In the past the Astros and Cardinals spoke about a respectful rivalry. Maybe now that Bagwell and Biggio are no longer on the team, the respect is gone; because the Cardinals are certainly acting like it. Lets hear no more about the “friendly” rivalry against the Cardinals.
The cheap shot slide from Pujols on Towles and now Wainwrights purpose pitch, (the purpose of which is discussed below,) at Ausmus show that respect is gone and the Cardinals have descended into any petty trick they can use to gain any advantage. There are many instances of LaRussa pulling similar stunts in the past. He’s not a competitor, he’s a cowardly cheap shot artist.
Said La Russa: “Everybody looks at it a different way. They throw the ball inside, they’re playing the game. We throw the ball inside, there’s some intent. … We’re not going to mess around, that’s not our style. But we do pitch inside just like they do.”
.093, “messing around” IS your style. Then he tried to make both sides seem at fault,
“Yeah, it looks bad,” La Russa said about the ball sailing behind Ausmus. “There were a couple, three, four, pitches that looked bad. Oswalt’s a lot like [Greg] Maddux. He just throws harder. He was a little off early. Adam can be off, too. These guys are not perfect. It’s not looks. It’s intent. There was no intent. I don’t think there was intent on either side.”
Wainwright provides this illuminating comment,
“It is what is. It’s competing,” Wainwright said when told of the Astros’ comments. “I’m working inside. I’m moving guys’ feet. I’m trying to do what he does.”
What are we to make of the fact that the ball was behind Ausmus, not “inside” and aimed at his butt? That is the recognized spot for any retaliation pitch.
“It’s terrible,” Oswalt said. “And if Wainwright threw at him on purpose, it’s terrible baseball. Why would I want to put the [No. 7 hitter] on base? It doesn’t make sense. It’s terrible baseball. Surely, hopefully, it was a wild pitch. Surely, the pitcher wouldn’t throw at a guy and intentionally hurt somebody. There’s no reason.”
Cardinal media has the answer,
The Cardinals came out of Pittsburgh sensitive to a couple of pitches that thumped Pujols, and on guard for Houston after the series in Texas.
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The first pitch that Oswalt threw to Pujols was up and in, Pujols snapped his head back. They weren’t retaliating against LaRue being hit, La Russa doesn’t care about Roy knicking LaRue’s jersey.
He ordered that pitch to keep Oswalt from throwing up and in to his girlfriend Pujols.
The GZ nailed the purpose of La Russa’s called hit,
MikeyBoy
Roy is carving up the strike zone.
matadorph
And establishing himself inside.
After the “Hit” ordered by La Russa
matadorph
La Russa wanted to take the inside away from Roy. Fuckin pussy.
Noe in Austin
LaRussa is a prick! Oswalt owns the inside corner right now and this was on purpose to take that away from him. Last night, Looper owned the inside and Houston didn’t do any of this kind of Bush League stuff.
What a freaking prick.
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