Fan Fuel: La Russa, Washington set for All-Star Game

BY STEPH ROGERS – FAN FUEL BLOGGER



It doesn’t take Tony La Russa much time to make up his mind. Three days after winning the World Series title with the St. Louis Cardinals last season, La Russa retired from baseball. When he received his customary invite to manage the National League All-Star team this year, there was never a question in his mind that he’d come back for one last hurrah.



“There was never a not side of it. I was excited, thrilled, and honoured to be asked,” the veteran skip said in a conference call on Thursday. “I think it’s one of the best experiences you can have. You’ve got the best baseball players in the world on both sides, you get to watch them work out for two days and compete.”



Just shy of 50 years ago, a 19-year-old La Russa made his major league debut with the Kansas City Athletics. It’s fitting that the All-Star Game on Tuesday night may very well be the last time he wears a uniform, in the city where the Tampa-native first joined The Show in 1963.

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“It definitely got my attention. The coincidence of it is hard to believe,” he said. “The fact that it started there, and it’s ending there… I’m trying to enjoy it.”



La Russa joins Ron Washington, who takes the helm for the American League All-Stars for the second consecutive year. Washington is looking to secure the right to home turf for the AL in opening World Series play, something his Texas Rangers haven’t been privy to for their last two runs at the title.



There’s no short end of the bat, with both sides boasting the best talent in the major leagues all the way down to the nine spot for both the starting roster. Washington confessed he’s been playing around with his line up for the last few days, in addition to his regular routine with the Rangers. Surely, organizing a line up that includes home run king Jose Bautista alongside major-league veterans Derek Jeter and David Ortiz presents its own set of challenges.



“I’ve changed it many times. During the season, you try to match up right and left, and put the best line up you possibly could together,” the well-spoken Washington explained.



“In the case of an all star team, these are guys that are in the line up every single day. You may have a guy that hit high in the line up during the season, and in the all star game he may end up hitting lower. But it doesn’t matter…they’re all all stars. It’s difficult but it’s a lot of fun.”



La Russa wholeheartedly agreed, as he joked that he has more time on his hands than Washington to play around with his options that include first-time All Stars (and San Francisco teammates) Melky Cabrera and Buster Posey.



“Fun’s a good word. You can’t write a bad line up…somebody’s got to hit seventh, eighth and ninth,” he said.



Regardless of allegiances, both managers will aim to play as many players as possible to highlight the strengths of the team.



“My intention is to try to get everyone in the game. It doesn’t matter who you have out there,” Washington said. “With each and every one of them, your chanCes of winning are great. We’ll let the situation and the game flow dictate exactly how that’s done.”



Gentlemen, on your marks.



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