DOWNTOWN — What could have been his last meal as manager of the Cardinals, all but assured he would return for a 13th season.

Tony La Russa said he’s a big believer in “coincidences” and so it was that as he spent his last night in St. Louis he ended up dining and talking and swapping tales with three members of the Cardinals’ crowded Mount Rushmore — Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst and Mike Shannon. The winningest manager in club history left the table with chills from the real history of the Cardinals. Over the next couple weeks the seed sown from the meal took root, bloomed and brought La Russa back here on Monday to announce a two-year deal to manage the Cardinals.

He told us that Walt Jocketty and he weren’t a packaged deal.

In a 32-minute press conference with the local media, La Russa spoke about that dinner, his decision to return, his rife with Scott Rolen and hinted as his role in the larger integration of the Cardinals’ management, from the front office on down to the field. His day began with a meeting between him, pitching coach Dave Duncan, ownership, interim general manager John Mozeliak and farm director Jeff Luhnow and a member of his staff. The club is headed in a new direction, with its old skipper.

Here is the complete transcript of his press conference, with  few edits (mostly on questions that I could not get verbatim) and some bolding  of intriguing or illuminating comments.  It begins with an introduction from chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and an opening … um … monologue from La Russa.

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Bill DeWitt Jr: I’m pleased to announce that we’ve reached agreement with Tony La Russa on a new two-year contract to continue to manage the St. Louis Cardinals. Tony has been a great leader over his 12 seasons here, highlighted by two National League pennants and a 10^th world championship.

His Hall of Fame accomplishments here include - third winningest manager of all time, during his tenure here, and the Cardinals’ all-time winningest manager. His stamp on this era of Cardinals baseball has been truly historic. It’s with great pleasure that Tony continues with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Tony La Russa: I’m obviously pleased to be back. I think the end of the season was such a difficult time because it was a really difficult string of games. We had worked so hard to keep it alive and then we got that rush to early September where we were right in the middle of it. Then we falter and broke a lot of hearts with our fans and our team. Then we were able to resurrect it a little bit there at the end.

When it was over, it’s kind of the worst time to look ahead and make a decision. There were a couple things that did make an impression on me. One, that the front office (and) ownership were still interested in having me come back next year. When I say me, I always consider our group - which is our coaches and the people we put together as a team to support the players.

And I thought in an overwhelming way the relationship with the players had really special meaning. You’ve been around this group for this many years. I know they haven’t all been here 12 years, but a lot of guys in that clubhouse have been a number of years together. At some point you think they need to hear somebody else, so we had some discussions. I had a really clear message for them that we were good to go. That really made an impression.

I’m a great believer in coincidences. The last night I was in town, was at a restaurant and ended up eating with three of the greatest Cardinals of all time - Stan, Red and Mike. Reliving the time together and talking about the future. You walk out of there and if you don’t have goose pimples and understand how lucky you are, there’s something wrong with you. There’s nothing wrong with me. I knew. I know. So I’m really pleased to come back.

I think, without making this a speech, I was really struck by the clubs that did qualify (for the playoffs) and watching the celebrations, seeing how excited they were. And we had missed it. And reliving the celebrations we’ve had as an organization and thinking about ‘08 and trying to get back there. It was real clear to me as I got into the offseason that the place to try and relive that is with the St. Louis Cardinals. I’m very pleased that it worked out. There are some issues. Bill and I had a number of conversations. I really appreciated that I could talk to him so candidly and the give back was very productive.

I’m thrilled to be back and I’m expecting that in a very tough division next year I know everybody is improving. I think you’ll see our club improve our play and we’ll be contending. Try to get back to the October baseball that is so exciting.

Q: When making your decision, what were the things you were weighing in deciding whether to come back or not?

TLR: As I said, one of the most important things - there was just no room in my coconut for what happens next. It was all too much about just trying to get to the end of the season. Just to give you one example: I told the club this at the end, that I have as much - and our coaches do, too; I say I a lot and I should say we because we’re so tight as a group … - we had great respect and affection for that club. Because it was way beyond average and normal the hits that that club took.

To get to the middle of September and that really courageous run was going in the toilet and I thought, Man, if we don’t do something at the end nobody will ever remember that. So we ended up with five in a row. Minus-6 is not good, but it could have been worse.

When that was over, I think we were all toast. So we had to get away from it. Then you start understanding the strength of the relationships in the clubhouse, in the organization, and if people still want you to be a part of it then you’re excited to be a part of it.

