QUESTION: St. Louis Cardinals’ fans have long had a love/hate relationship with manager Tony La Russa. However, with Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan stepping down, La Russa now becomes the longest-tenured coach in the four major North American sports. What does it say about La Russa that he’s had the staying power to enter his 16th season here despite not always being embraced by the hometown fans?
RICK HUMMEL
It’s all about winning. Even though, the Cardinals have won just one division title in the last four years, they’ve captured seven division titles, tied for another and won two league championships and one World Series in La Russa’s 15 years here. And if they haven’t won, they’ve contended nearly every year.
DERRICK GOOLD
La Russa has been embraced by ownership and management. That’s enough. His in-game decisions and his fickleness with the lineup are favorite nits to pick for a faction of fans that have made bashing La Russa their schtick. But big picture, La Russa has helmed one of the most successful eras in Cardinals baseball history. Yes, there could have been another pennant or one more World Series title thrown in there to spruce-up his tenure, but despite the expanded postseason (something the Swifties didn’t have) and the merry-go-round rosters (viva free agency) La Russa elevated expectations and hasn’t relented. I was recently talking with a neighbor about the similarities between Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols. He mentioned that the Yankees are expected to win a World Series championship every season. I wondered what then are the Cardinals expected to do each season? He said: “Contend.” By that measurement, it’s clear why La Russa has outlasted any other coach in the major North American pro sports.
JOE STRAUSS
Two World Series wins, five league championships, 12 division titles over his career. Four-time BBWAA Manager of the Year. I dispute the notion that TLR represents some sort of civic pariah. Like most managers, he’s typically embraced to the degree the team is winning. Come on, Water Cooler. Dial it up.
JEFF GORDON
St. Louis fans supported La Russa by filling the Busch Stadiums on his watch. Given that, any fan grousing on sports talk radio or internet forums has been irrelevant. The real voting is done with wallets and La Russa built a strong support base by keeping this team in contention year after year. He adapted a bit over time, but the real story is the steady support he received from ownership over the years. And ownership could afford to stay the course because fans kept buying tickets.
TOM TIMMERMANN
It means he’s had the support of management, he’s had winning teams, and his best players have liked him (except for Scott Rolen). It’s certainly helped that by being in the NL Central you can be competitive most every year without the effort you’d have in other divisions. It also says that while he hasn’t been embraced, he’s been able to shrug off most criticisms and always had supporters among influential members of the media. And let’s face it: He’s been a successful manager. There hasn’t been much cause to fire him.
