Quote:
Originally Posted by TrebMaxx
Looks like La Russa will be back next year.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu..._russa-4872647
ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals have brought back Tony La Russa for a 16th year as manager.
The team announced the deal Monday and said it includes a mutual option for the 2012 season. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 66-year-old La Russa has a franchise-record 1,318 wins since joining the team as manager in 1996. He has led the Cardinals to eight division titles, two National League pennants and a World Series title in 2006. |
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseb...27992bc8b.html
Tony La Russa will return in 2011 for a 16th season as Cardinals manager, the club announced this afternoon.
La Russa, 66, returns his entire coaching staff except for bullpen coach Marty Mason, whose dismissal was reported earlier today by the Post-Dispatch.
The club has scheduled a press conference to be attended by chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and general manager John Mozeliak at 4:30 p.m. La Russa will be made available on Tuesday, according to the club.
Today's announcement ended a two-week mini-drama that began when La Russa openly questioned whether he remained an effective field leader for a team that Mozeliak at one point said had underachieved for much of the season.
Mozeliak, DeWitt and La Russa concluded discussions this weekend. La Russa returns on a one-year deal similar to what he requested last October. This contract also includes a mutual option for a second season, an element missing from La Russa's previous contract.
The winningest manager in franchise history and the third-winningest in the game's history, La Russa is on pace to pass John McGraw for the second-most managerial wins in two seasons. He has insisted such milestones didn't weigh in his decision but numerous confidantes, including his wife Elaine, have encouraged him to continue.
Except for hitting coach, La Russa's staff had remained intact for the past decade. No announcement was made about Mason's successor but minor-league pitching coordinator Dyar Miller and Jupiter complex pitching coordinator Derek Lilliquist are considered leading internal candidates.