the FO, and those guys that actually play the games, I have no complaints. For as much as I dislike seeing Thurston still in St. Louis, he was a big part of our April start. Those games count too, though not as much as the Important Games.
I wouldn't mind seeing Larussa go away for a 2-3 day break. I know its not going to happen, but it would do him some good to sweep the cobwebs out.
Re: OFFICIAL TLR HEAD SCRATCHER THREAD
Posted: September 15 09, 2:39 pm
by Fan_In_NY
Or TLR figured that there is a significant chance that in an upcoming playoff game Wainwright will be asked to bunt in an important spot...so he put him in a position to practice that and see what he got. Afterall the outcome of the game means less than the learning/evaluating that can be done right now.
Re: OFFICIAL TLR HEAD SCRATCHER THREAD
Posted: September 15 09, 3:16 pm
by KyCardinalFan
Faceman wrote:greenback44 wrote:I guess a manager makes enough decisions over the course of a game that he has to rely on many quick rules of thumb. "I need a bunt, save a position player, use Wainwright." Then midway through the at-bat he remembers that particular rule of thumb originated from a time when he had a three-man bench, and now he's got something much longer than that.
The dumb decision followed by the strange reversal reminded me of my dad complaining at the same age about how he (my dad) just wasn't as sharp as he used to be. La Russa looked old during that at-bat, and it's kinda discouraging that nobody protected him from himself there.
Yeah I agree with this. Kind of like the "save AP for extras at the ASG" deal. Overthinks it.
I'd agree with this. But sometimes he's also putting players in situations looking ahead to the playoffs. (even though he says he doesn't look ahead.) He wants to challenge a player or put them into a situation where they can succeed so that, if faced with that in the playoffs, they are somewhat familiar/comfortable.
All that being said, I don't think that applies in THIS situation, but it does for some of his head-scratchers in September.
Re: OFFICIAL TLR HEAD SCRATCHER THREAD
Posted: September 15 09, 4:41 pm
by jim
I disagree with the notion that AW was used last night for any forward thinking reason. It's a bunt. Adam has probably been laying them down since he could walk. He probably takes bunting practice several times per week.
Tony was shopping in the bargain basement is all. Looking for the buy one get one free deal. A way to use a PH without really using one.
Re: OFFICIAL TLR HEAD SCRATCHER THREAD
Posted: September 15 09, 6:22 pm
by KyCardinalFan
I disagreed with that notion regarding AW bunting on Monday, too. That's why I wrote my last sentence.
Plus, I wanted to repeat the word "notion". I don't say that often enough.
Re: OFFICIAL TLR HEAD SCRATCHER THREAD
Posted: September 15 09, 6:23 pm
by jim
KyCardinalFan wrote:I disagreed with that notion regarding AW bunting on Monday, too. That's why I wrote my last sentence.
Plus, I wanted to repeat the word "notion". I don't say that often enough.
I have ADD today... I didn't read your last sentence and I wasn't reading the captions on the misspelled signs post earlier.