Physical conditioning consultant Mack Newton, who worked with Tony La Russa for nine years, described the recently retired great St. Louis Cardinals’ manager.
According to Newton, La Russa’s personality is manifested through his general staff approach to managing.
“The physical manifestation of what you do is just an expression of what’s already been internalized–how you think and feel inside. And Tony expresses that. His desire to win comes out in his relationship with his players and with me”
La Russa’s confidence comes from his adaptation of the military system that he has internalized. His players viewed him as a winner who was the commander-in-chief of a War Room that involved planning, a clear battle plan and execution.
A 1996 Sporting News poll ranked La Russa and Jim Leyland baseball’s top strategists and best overall managers.
“Strategy is overrated,” Leyland says. “Some guys bunt, some guys hit-and-run. Most managers know situations and are like guiding figures that kind of see their players through and put them in a position to succeed.
“I can’t think of one time where I’ve gone into a game feeling superior or inferior to another manager. If I’m doing my job, my players should be feeling the say way.”
La Russa revolutionized baseball strategy. He was basically the first manager to use a structured left-handed and right-handed bullpen in which seventh and eighth inning relief pitchers set up a closer. La Russa refused to accept the credit for the great changes he wrought on the game.
When the former Chicago White Sox shortstop started to manage, he watched Whitey Herzog’s Kansas City Royals on television. La Russa explained.
“He was the one who told me you’re never smart till you have a real closer…. Then (former A’s) coaches (Dave) Duncan and (Rene) Lachemann were setting up roles for the bullpen. Dick Williams? How many relievers did he use in 1972 and 1973?
“I mean, this stuff has been going on for years. Everything I do I’ve learned from somebody…. I’ll tell you another guy I learned from–Vern Rapp. Because of the way he used the bullpen in the minor leagues. He kept bringing in fresh guys in the seventh, eighth and ninth inning. I didn’t invent any of that.”
When he became the St. Louis Cardinals’ manager, La Russa spoke to other managers in order to become familiar with his own players, the other players in the league and, amazingly to almost any experienced fan, the double switch.
La Russa finally managed in the only league that played the game the way it was meant to be played. Defensive players must hit. The pitcher is a defensive player. A designated hitter is not.
In addition to Herzog, another of the great winners in baseball history helped to shape La Russa.
Billy Martin relied on the unexpected. Martin would run when his team was winning or losing by four runs. He would squeeze home a runner from third even when it seemed as if a big inning were imminent. That’s how Tony La Russa managed.
Joe Girardi, who spent some time with the Cardinals, discovered how difficult was to be the New York Yankees’ manager following former Cardinal Joe Torre.
It will be more difficult for whoever follows Tony La Russa as the Cardinals’ manager.
Reference:
Falkner, David. “Multiple personalities.” The Sporting News 1 Apr. 1996: S8+. General OneFile. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.