Tony La Russa on KCBS

by vk on Dec 9, 2005 8:34 AM PST

I just heard Tony La Russa on KCBS with John Madden, Steve Bitker and Stan Bunger. He's doing an event for his animal rescue foundation tomorrow in Walnut Creek, didn't get the details but among those signing "low cost" autographs for charity will be Mark Ellis, Dan Haren, Mark Mulder and C.C. Sabathia.
Tony sounded a little down about his pitching -- they missed out on AJ Burnett by $12 million, he said, and they aren't likely to get Matt Morris back. He also said they started out the offseason team building process several weeks late because of the playoffs. Somehow, I can't imagine this as much of a problem with the well-organized A's.
Walt Jocketty calls him daily to talk personnel. He noted that some teams don't involve the manager in those decisions. (wonder which one he's talking about!).
Somebody, maybe Madden, approvingly quoted Bill Parcells as saying, "If I'm going to cook the meal I'm going to do the shopping."
Anyhow, La Russa is a good guy and even though I was mad at him for several years after he jumped ship and took Duncan with him (not to mention McGwire), it's great to have him living in the Bay Area.

Tweet Comment 3 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

ALL AUTOGRAPHS ARE $10

Here's the details:

The signings will take place at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation's (ARF) on Saturday, December 10, 2005 at 10 a.m. - a fun-filled day of autograph signing and sports memorabilia auctions (lots of A's items). Baseball Stars to the Rescue will be presented at ARF's shelter located at 2890 Mitchell Drive in Walnut Creek, at the corner of Oak Grove Road. 100% of the proceeds benefit ARF. See the Website for signing information.

http://www.arf.net/About_ARF/Events/BBStars.html

by arf4as on Dec 9, 2005 9:12 AM PST reply actions

i like Tony, too....

....i got blasted once for saying that on AN...something about him possibly retaliating by having one of his pitchers hit a batter...i guess that is really unheard of in baseball:-):-)...anyone who loves baseball, animals, and ballet is okay with me...even if they aren't perfect...

by littleA on Dec 9, 2005 12:40 PM PST reply actions

la russa book

agreed, little A, though I can't say I'm much of a ballet fan. In "Three Nights in August," Buzz Bissinger's book about La Russa, there's a great description of how he walked a guy in the eighth so he could hit an opponent's best hitter in the ninth as retaliation for hitting Pujols. You learn how the game is really played...

by vk on Dec 9, 2005 6:27 PM PST reply actions