I pick on La Russa quite a bit. But I respect him as a manager tremendously. La Russa’s respect for the game was exhibited Tuesday night.

Cardinals rookie infielder Brendan Ryan was benched by manager Tony La Russa after flying out in the first inning Tuesday night on a 3-and-0 pitch.

After Ryan flied out to center field, La Russa mouthed the words “You’re done!” when Ryan returned to the dugout. Brian Barden replaced Ryan at shortstop.

La Russa runs his ship. He respects the game. He taught Brendan Ryan a valuable lesson. One that I wish was foisted upon Corey Patterson back in the day. (Patterson is hitting .269/.304/.386 this year–to no one’s surprise).

With La Russa in the final year of his contract and the Cardinals absolutely flopping in the last month, it’s safe to say he’ll be managing elsewhere next season and there have been no shortage of rumors.

The latest is that Seattle might be his next team. The Mariners were in contention for a while but have lost 17 of 22 and are done. I think it would be cool to see La Russa managing in the AL West.

“There have been periods this year when we have struggled — where I had to honestly let the team know we had to keep pushing,” La Russa told the Post-Dispatch. “The product of that could be some strained relationships. There may have been some people who got their feelings hurt. If there is a lingering effect, that’s significant.”

He did all he could do there. And I’ll be glad to see him out of the Cubs’ division. But it won’t be the same without the man I call “The Delicate Genius”.

[tags]Tony La Russa, MLB, Cardinals[/tags]