Q: Would you say this is a relief to get this completed?

TLR: Well, yeah. Somebody will probably ask this so I’ll give it to you ahead of time. There was the general manager issue. We’ve been talking about this for awhile, and I felt then and still do when the guy that you’re going to report to is still not official - you don’t know who it is - if that’s an uncomfortable place for him and for me. But in conversation with Bill, (I felt) a couple of things: No. 1, the guys he’s talking to are OK with me. And, secondly, the more you wait, this is an important time, and I think as a staff we’re used to being including and getting our input. Every day that passes that we’re not in there saying, We like you, We don’t like you, would be counterproductive to trying to win next year.

It’s time to get back.

Q: What role did the family have, and at any point did Elaine and the kids say, Hey we really want you to stay at home? Or after a couple weeks did they say, Don’t stay home?

TLR: I think that - you said a couple weeks? I think it was a couple days that I was home that they were already asking about spring training. There was no issue. And there hasn’t been about them saying it’s time to hang it up. I really do feel like in the last two or three years the way we perceive our family as part of the Cardinals is different than it was years ago. They think I know baseball. This is where I wanted to be and this is where they wanted me to be.

Q: Has there been any thought or discussion of moving toward re-upping with the coaches? Where do the coaches stand?

TLR: That’s to be discussed. When we talk about some of the success we’ve had - or even last year keeping that season alive - the coaches are part of it. We work together as a team to put guys in a situation to be successful and also to keep their spirits up. That will be a part of it.

Q: What will be your input in the hiring of the next general manager?

TLR: Not really a lot. I think that’s an upper-level decision. I’m just really pleased that Bill would include (me) as to who he’s talking to, what are the issues, what he’s looking for. And I think he’ll have a quality guy to replace … Let me use this as an opportunity to say this: I think Walt (Jocketty) deserves a tremendous amount of credit for what was accomplished here. I would have bet a lot that the manager would have left before the general manager over the years. But at some point it’s probably true of the front office too - it’s not bad to make your mark some place else, and Walt will. I’m certain that the guy that follows Walt will be of that same caliber man.

Q: Was there was a point when with what happened with Walt that you said to yourself, Maybe I won’t come back here, that this isn’t the right spot?

TLR: I was surprised that it happened like it happened. I was not surprised that there were issues. So maybe if you paid more attention to the issues you wouldn’t have been as surprised.

I’ve said this several times, by way of analogy, I’ve got a couple of coaches - Dave Duncan and Dave McKay - who have been together a long, long time. In Dave Duncan’s case we were friends before we became coaches. In Dave McKay’s (case) we became friends after we became coaches. But we are really good friends. And each of those guys knows that if ever they have a better situation someplace else I would never drop a guilt trip that, Hey, we really need ya.

Same thing with Walt. Whatever is best for Walt. I’m his friend and I have great respect for him. It was time for him to go to another organization.

Q: Does that (friendship) affect your decision in either way?

TLR: No because, I had enough of a heads up as to what the issues were. Sometimes, just like I told you, he could fire me and that wouldn’t have been our friendship.

Q: Was there ever a point that you found yourself leaning toward not coming back?

TLR: I just didn’t know. When you don’t think about it - I know it came up whenever during the season and I would always give the same answer. Sometimes (people) would look at me like, Are you being totally honest? You control what you think. It’s not difficult at all for me to think about the next game we play or the next series. I don’t even think about next year. So, I didn’t even want to think about it. When it’s over then you start thinking about it and you realize that this is the place where you hope it works out.

Q: Tony what was the determination for you to get it done today?

TLR: I think the two issues - what goes on with the front office - it’s not the issue I thought it would be when we first talked about it. To be perfectly honest - and he can hold me to it, everyone can hold me to it - if he hires somebody tomorrow and that guy doesn’t want me, they can tear the contract up and I wouldn’t hold them up. I wouldn’t want to be here. I just don’t think that’s going to happen.

More important, I think there’s work to be done to put this club together and it’s time for the manager and the coaches to be involved like we have in the past. We don’t take control, we give input.

Q: Did you have any talks with other teams, the other jobs out there?

TLR: Never got approached. Which should tell you something.

Q: All the New York speculation - there was a report you called (Joe) Torre at some point …

TLR: Oh, I’ve talked to Joe a couple times. As most of you know, I’m not an Internet guy. But I have friends that would pass along stuff, which meant that somebody would have to Xerox it or fax it and somebody would give it to me. So I did read some stuff.

