I think the guys that get to the All-Star Game deserve a lot of credit. They deserve their opportunity to get out there and let the baseball fandom see them. Tony La Russa More Quotes by Tony La Russa More Quotes From Tony La Russa I'm ready to do something different. Tony La Russa ready different I have coaching friends, and when we get together, we often talk more about what we're doing to get players' attention than we do about the fascinating X's and O's of our sport. Tony La Russa doing get-together friends together My mind is just a product of 50 years of being taught. I'm no smarter than anyone else, but I've been taught by some wonderful people. Tony La Russa wonderful-people being mind people I think each negotiation should be based on what's the best decision - taking everything into account, not taking one thing into account. Tony La Russa everything best think decision I'm not going to manage again. I'm going to work for a team someday. But it won't be managing. Tony La Russa going someday team work When you don't have the deepest pockets, you better have the best scouting and development. Tony La Russa better best you development I'm a great believer in the character of a club. To me, character has a lot to do with how you compete. That creates urgency and toughness. That elevates the talent that you have. Tony La Russa great me you character I had started law school at Florida State University as a part-timer. I would go two quarters, and they allowed me to drop out to play baseball, and then I'd get readmitted in September. I was convinced I was going to be a lawyer and was using my baseball salary to pay my way through school. Tony La Russa me lawyer law school We're all men, not machines. We make mistakes. Tony La Russa mistakes make machines men If the national government doesn't fix your problem, you've got a problem. You've got to fix it yourself. That's just part of the American way. Tony La Russa yourself you government way It's easy to figure out whether you're getting stale. All you've got to do is look in the mirror and be honest with yourself. Tony La Russa mirror yourself look you You know, I think when you coach or you manage, you make decisions, and there's some that are really, really tough. Tony La Russa think know you tough You can't manage by memo. You can't stand up there and just send out edicts. I think you just gotta really personalize your relationships. Tony La Russa stand-up stand think you Winning in Oakland in '89 was distinguished because that was truly a great team on a mission to prove that '88 was not what we represented. I look at that team in awe. It was a push-button team. Tony La Russa great look team winning What you end up doing is you try to match your guy's strength against a place they can be successful. They're doing the same thing against us. Sometimes they have the edge, sometimes you have the edge. Tony La Russa place you strength sometimes I've been so fortunate in life to have worked for such great organizations, with great owners and general managers and all the great players, along with the support of my family. Tony La Russa great support family life If you watch the history of baseball, teams come back, and sometimes they could have come back, but they give in or give up. Tony La Russa back you sometimes history Clubs are taking away the steal of home. Not only are more pitchers throwing out of the stretch position, but more third basemen are playing closer to the bag. But another reason why nobody does it much anymore is that some guys, no matter how fast they are, just aren't comfortable trying to steal home. Tony La Russa bag nobody matter home I think there's a growing number of pitchers who want to have a plan going into a game about how they're going to go after that lineup. I'd say 75 percent want to have an idea, and they plan their attack. I know that 75 percent of hitters do not have that same type of plan against a pitcher. Tony La Russa game go think know If you try to give them a scheme, most hitters will rebel. Tony La Russa will try you rebel
