La Russa orders pitcher to throw strike to Rollins

[TenzilKem]

PHILADELPHIA - Tony La Russa watched too many teams pitch around Mark McGwire to let it happen to Jimmy Rollins.

 

Rollins' hitting streak was on the line when he came to the plate with two outs in the eighth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies trailing the St. Louis Cardinals 13-5 in Monday's season opener.

 

Reliever Adam Wainwright's first three pitches were out of the strike zone, and those remaining among the sellout crowd of 44,614 at Citizens Bank Park booed each one.

 

Before the next pitch, La Russa got catcher Yadier Molina's attention and signaled for a strike. The right-handed Wainwright threw a fastball down the middle and Rollins ripped it down the right-field line for a double to extend his hitting streak to 37 games.

 

continued

 

I'm no La Russa fan by any stretch, but I tip my cap to him for this move.

[BigbadB]

Pitching around Bonds is one thing, but walking Rollins on purpose is not cool. I too, tip my cap to LaRussa.

[FergieJ31]

Pitching around Bonds is one thing, but walking Rollins on purpose is not cool. I too, tip my cap to LaRussa.

 

Amen. Great story - props to TLR.

 

(never thought I'd write "props" and "TLR" in the same sentence)

[ManCrushOnNomar]

It's only fair for him to do that. They were absolutely destroying the Phils at that point, and Rollins alone wasn't about to change that. Pitching around him would be a terrible thing to do in that scenario.

[Outshined_One]

Wait, wait, so were you guys in favor of Favre giving himself up in order to give Strahan the sack record?

[reggiemiller rules]

I think this story is getting way too much attention, when you have an 8 run lead the last thing you want to do is walk people. When you have a non-power hitter up with speed of course you are gonna groove a 3-0 fastball so you dont walk people to let them back in the game.

[wolf stansson]

Wait, wait, so were you guys in favor of Favre giving himself up in order to give Strahan the sack record?

Too different to compare. They didn't just give him a hit. Wainright didn't underhand it up there. He threw a strike. Rollins still had to hit it as opposed to running right into a guy and dropping to the ground as soon as he touches you.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think this story is getting way too much attention, when you have an 8 run lead the last thing you want to do is walk people. When you have a non-power hitter up with speed of course you are gonna groove a 3-0 fastball so you dont walk people to let them back in the game.

 

2nd.

[stitchface]

Way to grab the attention Tony! Seriously, this is a lousy story. It implies Wainwright grooved one to let him keep his streak going. Why say anything? Just give Rollins credit.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

I think this story is getting way too much attention, when you have an 8 run lead the last thing you want to do is walk people. When you have a non-power hitter up with speed of course you are gonna groove a 3-0 fastball so you dont walk people to let them back in the game.

 

2nd.

3rd'd

[ManEatingTarp]

I think this story is getting way too much attention, when you have an 8 run lead the last thing you want to do is walk people. When you have a non-power hitter up with speed of course you are gonna groove a 3-0 fastball so you dont walk people to let them back in the game.

 

2nd.

3rd'd

 

All they did was challenge Rollins. No big deal.

[K-Town]

Larussa didn't print it in the papers. He was asked a question, and he answered.

 

I agree that it should be a non-story.

[radarluv1]

3-0 fastball is a challenge? they were just trying to avoid the potential embarrassment over walking him. not a story.

[ManEatingTarp]

3-0 fastball is a challenge? they were just trying to avoid the potential embarrassment over walking him. not a story.

 

Isn't that pretty much what I said?

[snoodmonger]

They play the game the right way in St. Louis.

[abuck1220]

why is this a story? so the cardinals were up by 100 and larussa wanted his pitcher to throw a strike? wow, larussa is a tactical genius and a saint! it's not like wainwright was trying to walk him on purpose and larussa put a stop to it or something. geez...