Let me explain my perception of that: It … (is) surprising that there are opinions about the job of managing, or about the person from people who don’t really know me. I think that managing in the major leagues, like coaching, is really challenging and difficult thing no matter where you do it. Nobody gets a free pass. You think today that (Cleveland manager) Eric Wedge is not having a tough day? (Arizona manager) Bob Melvin got eliminated in the first round or Lou Piniella. I know that with the Yankees - the Yankees is a certain category. But I think by trying to explain how tough one place is you kind of disrespect how tough it is every place else. I don’t think that most people understand that this is really challenging. Nobody gets a free pass. Your manager or your head coach.

I was really surprised to the point where, you know, I wish they would know better the way I would be in a situation, the type of person I am. But that’s just the way it is.

Q: … What you’re talking about is: He won’t be able to handle the New York press?

TLR: I’m not going to get specific. Just people speculate how you are and I think people who know me better see it a little differently.

Q: Tony, how did you come to a two-year deal, and not a three- or four- or one-?

TLR: It’s definitely not a three because that’s just looking too far forward for a senior citizen. One is the wrong message because all of a sudden from spring training on it’s the same deal. Two lets the players know that I’m back, more than one.

Q: Would you say there are more questions facing this team than there have been in the past and did that add anything to your decision?

TLR: I don’t really know if we have more issues this year than we had last year. Last year coming off a world championship and there were a lot of decisions to make. But if you look back, we have had turnover on this club every year and we’ve had some really good clubs. I just think this is more of the same.

One thing that I’m excited about and I know our coaches share, there is conversation - one of the reasons I say the division is going to be improved - there some really good young pitchers and players that have come into the central. We have some good young guys that we saw this year and kept our season alive. It’s fun to think about being with them and have them develop and compete against some of these other clubs’ young guys. I think that you’ll see they’ll compete really well.

Q: You talk about the new general manager. Can you describe the ideal attributes, the qualities that you think will be needed in that job?

TLR: It would be a lot like Walt. I think, especially in today’s sporting environment, you need to establish respect and trust among your peers. If they don’t trust you they’re not going to talk to you. If you have some information that you know and they don’t know, make one deal and you get the best of it. There goes trust. You have to respect that you understand all of the challenges and difficulties there are with general managing.

I think you have to have a real love for the game. And you have to understand that you are an important part of the organization but you are part of the organization. And personality is very important. This will always be about the people you work with - whether it’s in the office or on the field.

I’ve said it before: The toughest job in baseball is the general manager job. It’s a 12-month-a-year job and the guys that do that job pay a tremendous price to be effective. It’s a real challenge. You have to be the right guy at the right time in your life.

Q: Externally the move made with Walt that gave the impression that it means there is going to be a change in direction for the organization. I wonder to what extent you had those questions and how, by extension, how that affected your preference for a two-year contract as opposed to what you’ve done in the past?

TLR: I’ve already given the answer about the two. It didn’t have anything to do with (that) other than the reality of managing how many years I’ve been managing. You want to be honest.

One of the key factors that has been very popular and discussed here and what’s happened in our organization with the inclusion of the analytical department. One of the things that I understand - and I’m sure that the new general manager (will understand) - is to be successful the organization has to be very coordinated, very together. And there is going to be an emphasis on making sure each piece - whether it’s scouting, or whether it’s training, whether it’s coaching the major leaguers, or the information and analysis department - that everybody is integrated into making us a top-flight organization. I think that that’s been an issue and was part of Walt’s demise. That’s certainly something that will be addressed very aggressively to make sure we get it right.

Q: Are you comfortable with that?

TLR: Yeah. I’m comfortable that we’re going to address it aggressively and in a way that makes us a top-flight organization.

Q: Any part of this is the fanbase, that you feel more connected to them? You’ve been here a long time, were you thinking why leave now? We like each other, why leave?

TLR: You’ve heard the formula. The first one is the players. If the players don’t want you, if the fans love you, front office loves you, and ownership loves you - you’re being dishonest with being here. Obviously if the bosses want you out of there. But the fans are important part of it. Especially in this place. If I had a crystal ball and you told me that I was going into my 13^th year, I would have said, No chance.

I have come to understand here in the last x number of years that I think the Midwestern mentality, Cardinals fans, really put their arms around members of the Cardinals family as long as they trust you. I think they’ve gotten to where they trust (me) - if they think I’m doing something wrong, they know I’m trying. And that’s a different feeling then when you’re trying to earn their trust.

