ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pointedly stated that All-Star Jack Clark should have chosen better words in his criticism than to call this year's club a group of "quitters". The manager said a former player should know how much that word "cuts."
The manager added that Clark, now a baseball commentator for St. Louis's 101 ESPN Radio, isn't positioned to make such remarks.
"We've got enough problems trying to win games, and we're exposed enough for not playing better, that we don't need to start having back-and-forths with anybody," La Russa said this afternoon to the media at Busch Stadium when asked about Clark's comments. "The essence of my job and our team's job is to compete this year, and if we're not competing well enough then that's where you're going to catch the heat. You don't need anything else."
In a pregame show Thursday on 101.1 FM/WXOS, Clark called the current Cardinals "quitters" and went on to graphically describe his view of the team's plummet from contention. Clark was particularly blunt about his view of the team's effort.
"I'm really tired of watching the effort, that's for sure," Clark said. "I'm not seeing a lack of (effort), I'm seeing a pathetic effort. These Cards fans deserve much better. That's just awful. They won't admit it, that they're quitters. If you can't put a better effort out there on the field, take 'em all out, back up the truck, ship 'em all out and get somebody in here that wants to play baseball."
For more on the comments check Bernie Miklasz's entry from earlier today, it's over at his personal blog at StlToday.com.
La Russa was asked if the word "quitters" was particularly irksome, and he nodded before elaborating extensively on his view of the comment.
"I just don't feel like Jack has had the kind of spotless career where he can be making judgments like that. Whether it's our team, pitchers, players, whatever," La Russa said. "I think it's a real personal (criticism). That's why I'm saying something about it. It's a very offensive quote to make. ... I respect Jack a lot because he did a good job of pulling his career together. But he had times where there were evaluations from his peers -- and I wasn't his peer -- but his peers and his bosses were less than the best. I'm disappointed that he doesn't take some of that past experience. Guys who play know how hard this game is. I definitely understand that the media, the fans -- but a guy who has played or pitched knows this is a very tough game to play, and it doesn't always fall into place. You especially know that's a much bigger cut than to say you're a bad pitcher or a bad player or manager or coach. Because then you're just not good enough. But when you start getting at the integrity of the competition that's (disappointing). This is America. You can have your opinion. Have at it."
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