St. Louis Cardinals’ Tony La Russa rates his team among the best – MLB Update
Showing immense contentment after his team’s qualification for the World Series, manager Tony La Russa expressed that it was the character amongst the St. Louis Cardinals that needs to be acknowledged for the achievement.
Talking to reporters after winning NLCS Game 6 against the Milwaukee Brewers, La Russa pointed out that after a strong start to the second-half of the season, the team faced a dip in form, which saw them drop to 10.5 games behind Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card standings. Thereafter, the team played every game as if it was the last game of the season and that mentality helped the team overcome all obstacles for a subsequent qualification to the playoffs.
The Cardinals ensured qualification on the last day of the season, when ace Chris Carpenter produced a two-hit complete-game shutout effort against the Houston Astros. The Braves, on the other hand, were annihilated in the season-ending three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, losing out on the spot they had dominated since June.
Rating this experience in his managerial career, La Russa stressed that all of them have been special, but this one has been overwhelming and has its own mark because the comeback in the Wild Card race was historic.
La Russa admitted that Carpenter has been central to the team’s success, but highlighted the fact that relievers have dominated the games so far in the postseason. La Russa has not been hesitant in using his entire bull-pen and will not dither in using it during the World Series either.
This is the third time that La Russa has led the Cardinals to the Fall Classic and the manager believes that this squad in the most talented of the lost. The team performed brilliantly in adverse conditions and the sense of ‘not quitting’ is what has inspired him the most.
Commenting on this approach, La Russa said, “You know it's not my approach; it's the Cardinal approach. That's what this franchise is famous for, play hard every day, minimise mistakes. We have a good coaching staff that preaches that, teaches that.”
La Russa did not comment on playing against the Texas Rangers and instead asserted that he wants to enjoy the moment of winning the pennant. It will be interesting to see how far La Russa’s approach helps the Cardinals.
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