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**BigRedChief** · 07-10-2008, 06:43 AM

More Larussa wants help now

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PHILADELPHIA -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, typically a man with a very strong "play with what you've got" bias, indicated Wednesday his desire for the team's front office to bolster its current roster before the trade deadline.

"Since you play the year you're playing and you don't take [anything] for granted, the goal should be to improve your chance to win right now," La Russa said. "Not crazy, not for the fans to think you're doing something, [not] stupid, but I mean legitimately, use every resource you can to figure, is there a way to improve the club's chance?"

The Cardinals have steadfastly maintained a long view in team-building since the installation of John Mozeliak as general manager last fall. Mozeliak acknowledges the 2008 team could use some upgrades. However, he asserted that the club will not be reactive in its dealings.
That is, while the trades of CC Sabathia to Milwaukee and Rich Harden to Chicago certainly got the Cardinals' attention, those moves are unlikely to change the team's philosophical bent. This year matters, but so do the next several years.

"We [do not] want to get in a situation where we feel like we have to make a knee-jerk reaction," Mozeliak said Tuesday, "because our two biggest competitors in our division have made substantial moves. As we move forward, we're going to look at ways we can also improve our club. It may not be as dramatic as what they've done."

Outside of Busch Stadium, little was expected of this Cardinals team when the season started. And while team personnel rejected the notion of 2008 as a "transitional year," it was no secret that long-term flexibility was a major consideration in several of the club's offseason moves.

However, the 2008 Cardinals have exceeded many of those expectations. At the start of play Wednesday, they had the National League's second-best record and led the race for the NL Wild Card. In La Russa's mind, that means the equation is different from what it was in April.

"We still needed help when we started," he said. "It's just, were we worthy of getting it? We might not have been, because it's a rebuilding year, right? [But on] July 1, we've got the [second-best] record in the National League, we're [leading] for the Wild Card."

La Russa acknowledges the Cardinals may receive a significant boost next month, when both Adam Wainwright (finger) and Chris Carpenter (elbow surgery) are expected to return from injury. But he noted that both Chicago and Milwaukee made additions four or five weeks before those pitchers may return.

"This is what, July 9?" La Russa said. "And those guys [Sabathia and Harden] are here now. You're looking at help in August. That's a big edge to have the help. I don't get comforted by the fact that we may have guys coming back later. "The goal and the urgency is to see if there's something that can help us, as long as there are a lot of games left on the schedule."

07-10-2008, 06:43 AM	#122
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $-691038 VARSITY	More Larussa wants help now --------------------------------------------------------------------- PHILADELPHIA -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, typically a man with a very strong "play with what you've got" bias, indicated Wednesday his desire for the team's front office to bolster its current roster before the trade deadline. "Since you play the year you're playing and you don't take [anything] for granted, the goal should be to improve your chance to win right now," La Russa said. "Not crazy, not for the fans to think you're doing something, [not] stupid, but I mean legitimately, use every resource you can to figure, is there a way to improve the club's chance?" The Cardinals have steadfastly maintained a long view in team-building since the installation of John Mozeliak as general manager last fall. Mozeliak acknowledges the 2008 team could use some upgrades. However, he asserted that the club will not be reactive in its dealings. That is, while the trades of CC Sabathia to Milwaukee and Rich Harden to Chicago certainly got the Cardinals' attention, those moves are unlikely to change the team's philosophical bent. This year matters, but so do the next several years. "We [do not] want to get in a situation where we feel like we have to make a knee-jerk reaction," Mozeliak said Tuesday, "because our two biggest competitors in our division have made substantial moves. As we move forward, we're going to look at ways we can also improve our club. It may not be as dramatic as what they've done." Outside of Busch Stadium, little was expected of this Cardinals team when the season started. And while team personnel rejected the notion of 2008 as a "transitional year," it was no secret that long-term flexibility was a major consideration in several of the club's offseason moves. However, the 2008 Cardinals have exceeded many of those expectations. At the start of play Wednesday, they had the National League's second-best record and led the race for the NL Wild Card. In La Russa's mind, that means the equation is different from what it was in April. "We still needed help when we started," he said. "It's just, were we worthy of getting it? We might not have been, because it's a rebuilding year, right? [But on] July 1, we've got the [second-best] record in the National League, we're [leading] for the Wild Card." La Russa acknowledges the Cardinals may receive a significant boost next month, when both Adam Wainwright (finger) and Chris Carpenter (elbow surgery) are expected to return from injury. But he noted that both Chicago and Milwaukee made additions four or five weeks before those pitchers may return. "This is what, July 9?" La Russa said. "And those guys [Sabathia and Harden] are here now. You're looking at help in August. That's a big edge to have the help. I don't get comforted by the fact that we may have guys coming back later. "The goal and the urgency is to see if there's something that can help us, as long as there are a lot of games left on the schedule." __________________ Mahomes is not a game manager. Release the Kraken.
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