Albert Pujols Frustrated with Tony LaRussa's Decision to Keep Him on the Bench | MLB

7/11/07

0	Its stupid, if LaRussa didnt want to put him in, dont have him be in the HR Derby

7/11/07

Phillygenius82

2

He was managing to win if Pujols hit is he going to play CF if the game is tied. Please!!! I know this may get me crucified on this site (because of the many Cardinal fans) but this is Albert Pujols being a cry baby again. Just like after he was disappointed he didn't get the MVP last year. For someone who I think is one of the classier guys in the game him saying that if he wasn't going to play he wouldn't have come seems childish, and more like something I'd expect from notable me first athletes like TO or Barry Bonds.

7/11/07

Ryan

0

If I were LaRussa, I probably would have put Pujols in there and then dealt with the aftermath. Pujols has played outfield before. And he's hitting .400 in his last 10 games. (Of course, no home runs over that time)

Of course, I think Ben makes some good points. You don't want to totall kill your defensive positioning if the game goes extra innings. I can't imagine anyone wants to see a make-shift outfield for four or five innings.

I can see both sides to this one. But the fact is he didn't get to hit and he should get over it.

7/11/07

Pat

3

There's no way to reasonably say that Aaron Rowand was the better option than Pujols with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, down by a run. I think that the difference between Pujuols and Rowand at the plate in that situation is more than enough to make up for the difference in fielding abilities, in the VERY unlikely situation that the game would be tied.

If he gets a hit, the NL wins. If he doesn't, they lose. The only situation that would have only resulted in one run was a walk. And that was highly unlikely. There's no justifying LaRussa's decision here. I took Pujols to task for whining about the MVP last year, but here, he's completely right. If his own manager didn't plan on playing him, he shouldn't have made him waste the trip.

7/11/07

Eric

0

(Edited by Eric)
Phillygenius82 wrote:

He was managing to win if Pujols hit is he going to play CF if the game is tied. Please!!! I know this may get me crucified on this site (because of the many Cardinal fans) but this is Albert Pujols being a cry baby again. Just like after he was disappointed he didn't get the MVP last year. For someone who I think is one of the classier guys in the game him saying that if he wasn't going to play he wouldn't have come seems childish, and more like something I'd expect from notable me first athletes like TO or Barry Bonds.

So are you saying that players shouldn't go to the all star game expecting to play? Because that's moronic. He was absolutely right. If LaRussa said "I'm not going to play you tonight in the all star game, unless the game goes to extra innings." and I was a player selected to the all star game, I'd be miffed. Let alone that, LaRussa didn't say anything to him. Granted, I guess I would have still attended the game... I think Pujols would have attended the game as well. I think he was just tied up in emotions and made the statement that he wouldn't have shown up. Either way, I'm not supporting either LaRussa or Pujols... But, I believe Pujols should have played since he was selected to the game.

7/11/07

Phillygenius82

0

Eric wrote:

So are you saying that players shouldn't go to the all star game expecting to play? Because that's moronic. He was absolutely right. If LaRussa said "I'm not going to play you tonight in the all star game, unless the game goes to extra innings." and I was a player selected to the all star game, I'd be miffed. Let alone that, LaRussa didn't say anything to him. Granted, I guess I would have still attended the game... I think Pujols would have attended the game as well. I think he was just tied up in emotions and made the statement that he wouldn't have shown up. Either way, I'm not supporting either LaRussa or Pujols... But, I believe Pujols should have played since he was selected to the game.

Every year especially now that the All Star game "counts", somebody ends up not playing because managers normally need to save a player in case the game goes in to extras or whatever. It hasn't been a big deal in the past because it hasn't been a player as high profile as Pujols. Again I consider him to be one of the classier guys in the game, and yes especially since it was his manager I can understand maybe being frustrated but to say that if you knew you weren't going to play you wouldn't have come seems a bit childish.

7/11/07

mell_1289

1

I think that EVERY player selected to go to the All-Star game needs to play. There is a reason why they are there and it's not to watch the game from the dugout. They weren't selected as cheerleaders, they were selected as All-Star players. If it means cutting down on the amount of innings that another player plays just so you can play everybody, than it needs to be done.

I understand why Pujols would say what he did and yes, it was a little childish but come on. What was the point of him being there? A player should expect to play when going to the game. And he wasn't the only one left out but I'm not going to get started on that. I just think that they are all there for a reason and they all need to play. If all of the teams have to be represented at the game, then they should all have to play in the game to represent their teams!!

7/11/07

Phillygenius82

0	Everybody can't play, unless the game is a blow out. That's just how it is it's not like every other sport where you can sub everybody in and out freely. As long as the rules are like that in baseball it's going to happen more often than not.