Was it a factor? Yeah, it’s a factor.

Q: You mentioned wanting to manage a few more years, and as a senior citizen - your words, not mine - the idea of starting over somewhere else at this stage in your career, after investing that much time with the Cardinals, did that factor into your decision?

TLR: Nobody talked to me about starting over. I wouldn’t be hesitate to start over, because I’d be starting over the same way I am here. I’m taking this job, I’m not even thinking about 2009.

I’ve survived this long paying attention to people who have taught me. You know how they teach you? What I want to do - and you’ve heard me say this … My biggest problem is repeating stuff you’ve already heard 12 times, now 13. I just want to get to opening day. I want to do my job in spring training so that the general manager or the owner doesn’t say, Hey, we just had a lousy spring and we don’t want you. I’m going to try to do that. Then I’m going to try to get to the All-Star Game. That’s the way I do it. That’s the way I was taught. No matter where I go, you just can’t get too far ahead of yourself if you a manager or a head coach and I refuse to do that.

Q: In late (September), you said that your coaching staff would be back, is there wiggle room in that now?

TLR: No. I’m not wiggling at all. I think what we went through, our team, including our coaches, did a really good job. The only thing we talked about - and this is not the time to get into it - there’s a way to improve how we compete next year. That won’t be with a change in coaches. And we’re going to try and do that.

Q: So if somebody is not back it’d be by their choice, not yours?

TLR: Right.

Q: In the end was it just that separation from the season that helped you come back? You needed some time away, was that the ultimate …

TLR: That was the most important, but the second one was all of a sudden there’s a change with Walt. I told (Joe Strauss) that I really resented the fact that somebody thought I was using that to delay and see if somebody would call me. I didn’t do that at all.

Put yourself in my position. I know that I can call Bill DeWitt. But I don’t call him all that often. But I talk to the guy who is above me all the time. I wasn’t comfortable at all with that situation of coming back and the general manager wanting somebody else. He may have his own team. That was an important obstacle. Now I just feel it would have been nice to wait, but I don’t think you can wait. I think the coaches and I can help with some of the input on how we improve this club.

Q: Tony, you mention that you feel the candidates for general manager are comfortable with. Did you speak directly with them or hear that from Bill?

TLR: I heard that from Bill, and I trust Bill. I have not spoken to any of them directly, except Mo (John Mozeliak) and I know he’s one of the candidates.

Q: It’s possible that the new general manager could be in his 30s, or young enough to be your grandkid. Whereas Walt was your contemporary, your peer, to what extent does that change your relationship when you have somebody young enough to be your grandchild as a supervisor?

TLR: You have a real irritating way of asking a question. I would venture to say that the guy who comes in, if he’s half my age, probably goes to less rock and roll shows than I do. We quit counting birthdays in our house, so I’m not as old as you think I am. I’m going to see The Boss open here on Thursday. No, I’m not worried about that at all. I don’t feel old.

Q: How tough will it be for the new general manager, following Walt?

TLR: The real difficult thing about answering that (is) I think it’s important for the respect that Walt has earned and he’s earned a tremendous amount of it. To me, the responsibility is not to follow Walt, it’s the St. Louis Cardinals. Just like the manager. I wasn’t following Joe Torre. I was following all of the managers who have managed the St. Louis Cardinals. The pressure of my responsibility is to uphold managing for the St. Louis Cardinals, what that standard is and what the fans are accustomed to getting. Same thing for the general manager. He’s going to get to general manage surely one of the greatest franchises in Major League Baseball. That’s his challenge.

It’s not who you follow, it’s the job that you have and the responsibility that goes with it.

Q: When you got the players’ input, how did that happen? Was there a team meeting? Did you just call key guys in for a face-to-face?

TLR: It was a little suspicious. I’m glad you asked that so I can be honest with you all. I got the guys around who had the least seniority. They had never played for anybody else. And I said. Who is the best manager you ever played for? Chris Duncan, Rick Ankiel, are like, Oh yeah, Tony you’re the best I’ve ever played for.

(laughter)

What I did was, I didn’t include those guys because what are they going to say, We don’t want you? I got the group together that had more experience. I had said it before. It was a tough year at times. I saw us drooping a little bit, I mentioned it. There might have been a hard feeling or two. At times I worried that (because of) that hard feeling that they wouldn’t see why I was doing it and they would still carry it. It turned out they didn’t carry it.

