Houston – Tony La Russa owns a law degree, but it’s a wonder he didn’t major in psychology.
No manager plays mind games better than the Cardinals’ boss. Saturday, he took the rare step of taking on an umpire – before the game. La Russa turned a simple question about Roger Clemens’ pitching into a wink-wink, nod-nod reminder to plate umpire Wally Bell to make sure his strike zone didn’t expand to the size of Texas.
“I have to tell you, a concern is (Bell). Clemens has so much command, he’s like (Greg) Maddux, he’s going to pitch the edges,” La Russa explained. “If Wally gets excited and gives him an inch, it’s going to be 2 or 3 inches.”
A manager’s job is to put his team in position to win, and few have claimed more victories than La Russa. This insinuation, however, crossed the foul line.
To imply Bell was going to transform into Eric Gregg circa 1997 National League Championship Series or Leslie Nielsen in “Naked Gun” was inappropriate at best and weak at worst.
“That’s Tony,” said Astros catcher Brad Ausmus, not particularly pleased. “If he thinks that’s going to help his team. … I just can’t see necessarily any reason to do that other than try to help your team win.”
When told of La Russa’s pregame message to Bell, Clemens laughed.
“These (umpires) do a good job back there,” Clemens said. “I am not going to comment on that.”
La Russa would have been better off had he done the same.
Sanders sits out
Thursday, Reggie Sanders, still groggy from whiplash neck and back injuries suffered from an awkward outfield fall, said he would play in Game 3. His symptoms, however, didn’t improve enough to where he felt comfortable playing defense, forcing La Russa to scratch the hot-hitting veteran for reserve So Taguchi.
“I wish there was a magic potion to make me better,” said Sanders, who will be available to pinch-hit.
Lineup roulette
Phil Garner remains a stranger to conventional wisdom. The Houston manager went with his gut – if not a bat – starting scalding Chris Burke in center field in favor of rookie of the year candidate Willy Taveras.
“I, too, was surprised by that one,” third baseman Morgan Ensberg said. “But I am telling you he has a crystal ball.”
Garner’s decision cleared a spot for Mike Lamb to start at first, shifting Lance Berkman to left, Burke’s normal spot. Lamb hit a two-run homer in the fourth.
Footnotes
The importance of relief revealing itself in the playoffs, the Rockies continue pushing to re-sign reliever Mike DeJean, a one-time Cardinal.
General manager Dan O’Dowd received a counterproposal Friday from DeJean’s agents and is mulling it over. DeJean is the lone free agent the Rockies are attempting to sign before the filing period, which is after the World Series, since they are not close on contract figures with starter Byung-Hyun Kim. …
Former President George Bush drew polite applause when he and his wife, Barbara, sat in their seats behind home plate. The cheers grew louder when Bush revealed the American flag lining in his sport coat.
