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On the day that Tony La Russa signed a two-year contract extension to remain as Cardinals manager, we sat in his office to discuss his decision to return.
With the Cardinals headed in a new direction - going with younger, more unproven players - we wondered whether La Russa would be happy. We have always associated La Russa with high-powered, big-dollar teams and lineups filled with established players. And the 2008 Cardinals were the opposite of that.
La Russa caught me by surprise that day when he said he preferred to manage a younger team.
Yeah, I was a little skeptical.
But with the Cardinals off to a 22-13 start, La Russa's offseason words ring true today. Actually, what he told me served as a prediction of sorts for what we've seen so far from the 2008 Cardinals. La Russa is thriving as the manager of the new-look Cardinals, who play tough, smart baseball.
I went back to read the transcript of the La Russa interview. It's more compelling to read now because La Russa was clearly sharing his true feelings and offering clues about what was to come. ...
For instance, here's La Russa on managing an aging roster: "What side of the mountain are they on? If they start going to where their skills are receding, they can still be helpful because of their experience. But they're not as good as they were. So if you have a bunch of those guys, you're not going to be as good. The talent level won't be there, and experience can only make up for so much."
Those words have a lot of meaning now. In 2007 La Russa managed a bunch of players who were on the downside of their careers and didn't like what he saw. Whether it be David Eckstein's 20 errors at shortstop, Jim Edmonds' alarming decline in center field, Scott Rolen's reduced power and moodiness, or Scott Spiezio's issues and distractions, La Russa was ready to freshen the place up.
Also, La Russa had seen the positive impact made by Rick Ankiel, Brendan Ryan and Ryan Ludwick after their 2007 call-ups. They energized the ballclub. Those players picked the Cardinals up and raised a miserable manager's morale. La Russa didn't forget that.
"We produced some young guys last year that kept our season alive," he said. "And you never have to push the `Cardinal Way' to the younger guys. I didn't have to convince them."
Obviously La Russa prefers that to getting rolling eyes and snide remarks from cynical veterans.
Here's La Russa on the pluses of having younger players: "Their enthusiasm. And generally, they stay healthier. That translates into a more reliable, consistent club. With an important edge: They are more willing to learn how the game is played, as opposed to these guys who got it all figured out. There's a risk that (the older guys) will lose that fire in their gut, because they've already sampled postseason success, they've already achieved financially, they have security. So if you ask me to pick between a team that is just over the edge or brand-new, I'll take the brand-new."
Doesn't that read like a description of the personality we are seeing from the 2008 Cardinals? And that's why La Russa is so ecstatic in his job; this team displays the virtues he stressed in that interview.
These Cardinals are healthier, so La Russa isn't restricted in his lineup choices. This team has plenty of fire. And those younger legs are reaching more fly balls and grounders and playing significantly better defense in support of the pitchers. When La Russa put a premium on instruction in spring training, the players listened.
This isn't a team filled with kids, but among position players, it's younger than last year's squad. The Cardinals mostly consist of players who must show that they belong. Skip Schumaker, Ludwick and Ankiel are getting an extended full-time opportunity for the first time. And even some of the veterans - Cesar Izturis and Adam Kennedy - had something to prove coming into the season. That attitude serves a team well.
As a manager, La Russa goes into every game with a hungry heart. And in that respect his 2008 Cardinals are a perfect match.
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(c) 2008, St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.