Terry Francona to the white courtesy phone please, Mr. Francona please pick up the white courtesy phone....

Albert P. is gone now, the Cubs are going to over pay for him in a heartbeat.

/I'd rather sign Fielder
//LaRussa was a great manager and the Cards will miss him dearly.

Irrespective of your thoughts on his managerial style, you have to admit the man did a good job.

littlett's: Hillbilly Jim: Terry Francona to the white courtesy phone please, Mr. Francona please pick up the white courtesy phone....

That would be an interesting fit. Especially with Theo being in the NL Central with the Cubs.

That will be fun.

Team Oquendo

Quitting on top must be great, but to be only 36 wins away from having the second-most wins as a manager, all time...

Eh, who am I kidding...go out a champion, enjoy your life as a TV analyst.

Can't say I'm sad to see LaDoucha retire. Its really easy to be considered a "genius" when you have Canseco/McGwire and Pujols in your lineups.

Liquor store and bar owners everywhere have dollar signs in their eyes.

fenianfark: Irrespective of your thoughts on his managerial style, you have to admit the man did a good great job.

3rd on the all-time wins list. I'd say that's better than good.

Liquorslingr: Can't say I'm sad to see LaDoucha retire. Its really easy to be considered a "genius" when you have Canseco/McGwire and Pujols in your lineups.

Ehh.

Oblig (new window)

/N O P T U V P L V X Y X FTW

Liquorslingr: Can't say I'm sad to see LaDoucha retire. Its really easy to be considered a "genius" when you have Canseco/McGwire and Pujols in your lineups.

Yeah, because one person can single-handedly bring you two titles in the past six years.

Even with assloads of stats in the lineup night after night, the New York Yankees prove that buying several big bats, and even a Cy Young candidate or two will not guarantee a championship.

I'm not a fan of LaRussa (nor do I hate him), but you have to give the guy some credit.

Squirrel just named new GM

SmackLT: YOU SEE THAT, FAVRE?! THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT

Let's wait a few months to make sure Tony hasn't texted pictures of his junk to female staffers.

It's a shame, all the Italian managers are retiring/ getting screwed (Francona). We kicked ass the last 24 years, winning half of them, Torre -4, Girardi -1, La Russa-3, Lasorda-1,Francona-2, Scioscia-1

Good on 'em. Walked out at the height...

/we Kansas Citians gave you both La Russa and Pujols.
//oh... AND YOU'RE WELCOME.

Go out on top and don't look back. That's how you do it.

Marine1: Good on 'em. Walked out at the height...

/we Kansas Citians gave you both La Russa and Pujols.
//oh... AND YOU'RE WELCOME.

Wow you sound kind of bitter for a farm club.

I can't stand LaRussa personally. I hate the whiny crybaby stuff he brings to the game. A lot of his success is built on the backs of cheaters.

All that said, he is also a terrific manager.

Slaves2Darkness: Marine1: Good on 'em. Walked out at the height...

/we Kansas Citians gave you both La Russa and Pujols.
//oh... AND YOU'RE WELCOME.

Wow you sound kind of bitter for a farm club.

I honestly can't say we're not anymore...

/Sporting KC is in the playoffs and the Chiefs aren't completely out of hope yet
//Royals are there because we don't want to be the St. Louis circa 1987-1994 of the MLB

Liquorslingr: Can't say I'm sad to see LaDoucha retire. Its really easy to be considered a "genius" when you have Canseco/McGwire and Pujols in your lineups.

I was about to make a joke about MLB cracking down on juicers and this decision, but you beat me too it :)

Orgasmatron138: I can't stand LaRussa personally. I hate the whiny crybaby stuff he brings to the game. A lot of his success is built on the backs of cheaters.

All that said, he is also a terrific manager.

Walkoff comment. (good one)

Excuse me Tony but Elway had the best going out on top retirements of all-time!

Say what you will about the man. At least he had a dynamite theme song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KalbXGkJb_A

/Not enough mind bleach in the world to un-hear it.

Well, now when the biopic is made it will be all set up for the perfect Hollywood ending

littlett's: Makes you wonder if this will influence Albert's decision.

Albert was leaving no matter what. Dude is going to get a crazy contract.

So have we finally seen the end of the pitcher batting 8th, absurd amounts of pitching changes, "scrappy" aging veterans getting playing time over up-and-coming rookies, bunting and double switching for the hell of it, and pitching position players in 18 inning games rather than using a starting pitcher?

The game of baseball is better off today than it was yesterday. Goodbye, overmanaging douche.

I think this may have more to do with Dave Duncan wanting to retire as well. Duncan has been La Russa's pitching coach since before the civil war.

Duncan talked about retiring before the start of this season. His son playing for the Cards was one of the reasons he hung around and there was some tension after Chris Duncan was traded.

No doubt this will impact what Albert does but the team can always put this forward. Albert, who do you want as a manager?

Is this the end of the endless whining and moaning from the Cards organization?

If so, I welcome this news with open arms.

poo holes

Ya know, good for him. He went out on top and beat the Phillies while he was at it (and I love the Phillies)

Now we just need Duncan to retire, and Pujols and Fielder to go to the AL, and the NL Central will be the Reds' for the taking!

Oh, who am I kidding, they still have Toothpick, they'll be lucky to get over .500.

Wait, if LaRussa is retired, who manages the NL in the All Star Game next year?

ManOfTeal: Wait, if LaRussa is retired, who manages the NL in the All Star Game next year?

Bet they have him do it, excellent question though.

RogueViking: So have we finally seen the end of the pitcher batting 8th, absurd amounts of pitching changes, "scrappy" aging veterans getting playing time over up-and-coming rookies, bunting and double switching for the hell of it, and pitching position players in 18 inning games rather than using a starting pitcher?

The game of baseball is better off today than it was yesterday. Goodbye, overmanaging douche.

No shiat. Where did all that get him? A lousy three World Series Championships. I'm certain your record is significantly more impressive.

This has nothing to do with Pujols staying or going (though Tony leaving might influence that), and everything to do with his family and coaches.

Dave Duncan isn't coming back due to his wife's brain cancer. He and LaRussa have been coaching together for decades. First, I don't think Tony wants to coach without him. But mainly I think it gives him pause and makes him think about the fact he's been away from his family forever. Aside from the obligatory thanks to the organizations for which he worked, all he talked about in his press conference was his wife and kids and even said he and his wife had "a sad joke" that every year she gets the Father's Day card.

Add to that the Shingles thing this year and the fact he's still suffering from it and I think his wife said "We're done here. Come home."

Good on him. Go out a champ, run your charity, and chill with your wife. You've more than earned it.