LaRussa

just finished reading Tony LaRussa's autobiography.  although quite lengthy and at times a little wordy, it was a fascinating read.  he doesn't just cover the 2011 season in detail, but intertwines highlights from the rest of his career as both a player and a manager within the chapters.

earlier i posted on my facebook update that i "finally feel like i understand the man".  and that's the truth.  tony always appeared to be one of the strangest managers out there -- never smiling, keeping an immense number of stats, never shaving the hair over his ears, changing pitchers in a game frequently.  now it makes so much more sense.  and now i see how richly blessed Cardinal Nation was to have him at the helm of the team. (still don't understand the hair thing though.)

having a law degree no doubt led to some of that mystery and complicatedness.  being a lover of the game and a true fan of his players, balanced it all out well.

lots of great quotes in the book -- 2 of them near the very end....

"even when you have three strikes, you're still not out.  there is always something else you can do." (Hal Moore)

"just because you're down to your last strike, you're not out yet.  you can always do more.  you'll always have more at-bats to take.  that's true in baseball, in rescuing animals, and in life generally." (Tony LaRussa)

next stop for Tony.... the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Can't wait....

out for now.....

Matt