7/11/07

Eric

1

Why be selected to the all star game if you aren't going to play? Everyone should play. Another batter isn't something that is needed to stay on the bench. Pitcher, maybe. The guys only play 2-3 innings max towards the end of the game anyways. It's not like they couldn't go an extra inning or 3 in extras. A pitcher, yeah... I could see one sitting out in case of extra innings. But, obviously LaRussa wasn't planning on extra innings because he didn't leave the starter in for more than 1 inning. All pitchers pitched 1 inning. If he was worried about extra innings, he would have kept the first 2 pitchers in for at least 2 innings each.

7/11/07

Phillygenius82

0	(Edited by Phillygenius82) Larussa still had 3 pitchers available FYI. And you might need another batter if I don't know the pitchers spot comes up in the 10th. I'd rather have him hit there than say Jose Valverde wouldn't you?

7/11/07

Pat

0

Phillygenius82 wrote:

Larussa still had 3 pitchers available FYI. And you might need another batter if I don't know the pitchers spot comes up in the 10th. I'd rather have him hit there than say Jose Valverde wouldn't you?

But the chances of it going into the 10th were EXREMELY slim. The was 90% guaranteed to end in that at bat. There's no excuse for not putting your team in the best position to win.

7/11/07

Eric

0

(Edited by Eric)
Phillygenius82 wrote:

Larussa still had 3 pitchers available FYI. And you might need another batter if I don't know the pitchers spot comes up in the 10th. I'd rather have him hit there than say Jose Valverde wouldn't you?

What happens if later into the game 2-3 pitchers blow up and give up 2-3 runs each? Is he going to keep them in? No. Him having 3 pitchers left at the end of the game was just luck. Unless he was planning on keeping any pitcher in for 1 inning each... but then he wasn't worried about winning.

7/11/07

Phillygenius82

0

Pat wrote:

But the chances of it going into the 10th were EXREMELY slim. The was 90% guaranteed to end in that at bat. There's no excuse for not putting your team in the best position to win.

Slim still means possible, if Rowand gets a hit it sounds like Albert's still upset because he didn't play. I'm not a Tony Larussa fan but he did what he did for a reason overmanaging like he usually does if my supervisor managed me like he did I'd go crazy. He is a baseball genius or did everyone all of the sudden forget that.

7/11/07

Phillygenius82

0

(Edited by Phillygenius82)
Eric wrote:

What happens if later into the game 2-3 pitchers blow up and give up 2-3 runs each? Is he going to keep them in? No. Him having 3 pitchers left at the end of the game was just luck. Unless he was planning on keeping any pitcher in for 1 inning each... but then he wasn't worried about winning.

Bud Selig would bail him out by calling the game a tie!!! Duh! You can say what if this would have happened, it didn't happen, he had 3 pitchers left I'm sure he was managing with what he had.

7/11/07

Scott

1

Phillygenius82 wrote:

Every year especially now that the All Star game "counts", somebody ends up not playing because managers normally need to save a player in case the game goes in to extras or whatever. It hasn't been a big deal in the past because it hasn't been a player as high profile as Pujols. Again I consider him to be one of the classier guys in the game, and yes especially since it was his manager I can understand maybe being frustrated but to say that if you knew you weren't going to play you wouldn't have come seems a bit childish.

Albert Pujols is a proud athlete, one who not only loves baseball but his family. I dont think its childish at all to say that if he knew he wasnt going to play, he wouldnt have came. Why make the wasted trip out west when he could've stayed at home with his family and played dad to his kids for 3 days, especially seeing as he only gets 5 or 6 days off during a 6 month baseball season to do that. I bet there are alot of MLB players who've enjoyed this nice little break from the season.

7/11/07

Eric

0	Phillygenius82 wrote: Bud Selig would bail him out by calling the game a tie!!! Duh! You can say what if this would have happened, it didn't happen, he had 3 pitchers left I'm sure he was managing with what he had. ok... you just proved my point. Thank you.

7/11/07

Phillygenius82

2

Scott wrote:

Albert Pujols is a proud athlete, one who not only loves baseball but his family. I dont think its childish at all to say that if he knew he wasnt going to play, he wouldnt have came. Why make the wasted trip out west when he could've stayed at home with his family and played dad to his kids for 3 days, especially seeing as he only gets 5 or 6 days off during a 6 month baseball season to do that. I bet there are alot of MLB players who've enjoyed this nice little break from the season.

I understand that but if it was someone like TO that said it wouldn't it be looked at in a different light don't you think. Feeling it is one thing saying it (especially through the press) is a completely different thing.

7/11/07

Eric

1

Phillygenius82 wrote:

I understand that but if it was someone like TO that said it wouldn't it be looked at in a different light don't you think. Feeling it is one thing saying it (especially through the press) is a completely different thing.

