Tony La Russa, who retired as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals just days after he guided the franchise to an improbable World Series title this past October, is back in town for the team’s Winter Warm-up event this weekend.
On Friday night, he took part in a presentation that reviewed the past season and included a question-and-answer session with fans, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Among the highlights:
â€" La Russa spoke about first baseman Albert Pujols’ decision to sign a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels as a free agent. "Don't blame Albert. Blame the system," said La Russa, according to the Post-Dispatch. "The system created this kind of stupid situation."
â€" La Russa admitted he ordered a retaliation hit on the Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun, after the Brewers had hit Pujols with a pitch in a game at Miller Park this past August. "It's one of the most difficult things you do as a manager," he said.
â€" La Russa, on the infamous mix-up on the call to the bullpen in Game 5 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers: "It was a mess-up. Cardinals fans were booing; Rangers fans were laughing … one of the most terrible situations I've been through."
â€" La Russa, on the Cardinals’ historic comebacks in Game 6 of the World Series: "I just think they thought the game was over. They just assumed we were done. That was a mistake."
As for his future, La Russa ruled out a front-office position with the Cardinals but admitted he has met with commissioner Bud Selig. La Russa has been rumored to be a candidate to replace Joe Torre, who recently resigned as Major League Baseball's vice-president of on-field operations. "To be determined," La Russa said, according to the Post-Dispatch.
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