Q: Along those same lines, how are you and Scott Rolen? There’s a lot of conjecture …

TLR: I have to be honest. He’s probably the guy, the one guy, that has issues with me. I’ll tell you exactly what I told our organization: Make sure he’s in our uniform next year. A healthy Scott Rolen is going to be a premium player. Probably the more upset he is with me the better he’ll play all year. But there’s an issue there. I don’t understand it at times.

It’s one of those comments you read about controlling - you know what you do. And I’ve run this by the coaches. You know what you control as a head coach or a manager. You control the acts of the players who don’t know how to play. But you take a player that understands the game, Scott is one of them, the shortstops we’ve had - Edgar Renteria, David Eckstein - you know how much freedom they get to play their game? Because they know how to play.

I think what you do is hope that he’s healthy, understand that we have issues (and) don’t let them get in the way of the competition.

Q: What are some of the big issues of the makeup facing this club?

TLR: If you have a crystal ball and you can tell me right now that Chris (Carpenter) and Mark (Mulder) are going to be themselves, that would be humongous. Tell me that Jim (Edmonds) and Scott are going to be healthy and play to their careers. That would be humongous.

In Mark and Chris’ case it’s all a matter of health. And I know how hard they’re working and how bad they want to get back to competing. So we need to get all of the pressure off them. I know that Jim is dedicated to getting himself in great shape. I know Scott has not been happy with how he’s felt and the way he’s performed. He’s going to have a busy winter. You get those guys.

What we should do - and we announced this at the end of the year - the deeper your lineup is, the better. So if there’s a productive offensive player that you can add we’re better no matter how Jim and Scott come back or how our young guys develop. If there’s a productive pitcher, no matter what you get from Chris and Mark and Adam (Wainwright) and Braden (Looper). You just try to get deeper. That’s our goal. Do the best you can.

Q: With the free agenets, trades, and what comes up, will you have more say with new GM?

TLR: That’s a good question. But I think it all depends on the general manager’s philosophy, and I don’t know how that conversation goes between that person and Bill. Because you see different philosophies.

I have been three places and the general manager in all three places valued the input of the guys in uniform. So we’re a part of it, but we all understood that he was getting input from other places, including ownership and scouts. But we always felt like we were listened to and if we all agreed we had a chance to make an impression. If somebody disagreed, they’re your boss. Maybe the general manager who comes in thinks he’ll rely less on the uniformed people and more on the scouts. We also have our analytical department. We’ll see how that goes.

I expect, because it makes so much sense, that you apprise the guys in uniform and you include them in the discussions. We evaluated. We have an idea. You play and pitch the guys they give you. But you don’t want to get into a situation where you bring in a guy as your cleanup hitter and you evaluate that guy as an eighth-place hitter or, in our case, our ninth-place hitter. When you put them in uniform we’re supposed to max them out, that’s why you need to talk. I got a strong suspicion, whoever comes is going to want to. We’ve got great coaches, so why wouldn’t anybody want to listen to them?

Q: Not to make Mo uncomfortable here, but what do you think would make Mo a good general manager?

TLR: Wears nice ties. Been around Walt now a number of years. Always been impressed with whatever Walt’s asked of him to do. Whatever it is, he’s delivered. I believe he’s going to be a strong candidate.

Q: Tony, concerning things like injuries and new players, without a crystal ball are there things you can do now or know you’re going to do to improve the club? You mention improving the ways you compete …

TLR: I just don’t think this is the place to get into them. And I’m not sure, being the secretive guy that I am, I’m going to get that much into them anyway, because if you have something that is going to help …

We could start spring training tomorrow and I’d be excited because the level of our competition in our division is going to require we elevate our play.

Q: Did you, at any point, get nostalgic as you walked out of here after the season thinking it might be the last time you did that?

TLR: I’m trying to think. The last game we played was a Sunday night game against Houston. I’m trying to think if I took the lineup out there for some reason. You know, I knew it was a possibility. But I was mostly nostalgic about the fact that we were going to miss October baseball. It’s that exciting and we’re all pumped up to do it. And that was the thing that really dominated my thoughts. We’re not going to make it. We’re not going to have that kind of fun. And that remains the dominant thought.

We’re watching some of these teams celebrate and it’s like, son of a gun, we know what that feels like and we’re missing it. That’s really what dominated my thoughts.

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