This is a different matter... unless Bill Parcels was the coach of the NFC in the Pro Bowl. I'm pretty sure LaRussa didn't say "Pujols, Lets talk a bit. I'm going to select you to participate in the all star game under one condition. You only will come in in the extra innings in case we need a proven hitter. If you want to be a part of that, let me know. If not, feel free to spend time with your family." LaRussa not only back stabbed the fans, but his team as well.

7/11/07

Ryan

3

Scott wrote:

Albert Pujols is a proud athlete, one who not only loves baseball but his family. I dont think its childish at all to say that if he knew he wasnt going to play, he wouldnt have came. Why make the wasted trip out west when he could've stayed at home with his family and played dad to his kids for 3 days, especially seeing as he only gets 5 or 6 days off during a 6 month baseball season to do that. I bet there are alot of MLB players who've enjoyed this nice little break from the season.

In principle, I agree with you. However, one of the reasons these guys make so much money is because they have to sacrifice so much of their time during the season. That's part of the deal. The All-Star game is also part of the deal.

He and his family have pretty much unlimited time together during the off-season, a luxury most occupations don't have. That's not the only luxury available to them thanks to his salary.

It sucks that he did not play, but I think it's pretty petty for him to say that he wouldn't have come if he weren't going to play. If he doesn't have more respect for that game and the tradition, then he should tell people not to vote for him at the start of next year. (or even lobby to get his name off of the ballot) I'm sure that would go over well with the Cardinals and MLB.

7/11/07

Ryan

0

Eric wrote:

This is a different matter... unless Bill Parcels was the coach of the NFC in the Pro Bowl. I'm pretty sure LaRussa didn't say "Pujols, Lets talk a bit. I'm going to select you to participate in the all star game under one condition. You only will come in in the extra innings in case we need a proven hitter. If you want to be a part of that, let me know. If not, feel free to spend time with your family." LaRussa not only back stabbed the fans, but his team as well.

I think you just touched on the real issue. The real issue (I think) isn't that he didn't play. It's that his manager didn't let him know the plan ahead of time. I think if LaRussa had said to Pujols at any point in the first six innings of the game "Albert, unfortunately it looks like you're going to be my extra innings guy. Thank you for helping me with this." I can't imagine that the hard feelings would have been so bitter. He still might have been pissed, but he would have at least felt like it wasn't a snub.

7/11/07

Phillygenius82

0

Eric wrote:

This is a different matter... unless Bill Parcels was the coach of the NFC in the Pro Bowl. I'm pretty sure LaRussa didn't say "Pujols, Lets talk a bit. I'm going to select you to participate in the all star game under one condition. You only will come in in the extra innings in case we need a proven hitter. If you want to be a part of that, let me know. If not, feel free to spend time with your family." LaRussa not only back stabbed the fans, but his team as well.

I'm also sure Tony Larussa didn't look into his crystal ball and see how the game was going to shake out or else I'me sure he might have brought Wrorld Series MVP David Eckstein not Albert Pujols has his only Cardinal All Star.

7/11/07

Eric

0

Phillygenius82 wrote:

I'm also sure Tony Larussa didn't look into his crystal ball and see how the game was going to shake out or else I'me sure he might have brought Wrorld Series MVP David Eckstein not Albert Pujols has his only Cardinal All Star.

Once again, proving my point. LaRussa had no intent of playing him unless there was extra innings. He should have at least mentioned it to him at the beginning of the game or even sometime before the 6th inning or so.

7/11/07

Phillygenius82

1

Eric wrote:

Once again, proving my point. LaRussa had no intent of playing him unless there was extra innings. He should have at least mentioned it to him at the beginning of the game or even sometime before the 6th inning or so.

Is your point that Tony Larussa can tell the future? Is your point that Tony Larussa has a crystal ball? The point I'm trying to make is when he selected Albert Pujols to the All Star team there is no way he could have known how the game was going to play out. It seems to me like you're trying to make the point that going into the game Larussa knew the game was going to be tight and that he knew Pujols would be the last position player on the bench and kept it a secret from him.

7/11/07

desertrat

1	I can't buy into the argument that Larussa was managing to win. If so, then he would have had more than just Pujols available at the end of the game.

7/11/07

Eric

0

Phillygenius82 wrote:

Is your point that Tony Larussa can tell the future? Is your point that Tony Larussa has a crystal ball? The point I'm trying to make is when he selected Albert Pujols to the All Star team there is no way he could have known how the game was going to play out. It seems to me like you're trying to make the point that going into the game Larussa knew the game was going to be tight and that he knew Pujols would be the last position player on the bench and kept it a secret from him.

The game wasn't tight until the 9th inning.

7/11/07

huskerdoug2009

0

My opinion is whether he's whining or not, Pujols is one of the hands down best players in the game and if he's healthy enough to play than with the game on the line in the bottom of the ninth you give him a chance and worry about the 10th inning defense if need be when that comes. Especially considering Rodriguez from the Angels was obviously having some control issues and Albert would have shown some patience and made him throw strikes.