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If you were like me and thought
the Cardinals’ season was over in August, I guess this whole World
Series thing is a shock to you. This takes the case for so many
reasons that defy explanation, so why even try?
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>I will say that when it came to pushing the right buttons, like him or not, Tony La Russa owns the title. I am not sure there are many mangers or coaches in sports that could have dealt with injuries, poor play and shoddy defense – not to mention the influx of the new and the departure of the alleged potential – than the Cardinal manager.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>La Russa has had his detractors over time. The one that amuses me is the claim he does not like black players on his team. He manages what he is given and tries not to play general manager. He has an opinion for sure, but La Russa wants to win more than anyone I know and he could care less about someone being black, white or any other persuasion.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>The problem lies with the Cardinals front office opting for the Latin player. In some cases it has been fruitful, but most recently that mindset has changed. You want to blame La Russa for lineups and how he uses pitchers, you may have an argument that you might win on occasion. The other stuff does not apply here.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>La Russa is the most successful leader of a sports team in the history of St. Louis professional sports. His methods are open to scrutiny and his press conferences have painted him in a bad light at times, but ask yourself: How would you handle the questioning right after losing a tough one?
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Championship teams are made up of all able-bodied participants, and this team is no different. From the ageless wonder of relief specialist Arthur Rhodes, who has played over 20 years to finally reach the Fall Classic, to the young upstart in Adron Chambers, who was riding buses in the minors just six weeks ago and now finds himself in the biggest series of his young career.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>It has been a team effort that will be talked about more than whether the Cardinals resign Albert. By the way, I think that will happen also.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>As far as the World Series, this Texas Ranger bunch is really good. They can hit, they pitch and they have been here before. Their manager Ron Washington should have been Manager of the Year of the American League last year. He should be in the hunt this season as well, although they will find someone else to give it to like always. Take nothing from this team and their manager, they are going to be a handful and they may be around for a while.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>I like the Cardinals in six.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Trick, no treat
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>It’s one thing to recognize that the Rams have a problem at the receiver position. It is another thing for them to go out and sign a receiver in Mike Sims Walker in the off season and tell us he will be important to the offense. It is rather odd that this same guy was inactive last weekend against Green Bay.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Enter the trade for Brandon Lloyd and adios to Sims Walker. Yep, the guy who was supposed to help solve the problem has been fired before Halloween.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>Why are the Rams so inept at accessing talent and why is it that any talent that they draft or acquire ends up being average at best? First round picks that cannot get on the field, more money thrown into the offensive line than a government jobs program and a quarterback that still gets knocked around so hard on Sundays it’s only a matter of time before he’s taking a standing eight count.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:”>It was three years ago last week when then-coach Scott Linehan was fired for only winning 11 games in three years. Steve Spagnuolo in that same time frame has won a grand total of eight games. Something has gone way wrong at Rams Park.
