Commentary: LaRussa’s Calls Not All Bad

Tony LaRussa is under the playoff microscope. Most of what Tony has done this post-season, I’ve agreed with. I would like him to play Eric Davis against lefties, and not Shawon Dunston. I would like him to keep Fernando Tatis in the lineup, because I think he can be a difference maker. Then again, last night he made a difference by committing two errors. But most of LaRussa’s decisions have been sound ones, I think. He had to start Rick Ankiel again, because he was dominant in September. It didn’t work out. He felt he had to send McGwire to the plate with first base open to give Craig Paquette a chance to win game two. I disagree, I would have used Rick Wilkins, but it wasn’t the horrible move some people made it out to be. It didn’t work out. I thought at the time he should start Darryl Kile on three days rest. It’s clear now that he shouldn’t have. But it was a logical move. It didn’t work out. Most of what LaRussa has done in this series has been based on sound reasoning. But sometimes you make a good decision, and it doesn’t work out.